Field analysis

Sporting News, The, March 15, 2004

RPI 9 LIKELY SEED 2 RECORDS 24-3 (14-2) KEY PLAYER John Lucas (42.6 3PT FG %)

Second-tier teams

TSN's projected 5-8 seeds

Arizona. The team has only one true post player, Channing Frye, and only one consistent long-range threat, Salim Stoudamire. Both must be on the floor at least 32 minutes in close games. If they get quick fouls, the Wildcats are in trouble. Arizona are wily on defense and take advantage of poor ballhandling, converting turnovers into dunk contests. But complex offenses can throw off their defense because the Wildcats fail to communicate on switches and tend to give up backdoors.

Boston College. The Eagles have one of the nation's best frontcourts in standout Craig Smith, Jared Dudley and Uka Agbai. All are quite proficient in the lane. The Eagles don't turn it over very often, but they are weak from 3-point range and lack great guard play. Teams that protect the paint against Boston College should thrive.

Charlotte. The 49ers take some interesting shots. SG Brendan Plavich will fire from 25 feet if he's open, and PG Demon Brown isn't much different. Charlotte is at its best when it uses that threat to open the inside game for PF Curtis Withers' one-on-one postups and SF Butter Johnson's driving finishes. When the guards neglect the inside game, Charlotte gets in trouble. But that's only if the perimeter shots aren't dropping. If they are, this will be one of the most confounding teams to defend.

DePaul. This didn't look like a tournament team when it squeezed past Ohio and lost badly to Notre Dame and Toledo. But the Blue Demons grew up when freshman PG Sammy Mejia began to play full time. They beat Memphis and UAB and won at Louisville. Mejia's playmaking helped make DePaul the most efficient shooting team in Conference USA. The Demons lack depth, though, and have had turnover problems.

Florida. The Gators will go as far as Gs Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh can carry them. They're selfish gunners who won't pass to the team's most consistent player, F David Lee. Freshman G Lee Humphrey, who's filling in for departed Christian Drejer, is a bright spot. Defenses can't leave Humphrey open--he hits 46.8 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Louisville. PG Taquan Dean's recent groin injury shows just how much the team needs him at full strength. Dean shot 7-of-37 from 3-point range and had eight assists in a nine-game span in which the Cardinals went 3-6. SF Francisco Garcia, who creates well in a spread situation and is aggressive on the offensive boards, can pick up some of the playmaking slack.

Michigan State. Sophomore Paul Davis is the team's only legitimate low-post option. Five of Michigan State's top six scorers are smaller players, and the best is junior Chris Hill, a sharpshooter who loves the 3-pointer. When Hill is on, Michigan State has an effective inside-outside combination. Kelvin Torbert provides a nice third offensive option.

North Carolina. Coach Roy Williams' superb starting five includes the ACC's leading scorer (G/F Rashad McCants) along with the league's top rebounder (F Sean May) and assist man (PG Raymond Felton). However, Carolina's bench is thin, and fatigue occasionally shows at the defensive end.