No. 1 seed primer: Villanova
Villanova might be the most slept-on No. 1 seed in years.
The Wildcats dominated the Big East, barely breaking a sweat in the regular season. There were a few shaky moments, such as the losses to Seton Hall and Georgetown, but the team showed they can persevere, and this No. 1 slot isn't an accident.
The squad features a not-so-well-known cast of players - at least in terms of the national stage - but this is a Jay Wright-coached team filled with experience looking to finally break through in March.
Record: 32-2
Conference record: 16-2
Conference tournament result: Defeated Xavier 69-52 in Big East championship
Odds to win it all: +800
Points per game: 76.3 (21st)
Points allowed per game: 60.9 (46th)
Rebounds per game: 34.41 (172nd)
Assists per game: 15.9 (13th)
Worst loss: at Seton Hall - 66-61 (OT), Jan. 3
Player to watch: Daniel Ochefu
Ochefu is a walking double-double threat, averaging 9.2 points and 8.4 rebounds. The junior stands 6-foot-11, 245 pounds with a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan and makes full use of his length. He was one point away from a 20-20 game earlier this season, scoring 19 points with 24 rebounds in the aforementioned 66-61 overtime loss to Seton Hall.
His final six games - including the regular season and Big East tournament - saw a continuation of his fine play but with an uptick in scoring, as he averaged 10.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. Standing as the team's tallest player, he'll be counted on to protect the rim, likely extending his team lead in blocks.
Biggest strength: Unselfishness and efficiency
The Wildcats are loaded with players who possess the presence of mind to set up teammates for open looks, as evidence by their 13th national ranking in assists per game (15.9). Unselfishness is hard to defend, resulting in six players averaging at least nine points.
The Wildcats were also one of the most careful teams with the ball, ranking eighth nationally in assist-turnover ratio (1.48). The team is simply unafraid to play patient and wait for the perfect look on every possession.
Their ability to locate open players has resulted in the team scoring on a collective 46.9 percent of its shots. Scary, considering four of the team's top-five scorers are guards and they shoot in the 40 percent range.
Biggest weakness: Rebounding
The team doesn't attack the boards with the same zeal they find the open man.
The Wildcats sit 173rd in total rebounds per game (34.3) and 193rd in offensive rebounds (10.42).
Aside from Ochefu, the next best rebounder is 6-foot-7 forward JayVaughn Pinkston. With many top-seeded teams running their offenses from within the post, this could be a major issue for the Wildcats to keep up with the likes of Kentucky, Duke and Virginia.