1Syracuse Orange Record: 28-4.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: F Wesley Johnson (6-7 jr.), 15.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg; G Andy Rautins (6-5 sr.), 11.6 ppg, 4.8 apg; F Rick Jackson (6-9 jr.) 10.2 ppg.
Noteworthy: Despite a hiccup against Georgetown in the Big East tournament, 'Cuse is as deep and talented as any team in the country. Five players average in double figures.
8Gonzaga Bulldogs Record: 26-6.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: G Matt Bouldin (6-5 sr.), 15.8 ppg, 4.1 apg; F Elias Harris (6-7 fr.), 14.7 ppg; 7.2 rpg; G Steve Gray (6-5 jr.), 13.7 ppg, 2.8 apg.
Noteworthy: An 81-62 loss to St. Mary's in the conference tournament hurt Gonzaga's NCAA seed, but March's perennial Cinderella favorite is still plenty capable of a deep run.
5Butler Bulldogs Record: 28-4.
How they got here: Won Horizon League tournament.
Key players: G-F Gordon Hayward (6-9 so.), 15.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg; G Shelvin Mack (6-3 so.), 13.9 ppg; F Matt Howard (6-8 jr.), 12.3 ppg.
Noteworthy: Butler takes a 20-game win streak into the NCAA tournament, including an 18-0 regular-season Horizon League record.
4Vanderbilt Commodores Record: 24-8.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: G Jermaine Beal (6-5 sr.), 14.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.1 apg; C A.J. Ogilvy (6-11 jr.), 13.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg; F Jeffery Taylor (6-6 so.), 13.9 ppg.
Noteworthy: There isn't much Vandy is lacking as one of the country's most complete teams. The Commodores are disciplined, shoot well and have ample size.
16Vermont Catamounts Record: 24-9.
How they got here: Won America East tournament.
Key players: F Marqus Blakely (6-5 sr.), 17.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg; G Maurice Joseph (6-4 sr.), 14.1 ppg; G Evan Fjeld (6-8 jr.), 10.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg.
Noteworthy: Blakely leads the team in points per game, field-goal percentage, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals and double-doubles.
9Florida State Seminoles Record: 22-9.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: F Chris Singleton (6-9 so.), 10.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg; C Solomon Alabi (7-1 so.), 11.6 ppg; G Michael Snaer (6-5 fr.), 8.9 ppg.
Noteworthy: This is the second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance for FSU, which went 10-6 in the ACC for the second consecutive season under coach Leonard Hamilton.
12Texas-El Paso Miners Record: 26-6.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: G Randy Culpepper (6-0 jr.), 18.1 ppg, 2.0 apg, 1.7 spg; F Derrick Caracter (6-9 jr.), 14.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg; F Jeremy Williams (6-0 jr.), 10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg.
Noteworthy: UTEP relied on a slew of talented players from Memphis, Tenn., to claim its first regular-season conference title 1987.
13Murray State Racers Record: 30-4.
How they got here: Won Ohio Valley tournament.
Key players: C Tony Easley (6-9 sr.), 10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.3 bpg; G B.J. Jenkins (6-0 jr.), 10.7 ppg, 1.9 spg.
Noteworthy: This is about as balanced as a team can be. Five players average between 10 and 11 points per game, and a sixth is at 9.9.
2Kansas State Wildcats Record: 26-7.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: G Jacob Pullen (6-0 jr.), 18.9 ppg, 3.6 apg; G Denis Clemente (6-1 sr.), 16.0 ppg, 3.9 apg; F Curtis Kelly (6-8 jr.), 11.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg.
Noteworthy: Setting aside a 17-point loss at Kansas, the Wildcats' other four losses were by a combined 16 points.
7Brigham Young Cougars Record: 29-5.
How they got here:At-large bid.
Key players: G Jimmer Fredette (6-2 jr.), 20.6 ppg, 4.7 apg, 47.2% 3-point shooting; G Jackson Emery (6-3 jr.), 12.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg.
Noteworthy: Fredette is one of the nation's most prolific scorers, but BYU proved it could win without him when he was sidelined with mononucleosis and stomach problems.
6Xavier Musketeers Record: 24-8.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: G Jordan Crawford (6-4 so.), 19.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg; F-C Jason Love (6-9 sr.), 11.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg; G Terrell Holloway (6-0 so.), 11.4 ppg, 4.0 apg.
Noteworthy: Holloway led the Atlantic 10 in free throw percentage (84.9 percent) during the regular season.
3Pittsburgh Panthers Record: 24-8.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: G Ashton Gibbs (6-2 so.), 16.2 ppg, 40.4% 3-pt. shooting; G Brad Wanamaker (6-4 jr.), 12.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg.
Noteworthy: It has been a relatively up-and-down season for the Panthers, who showed promise by winning eight of their last nine games before losing in the Big East tourney.
15North Texas Mean Green Record: 24-8.
How they got here: Won Sun Belt tournament
Key players: G Josh White (5-10 jr.), 14.9 ppg, 3.5 apg; G Tristan Thompson (6-5 jr.), 14.1 ppg.
Noteworthy: The Mean Green returns to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007 and just the third time since 1988. North Texas enters on an 11-game winning streak.
10Florida Gators Record: 21-12.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: F Chandler Parsons (6-9 jr.), 12.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg; G Kenny Boynton (6-2 fr.), 13.5 ppg; G Erving Walker (5-8 so.), 12.7 ppg.
Noteworthy: Florida, which snapped a two-year NCAA drought, made the tournament despite shooting 30.8 percent from the 3-point line during the regular season.
11Minnesota Golden Gophers Record: 21-13.
How they got here: At-large bid.
Key players: G Lawrence Westbrook (6-0 sr.), 12.9 ppg; G Blake Hoffarber (6-4 jr.), 10.7 ppg; C Ralph Sampson III (6-11 so.), 8.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg.
Noteworthy: Minnesota led the Big Ten in the regular season in blocked shots (5.7 per game), steals (8.1), assists (17.2) and 3-point field goal percentage (.401).
14Oakland Golden Grizzlies Record: 26-8.
How they got here: Won Summit League tournament.
Key players: C Keith Benson (6-11 jr.), 17.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg; F Derick Nelson (6-5 sr.), 12.4 ppg.
Noteworthy: Benson was the only Summit League player to finish the season averaging a double-double. He also had 17 rebounds in each of the final two tournament games.
Syracuse Orange Gonzaga Bulldogs Butler Bulldogs Vanderbilt Commodores 6Vermont Catamounts Florida State Seminoles 2Texas-El Paso Miners 3Murray State Racers Kansas State Wildcats Brigham Young Cougars Xavier Musketeers Pittsburgh Panthers 5North Texas Mean Green 0Florida Gators 1Minnesota Golden Gophers 4Oakland Golden Grizzlies