NCAA TOURNAMENT

What to know about the NCAA tournament teams playing in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Winthrop's Keon Johnson (right) is the Big South player of the year and one of the smallest players in college basketball.

(4) Butler Bulldogs

Location: Indianapolis.
Record: 23-8, 12-6. Bid: Big East at-large.
Last appearance: 2016, lost to Virginia in second round.
Coach: Chris Holtmann (2-2 in two appearances).
Overview: In many respects, this is a typical Butler team — well-coached, fundamentally sound on defense and never believing it’s beaten. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs can be prone to lengthy offensive outages. Holtmann’s decision to start bringing leading scorer Kelan Martin (16.1 ppg) as well as Kamar Baldwin (10.1 ppg) off the bench helped snap the team out of a midseason slump.
Projected starters: F Andrew Chrabascz, 6-7, Sr. (11.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.2 apg); F Tyler Wideman, 6-8, Jr. (7.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .608 fg%); G Kethan Savage, 6-3, Sr. (8.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg); G Avery Woodson, 6-2, Sr. (8.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg); G Tyler Lewis, 5-11, Sr. (6.5 ppg, 4.0 apg).

(13) Winthrop Eagles

Location: Rock Hill, S.C.
Record: 26-6, 15-3. Bid: Big South champion.
Last appearance: 2010, lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in opening round.
Coach: Pat Kelsey (first appearance).
Overview: The Eagles have won 17 of 19 since Jan. 1. Keon Johnson, Big South player of the year, leads an explosive offense that averages almost 80 points. Winthrop has made 304 three-pointers. There’s some strength off the bench, led by Anders Broman (8.3 ppg).
Projected starters: G Keon Johnson, 5-7, Sr. (22.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 86.8 FT%); G Anders Broman, 6-0, So. (5.5 ppg); G/F Xavier Cooks, 6-8, Jr. (16.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.8 apg); F Roderick Perkins, 6-5, Sr. (7.5 ppg); C Duby Okeke, 6-8, Jr. (3.9 rpg).

BRACKETS: USA Today Bracket Challenge | Printable bracket (with times/TV)

D'AMATO: Marquette has shooter's chance

(5) Minnesota Golden Gophers

Location: Minneapolis.
Record: 24-9, 11-7. Bid: Big Ten at-large.
Last appearance: 2013, lost to Florida in second round.
Coach: Richard Pitino (first appearance).
Overview: But for a five-game losing streak in January, Minnesota has had a sensational season — one that earned fourth-year coach Richard Pitino coach of the year honors in the Big Ten a season after going 8-23 overall. The Golden Gophers are dancing for the first time under Pitino and do so with one of the nation’s most efficient defenses and one of the best shot-blocking teams in the country.
Projected starters: G Nate Mason, 6-2, Jr. (15.5 ppg, 5.1 apg); G Amir Coffey, 6-8, Fr. (12.0 ppg, 3.1 apg); F Jordan Murphy, 6-6, So. (11.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg); C Reggie Lynch, 6-10, Jr. (8.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg).

(12) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Location: Murfreesboro.
Record: 30-4, 17-1. Bid: C-USA champion.
Last appearance: 2016, lost to Syracuse in second round.
Coach: Kermit Davis (1-4 in four appearances).
Overview: This season was one of affirmation that the Blue Raiders are one of the top mid-major programs in the country after shocking Michigan State in last year’s tournament. Holdovers F Reggie Upshaw and G Giddy Potts and Arkansas transfer F JaCorey Williams have made them even better. They ran through Conference USA regular season and conference tournament with one blemish — a loss at Texas-El Paso.
Projected starters: F JaCorey Williams, 6-8, Sr. (17.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 54.1 FG%); F Reggie Upshaw, 6-8, Sr. (14.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 52.5 FG%); G Giddy Potts, 6-2, Jr. (15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 80.6 FT%); G Tyrik Dixon, 6-1, Fr. (5.8 ppg, 3.3 apg); G Edward Simpson, 6-2, Jr. (3.5 ppg, 2.2 apg).

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(4) Purdue Boilermakers

Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Record: 25-7, 14-4. Bid: Big Ten at-large.
Last appearance: 2016, lost to Arkansas-Little Rock in first round.
Coach: Matt Painter (8-9 in nine appearances).
Overview: Don’t let the fact that the top of the Big Ten isn’t as strong as normal fool you. Purdue, led by double-double machine Caleb Swanigan, is the real deal and will be a hard out for any team with weaknesses in the frontcourt. The Boilermakers have suffered a few early exits in recent years, but this group is talented enough to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2010.
Projected starters: G P.J. Thompson, 5-10, Jr. (7.3 ppg, 3.0 apg); G Ryan Cline, 6-6, So. (5.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg); G Dakota Mathias, 6-4, Jr. (10.1 ppg, 3.6 apg); F Vincent Edwards, 6-8, Jr. (12.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg); F Caleb Swanigan, 6-9, So. (18.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg).

(13) Vermont Catamounts

Location: Burlington.
Record: 29-5, 16-0. Bid: America East champion.
Last appearance: 2012, lost to North Carolina in first round.
Coach: John Becker (1-1 in one appearance).
Overview: Vermont, which has won 21 in a row, could play spoiler. The Catamounts go nine or 10 deep and shoot a shade under 50% from the field (49.5). UVM’s defense allows just 63.2 points per game (19th in the nation) while its offense hung 80-plus points on opponents 10 times this season.
Projected starters: F Payton Henson, 6-8, Jr. (11.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg); F Anthony Lamb, 6-6, Fr. (11.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg); G Trae Bell-Haynes, 6-2 Jr. (11.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.9 apg); G Ernie Duncan, 6-3, So. (9.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg); G Kurt Steidl, 6-6, Sr. (8.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg).

(5) Iowa State Cyclones

Location: Ames.
Record: 23-10, 12-6. Bid: Big 12 champion.
Last appearance: 2016, lost to Virginia in the Sweet 16.
Coach: Steve Prohm (3-2 in two appearances).
Overview: Led by senior point guard Monte Morris, the Cyclones’ four-guard lineup is a matchup nightmare. With the smaller lineup, Iowa State is routinely outrebounded, but the Cyclones make up for it by taking care of the ball, averaging only 10 turnovers.
Projected starters: G Monte Morris, 6-3, Sr. (16.2 ppg, 6.2 apg, 4.6 rpg); G Nazareth Mitrou-Long, 6-4, Sr. (16.0 ppg, 2.8 apg, 4.7 rpg); G Deonte Burton, 6-5, Sr. (14.4 ppg, 1.8 apg, 6.2 rpg); G Matt Thomas, 6-5, Sr. (12.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg); G Solomon Young, 6-8, Fr. (4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg).

(12) Nevada Wolfpack

Location: Reno.
Record: 28-6, 14-4. Bid: Mountain West champion.
Last appearance: 2007, lost to Memphis in second round.
Coach: Eric Musselman (first appearance).
Overview: Nevada likely had a shot of squeaking into the field of 68 as an at-large, but it saved the suspense for other bubble teams by beating Colorado State in the Mountain West tournament title game. Musselman has reshaped the program, and this team has the firepower to pull off a first-round upset. It starts and ends with senior Marcus Marshall, a transfer from Missouri State who energizes the entire roster with his playmaking abilities.
Projected starters: F Cameron Oliver, 6-8, So. (16.2 ppg), G Marcus Marshall, 6-3, Sr. (19.8 ppg, 3.7 apg), G D.J. Fenner, 6-6, Sr. (14.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg), G Jordan Caroline, 6-7, So. (14.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg), G Lindsey Drew, 6-7, So. (5.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.8 apg).