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1. The Atlantic 10 will discuss and then likely decide Thursday on how it will schedule with 15 teams next season, according to commissioner Bernadette McGlade. The A-10, which will wrap up spring meetings Thursday, will have 15 schools in the league because VCU left the CAA immediately. Temple and Charlotte don’t leave for the Big East and C-USA, respectively, until 2013. The A-10 will add Butler in the fall of 2013. Xavier coach Chris Mack said one format discussed was to have each team have two partners (four games) and then play the other 10 five home/five road. McGlade said the A-10 has been looking at creative alternatives.

2. Baylor picked up a road game with Kentucky, adding again to the Bears' solid schedule. Bears coach Scott Drew said Baylor will also play at Gonzaga in a return game from two years ago in Dallas, and also will host Northwestern and BYU. The Bears are one of the marquee teams in the Charleston Classic with Murray State, Colorado, St. John’s and Dayton. Auburn, Boston College and the College of Charleston are also in the field. Baylor will get plenty of power-rating pop for this schedule, especially with the addition of Kentucky. No one should be surprised that the return game is in a neutral setting at Cowboys Stadium. Duke and North Carolina have done similar scheduling agreements many times.

3. Class move by new Illinois State coach Dan Muller to retain the coach he beat out for the job in Illinois State assistant Rob Judson. Judson didn’t have a job after losing out to Muller since Tim Jankovich left for a coach-in-waiting position at SMU. Judson and Muller made the mature decision that this was the best move for all parties to keep the Redbirds near the top of the Missouri Valley after losing in the tournament title game against Creighton. Muller clearly showed that he is comfortable in his own skin to hire Judson. This kind of move is certainly a rarity, not the norm.

1. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said the Irish have extended their commitment to the Crossroads Classic for another two seasons. Brey expects the event to continue and be a fixture on the Irish’s schedule. Notre Dame lost badly to Indiana last season while Butler beat Purdue in thrilling fashion in the first event. Next season, in what will be the second of the initial two-year deal, will pit Notre Dame against Purdue and Indiana against Butler. Brey said the rotation of Notre Dame and Butler alternating with the two in-state Big Ten schools would continue in 2013 and 2014. The coach doesn’t anticipate playing Butler in a separate game since it might be hard to justify playing another in-state school, even one as highly rated and respected as Butler.

2. College basketball is in an era of transfers and another example of this is the attention 5-foot-9 Illinois State freshman Nic Moore is commanding. Moore had a solid freshman season for Tim Jankovich and the Redbirds -- averaging 10 points, 3.9 assists and 2.3 turnovers a game. Jankovich went to SMU to be coach-in-waiting, Vanderbilt assistant Dan Muller was hired, and now Moore wants out. As is the case with every transfer, there are suitors lining up. Notre Dame is in line with Illinois and Purdue for Moore’s services.

3. Davidson got plenty of mileage by beating Kansas in a neutral-site game in Kansas City early last season. Now Wildcats coach Bob McKillop is looking for a similar matchup. He said he called Texas coach Rick Barnes and told him he would love to play the Longhorns in Houston or Dallas at a neutral-but-Texas-leaning game. Davidson is in the Old Spice Classic, is playing Duke in Charlotte on the Bobcats’ home court, and is trying to get a single game at Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, Kansas is playing Oregon State in the same game in KC that Davidson played last season. The Jayhawks are still desperately seeking a major home game on its schedule.

1. The Kentucky-Indiana series contract is over and the two sides are discussing renewing. But the two schools are at a major impasse. Indiana coach Tom Crean said Friday that he wants to play the series as a home-and-home. Kentucky coach John Calpari said Friday that he wants it to be a neutral-site game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with tickets split down the middle. The series was last played at a neutral site in 2005 (prior to meeting in the Sweet 16 in Atlanta). “We can do it in Louisville, Lucas Oil, both teams benefit," Calipari said. Crean rebutted saying, "It's got to be a two-way street and taking it off campus isn’t anything that people here are excited about or behind."

2. If Illinois State moves past Duke associate head coach Chris Collins then one of the leading candidates for the coaching job will be Vanderbilt assistant coach Dan Muller. Gonzaga assistant Ray Gicacoletti will be in the mix as well as would Indiana assistant coach Steve McClain. Vandy coach Kevin Stallings is a former head coach at Illinois State. Muller had a high-level run as a player with the Redbirds and is going all out for this gig -- as well he should.

3. The litany of names being tossed around for Virginia Tech to replace Seth Greenberg continues. But a number of coaches -- NC State associate head coach Bobby Lutz, Loyola (Md.) Jimmy Patsos, Murray State’s Steve Prohm -- haven’t had an interview with Hokies athletic director Jim Weaver as of Sunday. Wofford’s Mike Young and former Virginia Tech assistant and current Clemson assistant James Johnson as well as Davidson’s Bob McKillop have also been bandied about as possible candidates.

1. Mississippi Valley State coach Sean Woods is one of a handful of coaches vying for the Southern Miss job, beginning with an in-person interview Monday. The others reportedly in the mix are Larry Eustachy’s Southern Miss assistant Steve Barnes, Middle Tennessee’s Kermit Davis, former Nebraska coach Doc Sadler, Wichita State assistant Greg Heiar, and UTEP coach Tim Floyd. If USM, which is also hiring an athletic director doesn’t bump up Barnes to replace Eustachy (who left for Colorado State) then Woods should be given a serious look as the choice. Woods did a remarkable job at one of the toughest places to win. He steadily increased his win total from seven to nine to 13 to 21 this past season, going 17-1 in the SWAC. Woods and Sadler are both interviewing Monday.

2. Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich was recruiting with a host of other coaches in Minnesota over the weekend. He still hadn’t been told if he’s the coach-in-waiting at SMU. It has reached a point where something better happen soon or Jankovich is going to stay put and continue to coach a Redbirds team that has a chance to win the Missouri Valley next season.

3. The Atlantic 10 still may add VCU and George Mason, along with Butler, to get to 16 schools now that Temple is off to the Big East in 2013. But no one from any of the schools or conferences are indicating an imminent departure. VCU athletic director Norwood Teague, fresh off a trip to Europe, said Sunday that there is movement going on and that everyone is simply in evaluation mode. A-10 commissioner Bernadette McGlade and CAA commissioner Tom Yeager both said Friday there was no truth about a done deal for VCU and Mason to leave. Yeager better hope that’s true. The CAA can’t afford to lose these two Final Four programs. The A-10 would have a chance to elevate itself to being considered a power basketball conference if it pulled off this move.

These players stood out during the 2011-12 season. All year, they dazzled with noteworthy performances that demanded postseason recognition.

That’s why they’ve earned spots on the 2012 John R. Wooden Award All-American team. Here are the 10 players who made the squad:

Isaiah Canaan (Murray State) -- The junior guard put Murray State on the national stage with electrifying performances that resulted in a national ranking and NCAA tournament bid. His talent (19.2 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.4 spg) was crucial during Murray State’s 23-0 start. Few knew Murray State prior to the start of the year, but Canaan’s game changed that.

Jae Crowder (Marquette) -- The Golden Eagles earned second-place honors in the Big East and ultimately reached the Sweet 16 with limited size because Crowder (17.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg), a 6-foot-6 forward, played big. He was a matchup nightmare in the Big East and beyond, a versatile forward on both ends of the floor. He recorded double-doubles in five of his last six games.

Anthony Davis (Kentucky) -- Davis (14.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 4.6 bpg) started the year as a promising freshman and could end it as a national champion. The first-year star’s defense has already made history (in January he broke Kentucky’s single-season record for blocks). But he impacts the game in other ways, too, and continues to add new wrinkles to his arsenal.

Marcus Denmon (Missouri) -- The senior guard led a Missouri squad that managed to challenge Kansas for the Big 12 title with a four-guard lineup. That assembly, led by Denmon (17.6 ppg, 5.1 apg), held its own against some of the top teams in the country for the majority of Frank Haith’s first season. Denmon scored 20 or more in 12 games.

Draymond Green (Michigan State) -- The 6-7 senior was arguably the most versatile player in America this season. Proof? He played power forward and point guard for the Spartans during their NCAA tournament run to the Sweet 16. The Big Ten Player of the Year averaged 16.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg and 3.6 apg this season. And he was a crucial leader for a Spartans squad that earned a 1-seed.

Kevin Jones (West Virginia) -- Jones’ off-the-chart numbers were masked by his team’s 9-9 Big East finish and second-round exit in the NCAA tournament against Gonzaga. But Jones (20.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg) was clearly one of the top players in America this season. He was the main reason that a freshman-heavy West Virginia roster still managed to earn an NCAA tournament berth.

Doug McDermott (Creighton) -- Entering his freshman season last year, McDermott was a redshirt candidate. This year, the 6-7 forward became an NBA prospect and national player of the year candidate. McDermott (23.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) carried Creighton to the third round of the NCAA tournament.

Thomas Robinson (Kansas) -- Robinson (17.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg) overcame a tragic stretch last season --he lost his mother, grandfather and grandmother within one month -- and entered this year as one of the top players in the country. His offseason work ethic translated into an All-America season. And it fueled the Jayhawks’ run to their eighth consecutive Big 12 title and a Final Four slot.

Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) -- Sullinger passed on the NBA and returned to Ohio State for one reason: to win a national title. The big man lost weight and expanded his game in the offseason. The result? He averaged 17.6 ppg and 9.3 rpg this season and led the Buckeyes to the Final Four.

Tyler Zeller (North Carolina) -- The ACC Player of the Year finished his career with a stellar season (16.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg). He scored 20 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in a Sweet 16 win over Ohio. North Carolina didn’t reach New Orleans, but Zeller helped the Tar Heels keep those dreams alive.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Previewing the round of 32 games at Greensboro Coliseum on Sunday:

No. 1 seed North Carolina (30-5) vs. No. 8 seed Creighton (29-5), 5:15 p.m. ET

Greg McDermott knows he made mistakes as Iowa State’s coach.

After leading Northern Iowa to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 2004 to 2006, McDermott seemed like the perfect fit to become the Cyclones’ coach. A native of Cascade, Iowa, McDermott was successful in his first three coaching stops at Division II Wayne State in Nebraska, North Dakota State and then Northern Iowa.

After spending a dozen seasons coaching at college basketball’s lower levels, McDermott seemed ready for the sport’s big time.

Instead, McDermott endured four consecutive losing seasons at Iowa State, compiling a 59-68 record and never finishing better than 6-10 in the Big 12. McDermott resigned as the Cyclones’ coach after the 2009-10 season, when Creighton mercifully threw him a lifeboat to save his sinking career.

“I made some mistakes,” McDermott said. “I made some mistakes in recruiting. I made some mistakes with my dealings with some of our players that resulted in some guys transferring. And I think if you understand yourself and you take a look in the mirror, you better grow from that and learn from that.”

McDermott has resurrected his career with the Bluejays, who will play No. 1 seed North Carolina in a Midwest Regional third-round game at Greensboro Coliseum on Sunday.

“I think that the Missouri Valley is just a really good fit for him,” said Creighton forward Doug McDermott, the coach’s son. “[It’s] a mid-major conference, a really good league, and I just think the Big 12 might have been a little bit of a wake-up call. I think he’s more comfortable in the Missouri Valley Conference recruiting wise and he just feels in his comfort zone, so he’s really happy to be here.”

Ironically, McDermott’s move to Creighton prevented him from making perhaps the biggest recruiting mistake of his career -- not recruiting his son. Doug McDermott signed to play for Northern Iowa during his senior season at Ames (Iowa) High School in 2010. Greg McDermott didn’t think his son was good enough to play at Iowa State, and frankly, didn’t think his program was good enough for him, either.

“The culture that I had created with the program at Iowa State wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” Greg McDermott said. “I was constantly plugging holes because of guys transferring. And when you do that, it becomes a vicious cycle of things probably not going very well. And Doug was around it every day and I’m not sure that he was that excited to be part of it.”

Under McDermott’s watch, the Cyclones began to fall apart after leading scorer Mike Taylor, a junior college transfer, was dismissed from the team for off-court problems in 2007. The next year, forward Wesley Johnson transferred to Syracuse after two seasons at Iowa State. Johnson injured his foot in 2007-08 and didn’t learn it was actually broken until after the season. He was named Big East Player of the Year in his only season with the Orange and was the fourth pick in the 2010 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With so much uncertainty at Iowa State, Doug McDermott thought playing for his father’s former school was a better option.

“To be honest, I didn’t really want to play for him there, either,” McDermott said. “I felt like I was a Missouri Valley Conference fit. I felt like it was a good fit for me at Northern Iowa and at the time we just decided to go separate ways.”

But when Greg McDermott signed a 10-year contract with Creighton, the Panthers agreed to release Doug to play for his father. Greg McDermott said he consulted several colleagues who coached their sons -- like former Indiana coach Bob Knight, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, former Washington State coach Dick Bennett and Michigan coach John Beilein -- about having Doug on his team.

“Almost to a man they felt if your son was going to be one of your best players, it would work fine,” Greg McDermott said. “Or if your son was a walk-on that never played, it would work fine. But if he is in the middle, if he’s your fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth guy, it creates a lot of additional pressure for your son and for you as his coach.”

That hasn’t been a problem at Creighton, where Doug McDermott has easily been the Bluejays’ best player over the past two seasons. This season, he was the country’s third-leading scorer with 23.2 points per game and was the first sophomore in history to be named MVC Player of the Year. McDermott scored 16 points with 10 rebounds in the No. 8-seeded Bluejays’ 58-57 victory over No. 9 seed Alabama in Friday’s second round.

“I don’t think anybody saw this coming,” Greg McDermott said of his son’s rapid development.

But North Carolina coach Roy Williams, who recruited Harrison Barnes, McDermott’s highly coveted teammate at Ames High School, said he told Greg McDermott his son was good enough to play at a program like Iowa State or anywhere else.

“Greg and I were standing outside the locker room when Ames won the state championship their senior year,” Williams said. “I said, ‘You’re crazy.’ I said, ‘If he’s my son, he’s going to play for me. He’s good enough to play for you.’ And that’s when Greg was at Iowa State, and he had already signed that fall with Northern Iowa. And Greg said, ‘Well, you know, I wish he were a little taller and a little stronger, and I don’t really want to put that kind of pressure on him,’ which I can appreciate that. But I said, ‘I still think you’re crazy because he would have been able to be a very successful player at Iowa State or North Carolina or anywhere.’”

On Sunday, McDermott will try to prove he and the rest of the Bluejays are good enough to topple the mighty Tar Heels.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- As soon as Creighton guard Josh Jones missed a pair of foul shots that might have put Alabama away for good with 8.7 seconds left in Friday's Midwest Region second-round game, there was only one thought that came across his mind.

"I knew if I missed those free throws and they made a shot, it was all on me," Jones said. "All I could think was: 'Who can I stop now?'"

Fortunately for Jones and the Bluejays, he blocked Alabama guard Trevor Releford's 3-pointer with one second left to preserve No. 8 seed Creighton's 58-57 victory over the No. 9-seeded Crimson Tide at Greensboro Coliseum.

Alabama players argued Jones hit Releford's arm as he shot -- and TV replays showed as much -- but officials didn't call a foul and the game was over.

"I was really relieved because I felt like I determined the outcome of the game," Jones said. "If I'd made those free throws, they would have had to [make] a desperation shot. When I missed them, I was kind of mad. I left it up to myself to get a stop at the end."

Creighton won its first NCAA tournament game since upsetting No. 5 seed Florida 83-82 on Terrell Taylor's 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left in double overtime in Chicago in 2002. The Bluejays advanced to play the winner of Friday's game between No. 1 seed North Carolina and No. 16 seed Vermont in Sunday's third round.

"We beat Alabama at their own game," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. "I would not have guessed that we could win a game at 58-57. I thought we were going to need to be in the 70s and get the tempo in our favor the entire game. We weren't able to ever get it there, and that's a credit to a great defensive team."

Creighton won the game because it played great defense at the end. During a timeout before Alabama's final inbounds play, McDermott instructed his players to show man-to-man defense when they went on the floor, but then pop into a zone at the last second. After the Tide inbounded the basketball with 4.7 seconds left, Alabama coach Anthony Grant realized what the Bluejays were doing and called timeout with 2.4 seconds to play.

"They switched to zone and we had a man play on, so I tried to get a quick timeout to give our guys something to go with," Grant said.

McDermott said the Bluejays recognized the Tide's play from video they watched of an Alabama game in last week's SEC tournament. When Releford caught the ball and attempted a 3-pointer, Jones was ready to contest it.

"We saw it on the Internet and thought we could cover it in the zone the best," McDermott said. "Josh Jones did a really good job of it. He got Releford's right hand, made him take a really tough shot. We don't play zone a lot, and we have worked on it a lot the last 10 days."

Alabama's first choice was to throw the ball inside to All-SEC forward JaMychal Green, but he was double-teamed. So the ball went to Releford at the top of the key instead.

"They went zone and we figured they were going to go zone, so we tried to overload a corner and tried to pop Releford to the top, hoping that maybe we would be able to throw it inside as they got extended," Grant said. "But they did a good job. They closed on the ball and affected the shot."

Having trailed for the final five minutes of the first half and most of the second, Creighton's defense helped turn the game around in the final nine minutes. After Alabama grabbed a 50-43 lead on Charles Hankerson's baseline jumper with 8:02 left, the Tide didn't score again for the next 5 1/2 minutes.

"Our goal in the zone against Alabama was to try to keep the ball out of the paint, both off the dribble and to try to plug it up so they couldn't get it to Green and [Nick] Jacobs down low and swarm them if they do," McDermott said. "And for the most part, we did a good job of that. But I thought we could accomplish the same thing versus them with our mantoman defense."

Doug McDermott, the Creighton coach's son, led the Bluejays with 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting with 10 rebounds. The country's third-leading scorer (with 23.2 points per game going into the contest), McDermott had to work for nearly everything against the Crimson Tide.

"They double-teamed Doug some in the first half and got it out of his hands," Greg McDermott said.

Creighton's plan all along was to wear down the Crimson Tide.

"The plan was just to outrun them," Jones said. "They kept playing the same guys over and over. We have more depth than most teams we play. It was kind of like a stalemate. They weren't scoring, but we weren't catching up with them. We just knew we had to keep running on them."

At the end, though, Creighton had to have one stop.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Breaking down No. 8 seed Creighton's 58-57 victory over No. 9 Alabama at Greensboro Coliseum on Friday:

Overview: The Bluejays rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half and then survived the Crimson Tide's furious rally in the closing seconds to get their first win in the NCAA tournament since 2002.

Creighton had a chance to put the game away in the final minute, but the Bluejays went 1-for-5 on foul shots in the final 33 seconds. Alabama made it 58-57 on guard Andrew Steele's layup with 18.4 seconds to go, and then Creighton guard Josh Jones missed two foul shots with 8.7 seconds left.

Alabama set up for a last-second play with 4.7 seconds remaining, but then Tide coach Anthony Grant called timeout just after the ball was inbounded. With 2.4 seconds to go, Tide guard Trevor Releford fired a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but Jones partially blocked it at the buzzer.


Turning point: After trailing for the last five minutes of the first half and most of the second, the Bluejays made their move with less than nine minutes to go. With the Crimson Tide holding a 48-41 lead, Creighton guard Grant Gibbs threw an inbounds pass off the back of Alabama forward JaMychal Green and scored on a layup to make it 48-43 with 8:43 left. The Bluejays got back-to-back 3-pointers from Ethan Wragge and Jones to take a 51-50 lead with 5:39 remaining.

Key player: Creighton's Doug McDermott came into the game as the country's third-leading scorer with 23.2 points per game. He had to work for everything against Alabama, scoring 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting with nine rebounds and one blocked shot. His layup put the Bluejays ahead 54-50 with 3:44 remaining.

Key stat: The Bluejays had 14 assists (on 22 shots) with only seven turnovers. Creighton never really allowed Alabama's full-court press to become much of a factor in the game.

Miscellaneous: Green finished with 12 points and six rebounds in his final game at Alabama. ... Gibbs had 10 points with six rebounds and four assists. ... Creighton outscored Bama 26-18 in the paint and outscored its bench 18-6. ... Creighton's last win in the NCAA tournament came on March 15, 2002, when Terrell Taylor hit a 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left in double overtime to defeat No. 5 seed Florida 83-82 in Chicago.


What’s next: Creighton will play the winner of top-seeded North Carolina and No. 16 Vermont on Sunday.

Call in sick for work. Play hooky from school. Plop onto your favorite sofa or reserve a table at the local sports bar.

You’ve been waiting all year for the next two days.

It’s going to be worth it.

For sports fans, the first weekend of the NCAA tournament is as good as it gets. The Super Bowl may receive more hype, and watching your hometown team play in the World Series or NBA Finals is hard to beat.

But on a national level, no event is as highly anticipated by such a wide range of fans as the NCAA tournament. And no sport can match the excitement that will unfold time and time again during the “round of 64” games that take place Thursday and Friday.

Now that most of you have made your picks and turned in your brackets, here are some things to keep an eye on over the next two days.

Five best round of 64 games

No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Connecticut (South Region) -- After finishing ninth in the Big East last season, the Huskies won their final 11 games en route to a national championship. The chances of that happening again this year appear slim, especially with a potential round of 32 game looming against Kentucky. Still, Jim Calhoun’s squad is loaded with NBA talent (Andre Drummond and Jeremy Lamb) and experience. Its tilt with the Royce White-led Cyclones should be an entertaining one.

No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Alabama (Midwest Region) -- Any little league basketball coach should have his team watch Creighton. Greg McDermott’s squad plays the game the right way. The Bluejays share the ball on offense, take high-percentage shots and genuinely relish each others’ success. They also feature one of the nation’s top players in Doug McDermott (Greg’s son). The 6-foot-7 sophomore will be challenged by an Alabama squad that’s known as one of the top defensive teams in the country.

No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 North Carolina State (Midwest Region) -- Don’t let the Wolfpack’s low seed fool you. With players such as C.J. Leslie and Lorenzo Brown, Mark Gottfried touts the most talented team in the ACC behind North Carolina and Duke. NC State, which is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006, has won four of its past five games. San Diego State, though, will be a tough out. The Aztecs had won six in a row before falling to New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference tournament title game.

No. 5 Wichita State vs. No. 12 VCU (South Region) -- VCU became the biggest story of last year’s NCAA tournament when it went all the way from the “First Four” in Dayton to the Final Four in Houston. This year Wichita State hopes to end the Rams’ run before it truly starts. The Shockers are generally regarded as the top mid-major team in America. Gregg Marshall’s squad is a solid seven deep, with underrated point guard Joe Ragland leading the way along with 7-foot center Garrett Stutz. Both players are seniors.

No. 5 New Mexico vs. No. 12 Long Beach State (West Region) -- Steve Alford’s New Mexico squad shared the Mountain West regular-season title with San Diego State before winning the league tournament. In Drew Gordon (13.4 points, 10.9 rebounds) the Lobos feature one of the field’s best-kept secrets. Led by Cousy Award finalist Casper Ware, Long Beach State is a senior-laden team that played nonconference games at Kansas, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Louisville. The 49ers won’t be intimidated by the big stage.

Best round of 64 coaching matchups

Gonzaga’s Mark Few vs. West Virginia’s Bob Huggins (East Region) -- By their own standards, Few and Huggins have had somewhat “down” years. Gonzaga failed to win at least a piece of the West Coast Conference title for the first time in 11 years. West Virginia squeaked into the tournament despite losing eight of its final 12 games. Still, these are two of the top game tacticians in the country.

Florida’s Billy Donovan vs. Virginia’s Tony Bennett (West Region) -- The Gators have won two NCAA titles under Donovan, who likes to push the tempo. Meanwhile, no coach is as good at controlling the pace of a game as Bennett, whose team averages 63.1 points a game. Only one team in the last month (Maryland) has cracked the 70-point barrier against Virginia, and the Terps needed overtime to do it. The contrast in styles between these two coaches should make the game interesting.

Memphis’ Josh Pastner vs. Saint Louis’ Rick Majerus (West Region) -- Pastner is the 34-year-old wunderkind who is regarded as one of the profession’s rising stars. Majerus has 516 career wins and took Utah to the NCAA title game in 1998. Beating such a highly regarded coach in the NCAA tournament would do wonders for Pastner, whose reputation has already begun to soar. Memphis has won 11 of its past 12 contests and won the Conference USA title by a commanding two games.

Saint Mary’s’ Randy Bennett vs. Purdue’s Matt Painter (Midwest Region) -- Bennett has turned Saint Mary’s into a mid-major power by winning 25 or more games in each of the past five seasons. This season his Gaels became the first team in 11 years other than Gonzaga to win the outright West Coast Conference title. Painter’s Purdue squads are always among the top defensive teams in the country. The Boilermakers aren’t as good as they’ve been in years past, but Painter will have them prepared for Saint Mary’s.

Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall vs. VCU’s Shaka Smart (South Region) -- Both coaches are rumored to be in line for bigger jobs (and bigger paychecks) at the end of the season. Granted, they may not want to leave their current schools. Marshall has the Shockers back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006. Smart took VCU to the Final Four last season and is hoping for another big run this month.

Best Round of 64 Individual Matchups

Florida State’s Bernard James vs. St. Bonaventure’s Andrew Nicholson (East Region) -- The 6-foot-10 James, who averages 2.3 blocks, will have his hands full trying to stop a forward who has averaged more than 16 points in each of the past three seasons. James is fortunate in that he has already faced some of the country’s top big men (Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Mason Plumlee, Mike Scott, etc.) in the ACC.

UNLV’s Mike Moser vs. Colorado’s Andre Roberson (South Region) -- Two of the nation’s top rebounders will go head-to-head when the Runnin’ Rebels meet the Buffaloes. Moser averages 10.6 rebounds per game, while Roberson snares 11.6 per contest.

Gonzaga’s Elias Harris vs. West Virginia’s Kevin Jones -- Jones would’ve likely been the Big East Player of the Year and a first-team All-American had the Mountaineers not floundered so badly down the stretch. With averages of 20.1 points and 11.1 rebounds, the 6-8 260-pounder is one of the most versatile players in the country. His size makes him a tough matchup, but Harris (6-7, 240) is big enough to handle the chore.

Alabama’s JaMychal Green vs. Creighton’s Doug McDermott (Midwest Region) -- Green had better get plenty of sleep before his team takes on Creighton. He’ll need all the energy he can muster to keep up with the 6-7 McDermott, who can score from anywhere on the court. McDermott ranks third in the country with a scoring average of 23.2 points per game.

Baylor’s backcourt vs. South Dakota State’s Nate Wolters (South Region) -- Wolters averages 21.3 points per game and, at 6-4, he’s a tough matchup for opposing guards. The Bears have plenty of backcourt depth, so expect Pierre Jackson, A.J. Walton, Brady Heslip, Deuce Bello and Gary Franklin to take their turns pestering Wolters, who scored 34 points against Washington earlier this season.

Five potential round of 64 upsets

No. 14 Belmont over No. 3 Georgetown (Midwest Region) -- The Hoyas lost their opening game in each of the past two seasons and haven’t made it to the second weekend since 2007. Belmont lost to Duke by one point in its season opener at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Bruins, who have won 14 straight, are a strong No. 14 seed.

No. 12 Long Beach State over No. 5 New Mexico (West Region) -- The 49ers won at Pittsburgh and lost by single digits at Kansas and North Carolina. They’ll have a chance in this one, but only if guard Larry Anderson (knee) is able to play. Long Beach State is led by former Gonzaga and Minnesota head coach Dan Monson.

No. 13 Montana over No. 4 Wisconsin (East Region) -- The Grizzlies have lost just one game since Dec. 10. Wisconsin, which finished fourth in the Big Ten, has had a solid season. The Badgers, however, play a slow style that makes them vulnerable to upsets. Eight of Wisconsin’s last nine wins have been by single digits.

No. 15 Detroit over No. 2 Kansas (Midwest Region) -- Kansas’ history of floundering against mid-major teams (Bucknell, Bradley, Northern Iowa, VCU) makes this game interesting. Detroit touts a McDonald’s All-America point guard in Ray McCallum Jr., and 6-foot-10 center Eli Holman began his career at Indiana before transferring to Detroit. He and 6-foot-11 teammate LaMarcus Lowe could create problems for Thomas Robinson.

No. 13 Davidson over No. 4 Louisville (West Region) -- This isn’t Stephen Curry’s Davidson team, but Bob McKillop’s squad is dangerous, nonetheless. Davidson defeated Kansas 80-74 in Kansas City back on Dec. 19. And the Wildcats went an impressive 16-2 in their conference. Louisville is one of the country’s best defensive teams, but overall, the Cardinals have a small margin for error.

As you all are filling out your brackets, you’re searching for possible upsets. Well, put down your pens and read about the following mid-major stars who could send shockwaves through the field of 68:

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AP Photo/Ricardo ArduengoIona point guard Scott Machado will lead the Gaels against BYU in the tournament's first round.
1. Scott Machado (Iona): Now that Iona is in the field, the field has to worry about Iona. The Gaels have star power with Machado, Michael Glover and Lamont “Momo” Jones. Machado is one of the best point guards in America, as he’s leading the nation with 9.9 apg. And he’s the key to Iona’s top-ranked scoring offense (83.3 ppg). The Gaels open up the tournament with a matchup against BYU in Dayton. Machado will be the best player on the floor.
2. Will Cherry (Montana): He’s scored 20 or more in 10 games this season. He’s a versatile scorer (16.0 ppg) and he’s also a stubborn defender (2.6 spg, sixth in the nation). He’s the explosive, under-the-radar star that could break a multitude of brackets. Wisconsin is a strong defensive team, but Cherry could give the Badgers a lot of problems on both ends of the court.
3. Doug McDermott (Creighton): He’s a finalist for the Wooden Award. A true star. Yes, everyone knows what McDermott is capable of. But he will shift to another gear in the Big Dance. Proof? He’s averaged 25.3 points in his team’s last six games. I think the 8-seed is low for the Bluejays. But the Midwest region presents an opportunity for McDermott to meet former high school teammate Harrison Barnes in a third-round matchup against North Carolina. McDermott could be the star of that game.
4. Joe Ragland (Wichita State): The Shockers open up the tournament with a tough matchup against VCU. But with Ragland, a senior guard averaging 13.4 ppg, they can get through the first weekend. Ragland had 30 points during a BracketBusters matchup against Davidson. Most casual fans have never heard of the senior from West Springfield, Mass. Well, give it a few days, especially if the Shockers end up in the Sweet 16.
5. Nate Wolters (South Dakota State): I saw the Minnesota native in high school. Even as a prep, he had the same offensive savvy that’s translated to the collegiate level. The Jackrabbits star is averaging 21.3 ppg, ninth in the nation. He’s the reason some Baylor fans are worried about their team’s matchup against South Dakota State in the second round. He’s scored 30 or more in six games.
6. Casper Ware (Long Beach State): The 49ers won’t be complete without Larry Anderson (knee injury). But even if the defensive standout can’t go against New Mexico, Long Beach State will still be dangerous. Ware (17.4 ppg) is a 5-foot-10 assassin. He scored 33 points in the 49ers’ Big West tournament title game victory over UC-Santa Barbara. Not impressed? He scored 29 against North Carolina, 26 against San Diego State and 16 against Kansas. Don’t let the mid-major tag fool you. Ware has high-major game.
7. D.J. Cooper (Ohio): The junior guard is averaging 14.6 ppg for the Bobcats. He’s a threat, however, for a multitude of reasons. He’s an efficient distributor (5.7 apg). He’s a game-changing defender (2.4 spg). And he’s experienced. Two years ago, the Bobcats played in the NCAA tournament. Cooper was only a freshman then, but those early experiences helped him and the other youngsters on that team prepare for tough matchups away from home. I don’t think the Bobcats will beat the Wolverines. But John Beilein won’t take them or Cooper lightly in their second-round matchup.
8. Kerron Johnson (Belmont): One of the catalysts for a Belmont team that averages 81.5 ppg, Johnson could help the Bruins send Georgetown home early. In the Bruins’ first two games of the year -- road losses to Memphis and Duke -- Johnson recorded 28 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and five steals combined. If he can keep his turnovers down (2.4), he might lead Belmont to an upset against the Hoyas.
9. Ray McCallum Jr. (Detroit): It has taken McCallum (15.6 ppg) two seasons to really showcase his potential. But he dominated the Horizon League tournament and looked like the coveted prospect who had a multitude of high major offers before he decided to play for his father at Detroit. Great players show up in March, and McCallum has really taken his game to the next level in recent weeks during his team’s five-game winning streak.
10. Wendell McKines (New Mexico State): He’s an interesting guy (just check his Twitter feed). But he’s also an underrated athlete. McKines (18.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg) scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in his team’s 82-57 victory over Louisiana Tech in the WAC title game. With McKines leading the way, the Aggies have won nine out of their last 10 games.

Members of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee made a crucial mistake before allowing its 2012 bracket to be released on national television Sunday.

They didn’t run it by me first.

Given a chance to analyze the 68-team field, I could’ve easily pointed out the flaws and poor decisions that have already caused a stir throughout college basketball circles. Players have coaches, writers have editors, blackjack dealers have pit bosses.

If only the committee would’ve realized it needed someone like me. A supervisor, a don to make sure everything went smoothly.

Here are some things I would’ve changed about this year’s bracket if I were “King of the Committee.”

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   Jeremy Brevard/US PresswireCould Gregg Marshall lead his Wichita State team to the Sweet 16?
   I hate that Wichita State and Virginia Commonwealth are playing in the opening round. The fifth-seeded Shockers are the best mid-major team in the tournament and VCU is a fan favorite after reaching the Final Four last season. It’s a shame one of these schools will be out after just one game. No offense Shaka Smart and the No. 12 seed Rams, but I’m picking Wichita State in this one. I think Gregg Marshall’s squad will advance all the way to the Sweet 16.
2. Does West Virginia really deserve a No. 10 seed? The Mountaineers have lost eight of their last 12 games, and their only wins during that stretch were against DePaul, Providence, Pittsburgh and South Florida. I’m not saying Bob Huggins’ squad didn’t earn its bid. But this seemed a bit generous.
3. I’ve got to think that a more than a handful of people choked on their cheese puffs when committee chair Jeff Hathaway said during a live interview that Missouri was the fourth No. 2 seed behind Kansas, Duke and Ohio State. Seriously, at what point does the “eyeball factor” come into play? The Tigers are 30-4 and completely dominated a strong Baylor team in the championship game of the Big 12 tournament Saturday. Sure, Missouri’s non-conference strength of schedule was poor. But to imply Frank Haith’s squad would’ve been a No. 3 seed had it lost on Saturday is concerning.
4. Speaking of the eyeball factor, did no one on the committee watch Detroit annihilate Horizon League regular-season champion Valparaiso on its home court last week? This is a team with a McDonald’s All-American at point guard and a center (Eli Holman) who will make a living playing pro ball somewhere. The only reason Detroit has 13 losses is because Holman missed the first semester while on suspension. In terms of pure talent and potential, Detroit could be the best No. 15 seed in the history of the NCAA tournament. If No. 2 seed Kansas plays tight — remember Bucknell, Bradley, Northern Iowa and VCU? — an upset isn’t out of the question. If I’m Bill Self, I’m ticked right now.
5. I’m not sure I agree with the committee’s decisions regarding a few SEC teams. Alabama finished fifth in the league with a 9-7 record and has suspended its second-best player (Tony Mitchell) for the remainder of the season. The Crimson Tide lost all of their marquee conference games against Florida, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. I’m not sure they deserve a No. 9 seed. Florida has lost four of its last five games, but three of them were to Vanderbilt and Kentucky (twice). The Gators played an excellent non-conference schedule that included road games against Ohio State and Syracuse. A No. 7 seed seems too low.
6. Not many teams were as disappointed Sunday as Creighton, which received a No. 8 seed despite going 28-5 and winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. If they get by Alabama in the first round, a matchup with North Carolina awaits. And while it would be neat to see Doug McDermott face off against his former high school teammate (Tar Heels forward Harrison Barnes), Creighton is not athletic enough or good enough defensively to challenge Roy Williams’ squad.
7. I probably would’ve found a way to include Drexel in the field, although I can’t really argue with the committee’s “last four teams in.” Iona is the one that evokes some question marks, but its strength of schedule was much better and, selfishly, I’m looking forward to seeing Michael Glover, Scott Machado and MoMo Jones do their thing on a national stage.
8. The last thing I’d do if I were the “King of the Committee” is clock out early and take my underlings out for an adult beverage or four. Despite a few minor head-scratchers, the group did an excellent job with this season’s bracket. The committee members’ task is never easy, but this season things were likely even more difficult. There was so much parity in college basketball this season, so many teams outside of the top 10 with similar resumes and strengths and weaknesses. Producing a bracket that left little room for debate was a tough chore, but this year, the committee managed to pull it off. Maybe this group didn’t need a king after all.

Check back Friday morning for Joe Lunardi's full bracket, but here are his basic projections through Thursday night's action.

SINCE THE LAST UPDATE

• Texas moves above “Last Four In” (No. 47 overall) with its victory over Iowa State.
• Mississippi State drops to “Last Four In” with its loss to Georgia.
• South Florida stays in the field (No. 46 overall) despite its loss to Notre Dame.
• Oregon moves from "First Four Out" to the last spot on "Next Four Out."

LAST FOUR IN

Washington
Mississippi State
Drexel
Seton Hall

FIRST FOUR OUT

Tennessee
Northwestern
NC State
Miami (Fla.)

NEXT FOUR OUT

Iona
Arizona
Saint Joseph's
Oregon

Also considered: Dayton, Marshall, Ole Miss

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (10)
Big Ten (6)
Big 12 (6)
SEC (5)
ACC (4)
Mountain West (4)
Atlantic 10 (3)
West Coast (3)
Colonial (2)
Conference USA (2)
Missouri Valley (2)
Pac-12 (2)

AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS

Belmont (Atlantic Sun)
Creighton (Missouri Valley)
Davidson (Southern)
Detroit (Horizon)
Harvard (Ivy)
Lehigh (Patriot)
LIU Brooklyn (Northeast)
Loyola-Md. (MAAC)
Montana (Big Sky)
Murray State (OVC)
Saint Mary's (West Coast)
South Dakota State (Summit)
UNC Asheville (Big South)
VCU (Colonial)
Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)

With ballots already due or with deadlines within the next week, the National Player of the Year race remains way too close to call.

Kentucky freshman forward Anthony Davis and Kansas junior Thomas Robinson are still in a virtual tie in the final ESPN.com Player of the Year poll. Robinson led the first three straw polls and was overtaken in the fourth by Davis.

The latter increased his lead -- barely -- in the final poll, which is composed of actual POY voters. After a three-point lead in last week’s vote, Davis now leads Robinson by seven points, 134-127.

The rules for the poll are a first-place vote gets three points, a second-place vote gets two points and a third-place vote gets one vote.

Davis and Robinson, who were named on all 53 ballots received for the final poll, are separated by nine first-place votes. But considering there are four different awards that have four different due dates, it still means there is a better-than-decent chance there is either a split in Player of the Year awards or the award is shared in some instances.

The Robertson ballots were due Sunday. The Naismith is due Friday and Associated Press this coming Sunday. The Wooden ballots are due following the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.

In 2002-03, there was a split award when Xavier’s David West won the Robertson and Associated Press Player of the Year awards and Texas guard T.J. Ford won the Naismith and Wooden.

The Naismith and Wooden awards haven’t been split since 1994-95, when Maryland’s Joe Smith won the Naismith and AP and UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon won the Wooden and Robertson. The only time a major award was shared was in 2005-06, when Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison and Duke’s J.J. Redick shared the Robertson Award.

So depending what happens over the next two weeks, there still could be enough fluctuation for ballots to change.

That said, here’s a look at the 53 ballots that comprise the closest POY race in recent memory:


Poll Analysis:

-- Davis continued inching ahead of Robinson, but not by much. Green solidified himself in the No. 3 position and the Big Ten Player of the Year is a likely All-American.

-- The final poll had a season-low nine players listed. Those nine players were from six conferences -- ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Missouri Valley and SEC. One team, Kentucky, had two players mentioned on the final ballot.

-- This ballot was the first all season that did not have a single guard listed.

-- Six players from the fourth ballot dropped off before the final one -- Murray State guard Isaiah Canaan, Marquette guard Darius Johnson-Odom, UNLV forward Mike Moser, Duke guard Austin Rivers, Iona guard Scott Machado and Missouri guard Marcus Denmon. Two players, Kidd-Gilchrist and Jones, made a return to the final ballot after falling off prior ones.

-- The top five vote-getters in the final poll were listed on every poll this season and were the top five vote-getters in the past two polls.

Thomas Robinson or Anthony Davis.

Anthony Davis or Thomas Robinson

There isn’t a wrong answer, so whoever wins this year’s Wooden Award will be more than deserving.

As an official voter, I’ve thought long and hard about that ballot I’ll be casting in a few weeks. After three months of indecisiveness -- you’ve seen how I’ve waffled from week to week -- I’ve decided on Robinson.

Here’s why: Robinson’s phenomenal season has been achieved under an immense amount of pressure. He enters each game knowing that, if he doesn’t perform well, his team will likely lose. Other than ESPN.com third-team All-American Tyshawn Taylor, Robinson isn’t surrounded by a wealth of standout players. The Jayhawks went 16-2 in the Big 12 with a walk-on (Conner Teahan) as their sixth man and a transfer from Loyola Marymount (Kevin Young) as their seventh man. This is as thin of a team as Bill Self has ever had in Lawrence.

Because of that, teams almost always elected to double-team -- and sometimes triple-team -- Robinson. The 6-foot-9 junior almost always maintained his composure and responded with a double-double. He had 22 of them in Kansas’ 31 games. Along with averaging 18 points, Robinson ranked second in the nation in rebounds with 11.9 per contest. His numbers were achieved against significantly better competition than Davis faced at Kentucky. Kansas played a much tougher nonconference schedule, and let’s be honest, the Big 12 is better than the SEC.

Take Davis off Kentucky’s roster and the Wildcats would’ve still been one of the top five teams in the country. I realize that’s not Davis’ fault and that he shouldn’t be penalized for being surrounded by supreme talent. But it is what it is. Without Robinson, the Jayhawks would’ve struggled to make the NIT. That’s not an exaggeration. The pressure on Robinson to carry one of the nation’s elite programs in what was supposed to be a “down” year was immense. But the junior responded.

Every time.

Here’s how my final Wooden Award ballot will look.

1. Thomas Robinson, Kansas -- In what was likely his final game at Allen Fieldhouse, the junior had 25 points and 14 rebounds in a win against Texas. He ended the regular season averaging 18 points and 11.9 rebounds, a mark that ranks second in the nation. Robinson is projected to be a top-10 pick in this summer’s NBA draft.
2. Anthony Davis, Kentucky -- Two of Kentucky’s last three games were against Florida and Vanderbilt, which are generally regarded as the top two teams in the SEC other than Kentucky. Davis averaged 25.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.5 blocks in those two games. He ended the regular season averaging team highs in points (14.4), rebounds (9.8) and blocks (4.7).
3. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina -- No other player in the ACC had as good of a season as Zeller, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Tar Heels to an ACC title-clinching win Saturday at Duke. The 7-foot senior averaged 23 points over his final three regular-season games. He’s averaging 16.3 points and 9.3 rebounds for the season.
4. Draymond Green, Michigan State -- The most versatile player in college basketball averages 16.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals for a team that shared the Big Ten title with Michigan and Ohio State. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Green earned conference MVP honors ahead of future NBA lottery pick Jared Sullinger.
5. Doug McDermott, Creighton -- The sophomore had 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting in Sunday’s overtime win against Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament title game. He ranks third in the nation with 23.2 points per game and also averages 8.2 rebounds. Most impressively, McDermott is shooting 61 percent from the field and 49.5 percent from 3-point range.

Here are the other 10 official Wooden Award finalists, as announced Tuesday morning on ESPN.com:

Isaiah Canaan, Murray State -- The point guard is averaging 19.2 points for the Racers, who will take a 30-1 record into the NCAA tournament.

Jae Crowder, Marquette -- Voted Most Valuable Player in the Big East, Crowder is averaging 24.7 points in his last six games.

Marcus Denmon, Missouri -- With an 18-point scoring average, the senior guard is the key reason the Tigers are a top-5 team and a Final Four contender.

Kevin Jones, West Virginia -- The senior forward, who averages 20 points and 11.2 rebounds, would’ve easily been a first-team All-American had his team not struggled so mightily down the stretch.

Kris Joseph, Syracuse -- The versatile forward leads the nation’s second-best team in scoring with 14.1 points per game.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist -- Kentucky’s do-everything freshman averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks. He’s vowed to return for his sophomore season. We’ll see.

Damian Lillard, Weber State -- The point guard ranks second in the nation in scoring with 24.5 points per game and also averages 3.9 assists.

Scott Machado, Iona -- Ranks second in the nation in assists with 9.9 per contest. Also averages 13.6 points.

Austin Rivers, Duke -- The freshman leads the Blue Devils with 15.3 points per game. Came on strong during the second half of the season.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State -- Almost impossible to stop in the paint, the sophomore led Ohio State in points (16.9) and rebounds (9.3).

Five others who were strongly considered: Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas), Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette), Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Will Barton (Memphis), Cody Zeller (Indiana)

ST. LOUIS -- Moments after the final horn -- after the most physical, emotional game it’s played during this magnificent season -- the Creighton basketball team put on a different type of performance for the 5,000-or-so fans who remained at the Scottrade Center Sunday.

Perched atop a podium at center court, the Bluejays cleared their throats.

They took deep breaths.

And then they sang.

“Weeeee aaarrreee the chaaaammmpions, WEEEE ARRREEE the CHAAAMMM-pions!” Doug McDermott & Co. crooned, laughing as they veered off-key to the famous Queen song. A few minutes later they watched themselves on the “One Shining Moment” video that played on the JumboTron.

Then then came the snippage of both of the arena’s nets.

“This is what we work for,” McDermott said. “This is what we all dream of, to play on national television for a championship.”

Sunday’s 83-79 overtime win over Illinois State was for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament trophy -- not the NCAA title. But there were times during the celebration when it almost felt that way.

A lot of schools, especially ones from power conferences, don’t get all that jazzed about league tournaments. Most of them would prefer Selection Sunday to be the day after the regular season. North Carolina coach Roy Williams once said the events were “nothing more than a cocktail party for the alumni.”

It certainly didn’t feel that way inside the Scottrade Center, where it wasn’t hard to sense a genuine appreciation and satisfaction over what had just been accomplished.

Before they looked ahead to the future, the Bluejays wanted to make sure to reflect on their past, to remember what got them to this moment in the first place. The road, they said, definitely hasn’t been easy.

“We’ve had a target on our backs [all season],” said head coach Greg McDermott, Doug’s father. “These guys have handled it really well. They haven’t let it become a distraction.”

It’s indeed rare for a mid-major school to hover in the national spotlight as long as Creighton. The Bluejays garnered national headlines by winning at San Diego State on Nov. 30. They’ve been one of the most scrutinized non-BCS teams ever since.

Having a player such as McDermott -- a first-team All-American by ESPN.com -- only increased the attention. McDermott’s 22.9-point scoring average ranks third in the nation.

The Bluejays got off to a 21-2 start but then dropped three straight games to Northern Iowa, Evansville and Wichita State. The losses kept McDermott’s squad from taking the Missouri Valley Conference title, but that hardly deterred the Bluejays, who will take a seven-game winning streak into the NCAA tournament.

“We really didn’t change much,” Doug McDermott said. “We never lost our confidence.”

That was obvious Sunday.

One day after upsetting No. 1 seed Wichita State, Illinois State tried its best to out-tough Creighton Sunday. The Redbirds, who finished just 9-9 in league play, led by six points midway through the second half and made two baskets in the final 16 seconds to force overtime.

But the Bluejays scored the first five points of the extra period and never looked back.

“They were rolling,” Creighton guard Grant Gibbs said of the Redbirds. “They had that ‘not-holding-anything-back-Cinderella-type deal’ going. They were playing with a ton of confidence.”

All of it came to a crushing halt after Creighton pulled away. While the Bluejays celebrated on the court, Illinois State was despondent in its locker room after coming within minutes of earning an NCAA tournament berth.

“It cuts so deep,” Redbirds coach Tim Jankovich said. “To fall this short of an NCAA bid is painful beyond words.”

Meanwhile, Creighton couldn’t have been happier to be celebrating again after making the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007. The past two years, the Bluejays weren’t even invited to the NIT. The players said the credit should go to Greg McDermott, who is in his second season since taking over for Dana Altman, who left for Oregon in 2010.

“It’s very rewarding,” point guard Antoine Young said. “It’s good to have Creighton basketball back where it needs to be, back where it should be.”

The question now is how much further the Bluejays can go.

Creighton is not extremely quick and athletic, so their defense is a concern against faster teams adept at beating a defender off the dribble and attacking the basket. But the Bluejays do have players in the paint that have both size and skill. Greg Echinique (6-9, 270) began his career at Rutgers. The 6-foot-7 Doug McDermott is aggressive in the paint and 6-11 forward Will Artino comes off the bench.

“Not every mid-major has what we have on the front line,” Greg McDermott said.

And most aren’t as crisp and efficient offensively as the Bluejays.

Creighton shoots a national-best 51 percent from the field. The Bluejays’ 79.9 points per game ranks sixth in the nation, and their average of 18 assists is third.

This is an extremely patient, unselfish team that doesn’t take bad shots. That can get you a long way in the NCAA tournament -- especially if the matchups are favorable. Just as Butler and VCU, both of which made the Final Four last season.

Creighton is every bit as good as both of those teams. And the Bluejays know it.

“We’ll be ready,” Doug McDermott said. “We’re not scared of anybody.”