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Sporting News, The, March 18, 2005 by Kathy Sheldon, Benson Taylor, Rob Hurtt, Mike DeCourcy, Matt Judkins

AMERICA EAST

* Vermont: 23, 10, 22-6. Taylor Coppenrath and T.J. Sorrentine form the top scoring duo in the country, averaging a combined 43.6 points. Coppenrath, a three-time conference player of the year, is one of the nation's best all-around forwards, with great footwork and feel for the game. Sorrentine gives a veteran lineup senior leadership at the point and is the conference's career leader in 3-pointers.

ATLANTIC SUN

* Central Florida: 90, 14, 24-8. The Golden Knights combine a disciplined offense with a relentless defense that ranked first in the league in points allowed.

ATLANTIC 10

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* Saint Joseph's: 83, 12, 17-10. The Hawks no longer have the sort of dynamic playmaking they had with Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, so they must be precise in their offensive execution. They work hard to create opportunities for jump shooters Pat Carroll and Chet Stachitas. George Washington, which faltered after a brilliant start, will be a tough matchup in the league tourney. The Colonials can be a difficult opponent if their pressure defense is working and they're making long-range shots.

BIG SKY

* Portland State: 160, 16, 19-8. The Vikings went from worst to first in the conference. Credit the "Box and Funn" offense led by forward Seamus Boxley and guard Will Funn, one of the nation's assist leaders.

BIG SOUTH

* Winthrop: 73, 15, 27-5. The Eagles, who punched their NCAA ticket last week, are riding an 18-game winning streak. They've shut down opponents with a stifling mixture of zone and pressure defense.

BIG WEST

* Pacific: 21, 6, 25-2. The Tigers not only are flush with seniors (seven), they're also flush with big men (seven players 6-7 or taller) who can shoot and defend. Christian Maraker is a 6-9 marksman from the perimeter, and Guillaume Yango adds 13.0 points per game to his team-high 7.3 rebounds. It's also what Pacific doesn't do that counts--doesn't panic, doesn't foul, doesn't miss shots. Then the Tigers pounce on opponents' mistakes.

COLONIAL

* Old Dominion: 39, 13, 26-5. The Monarchs are young, but few teams have good shooting nights against ODU. Alex Loughton is tough to contend with inside.

HORIZON

* Wisconsin-Milwaukee: 52, 13, 23-5. The Panthers have experience and suffocate opponents with fullcourt defense. They won a school-record 11 road games and hung with Kansas at a "neutral" site game in Kansas City.

IVY

* Penn: 50, 14, 19-8. Tim Begley, who at 6-6 can run the offense or play forward, helped the Quakers overwhelm the Ivy League this season.

METRO ATLANTIC

* Niagara: 99, 14, 18-9. Forward Juan Mendez posted 18 double doubles in the regular season and ranks among the nation's scoring leaders. The Purple Eagles also have the MAAC's assist leader in Alvin Cruz.

MID-AMERICAN

* Miami (Ohio): 27, 10, 18-9. There are no guarantees in the crowded MAC race, but the RedHawks should get an invite. They play tough defense, and Danny Horace is one of the conference's best forwards. Buffalo also will make a case for an at-large bid. Guard Turner Battle gives the team whatever it needs--he can score, pass, rebound and defend. Akron, Kent State, Western Michigan and Ohio will be in the race to win the conference tournament.

MID-CONTINENT

* Oral Roberts: 79, 15, 24-6. Ken Tutt and Luke Spencer-Gardner give the Golden Eagles a great backcourt, and forward Caleb Green knows how to get to the basket.

MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC

* Delaware State: 134, 16, 16-13. The Hornets, who never have played in the NCAA Tournament, control the tempo with great halfcourt defense and have several 3-point threats.

MISSOURI VALLEY

* Southern Illinois: 12, 7, 26-6. Scoring and rebounding leader Darren Brooks and backcourt mate Stetson Hairston each have been to three NCAA Tournaments. But no other Saluki has started in the NCAAs, and this will be coach Chris Lowery's first dance. Forward LaMar Owen must rebound and provide another scoring option.

* Creighton: 58, 13, 21-10. The Bluejays struggled at times, but guards Nate Funk (18.0 points per game) and Tyler McKinney (5.4 assists per game), helped lift Creighton at the end of the season. Southwest Missouri State and Northern Iowa also entered the week in contention for NCAA spots.

MOUNTAIN WEST

* Utah: 22, 4, 25-4. You don't need an in-depth scouting report to figure out the key to the Utes' success. Just look for the 7-footer who's dominating the game. Andrew Bogut knows how to get position, is tenacious inside, is good at finding the open man out of double-teams and has range. If he's not the best player in the country, he's among the top two or three. Senior Marc Jackson gives the Utes a 3-point threat and provides tough-nosed defense. Utah has held 14 of its last 16 opponents to 60 points or fewer.

* New Mexico: 87, 12, 23-6. The Lobos have one of the country's most versatile forwards in Danny Granger. They also are the only team in the Mountain West that has beaten the Utes.

NORTHEAST

* Fairleigh Dickinson: 165, 16, 18-12. The uptempo Knights have a pair of solid scorers in versatile forward Gordon Klaiber and point guard Tamien Trent.

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Sporting News, The, March 18, 2005 by Kathy Sheldon, Benson Taylor, Rob Hurtt, Mike DeCourcy, Matt Judkins

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