(1) Duke (25-5)
(16) Delaware St (19-13)
(8) Stanford (18-12)
(9) Miss St (22-10)
(5) Mich St (22-6)
(12) ODU (28-5)
(4) Syracuse (27-6)
(13) Vermont (24-6)
(6) Utah (27-5)
(11) UTEP (27-7)
(3) Oklahoma (24-7)
(14) Niagara (20-9)
(7) Cincy (24-7)
(10) Iowa (21-11)
(2) Kentucky (25-5)
(15) E Kentucky (22-8)
The Prospects:
Duke
Shelden Williams, 6-9, PF, junior, mid-first rounder
Williams is probably the most productive big man in the NCAA along with Andrew Bogut this year, and Duke will be counting heavily on his presence in the paint on both ends of the floor to make it to the final four. He has reminded many of Emeka Okafor with the type of defense he's been playing this season, blocking shots, rebounding and scoring when Duke's guards decide to feed him. If Williams can stay out of foul trouble like he has all year long and get opposing big men in trouble himself, he could very well cement a place in this year's lottery with some dominating performances.
J.J Redick, 6-3, SG, junior, ???
Redick has been proving the doubters wrong all season long with his incredible shooting and scoring ability, being virtually impossible to stop even against the toughest defenders the ACC has to offer. When he gets going, there isn't a more dangerous scorer anywhere in America right now. His fantastic free throw shooting will undoubtedly come in very handy for Duke when they are look to put games away, and his shooting ability makes no lead insurmountable if he catches fire. His draft stock heavily depends on who is being asked, some will tell you that he is a lock to be drafted in the first round and maybe even the lottery whenever he decides to come out, while others will say that his size, average athletic ability and defense will make him into nothing more than a nice role player off someone's bench.
Daniel Ewing, 6-3, PG/SG, senior, 2nd rounder
Ewing has failed to show that he can be a steady PG on the NCAA level this year, and that along with his streaky shooting and questionable shot selection are the main reasons many people believe that Duke does not have what it takes to make a final four run. Ewing stands more to gain from this tournament than any of Duke's NBA prospects, as he'll have every opportunity to show that he can run a team successfully and get everyone around him involved. There is no doubt that he has the size, defense and athletic ability to play in the league, but it's the PG skills that the scout will be looking for out of him. Duke will only go as far as Ewing will take them, but luckily for them he has turned up his play as of late, dishing out 19 assists in their last two games. If Ewing can continue to run Coach K's offense effectively, he could even work his way into the end of the 1st round.