Each March, before I fill in my NCAA tournament bracket, I like to pause a moment and consider the most important statistic related to each of the 68 teams in the field. Sometimes it's a number recorded by an individual player or the head coach; other times, it's a collective team statistic. This March, I've found some numbers that really surprise me -- both in good and bad ways.
Here are the numbers to know for each of the field's 68 teams:
1. Kansas
Number to know: 51
The Jayhawks haven't walked off of a basketball floor in defeat for 51 days now, a rather impressive feat for a team playing in the Big 12, statistically the strongest conference in the nation. Since Bill Self solidified his rotation by starting Landen Lucas alongside Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks have been able to combine potent scoring with formidable defense in a manner that is downright KU-like.
Number to know: 1,279
During ACC regular-season play, the Tar Heels' defense allowed 1,279 points over the course of 1,276 possessions. Holding opponents to almost precisely one point per trip is a marker of very good, and I might even say Virginia-level, defense. Somehow, there arose a belief this season that UNC was inconsistent on defense or that the unit's good showing in the ACC tournament was the result of a marked improvement. The numbers suggest otherwise: UNC's defense is excellent, and it has been that way for a long while.
3. Virginia
Number to know: 83
For years, the ACC was easy to describe from high altitude: Duke and North Carolina dominated, and every other program cycled through coaches, looking for a guy who could compete with Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams. (Long-tenured Leonard Hamilton being the sole exception to that rule at Florida State.) In 2009, Virginia found its guy. Over the past three seasons, Tony Bennett has won 83 percent of his games in ACC play, pointedly superior to what teams in Durham (72 percent) or Chapel Hill (70 percent) can claim over that same span. Bennett has taken the Cavaliers to heights that once seemed off limits for the ACC's "other" programs.
4. Oregon
Numbers to know: 4 and 7
If you don't already, get to know Chris Boucher. He has a fantastic personal story, and, oh by the way, his performance on the basketball court is remarkable. In the Ducks' win at Arizona State earlier this season, the 6-foot-10 Boucher drained four 3s and blocked seven shots. He's the only player to have done that in a Division I game over the past six years. Again, get to know Boucher.
Number to know: 43.4
Not only does Michigan State shoot 3s better than any team in the nation, but the Spartans' 43.4 percent success rate from beyond the arc is the highest such number recorded by any major-conference program since at least 2002. When you combine such 3-point accuracy with characteristic Tom Izzo-brand rebounding and defense, the result is fairly extraordinary. And, needless to say, Denzel Valentine helps make this combination possible.
6. Oklahoma
Number to know: 413
In 32 games this season, Buddy Hield has seen a shot of his go through the net 413 times. Whether it's been a 3 (127 makes), a 2 (132) or a free throw (154), Hield has added to Oklahoma's bottom line to the tune of almost 13 buckets a game -- and he has done so with a bare minimum of attempts, relatively speaking. No other player in the field of 68 possesses this same capacity for explosion on offense quite like Hield.
7. Villanova
Number to know: 55.3
After early exits from each of the past two NCAA tournaments, a theory arose to the effect that the Wildcats are overly reliant on outside shooting. Whatever value that explanation may hold in the past tense, it doesn't seem to apply to Jay Wright's current team. In Big East play this season, Villanova connected on 55.3 percent of its 2s. If the 3s don't fall for Josh Hart and company, the Wildcats have other options.
8. Xavier
Number to know: 80.3
At first glance, Edmond Sumner appears to be a good but not necessarily exceptional 74 percent free throw shooter. I have to wonder, however, whether the freshman might be improving before our eyes. In Big East play, the 6-foot-6 combo guard hit 80.3 percent of his tries from the line. That's important to Xavier, as Sumner proved earlier this season, when he went 11-of-13 at the line in the Musketeers' 90-83 win over Villanova.
Number to know: 39 and 72
Call them "Press Virginia" if you want, but I'm not sure that forcing turnovers (which the Mountaineers do with regularity) is still the most impressive feature of Bob Huggins' group. Take rebounding. West Virginia's dominance on the boards doesn't have a catchy label, but you're looking at a team that in Big 12 play posted rebounding percentages of 39 and 72 on the offensive and defensive ends, respectively. If there's a miss, the Mountaineers are more likely than just about any team in the field to snatch the board.
10. Miami
Number to know: 22.4
Sheldon McClellan needs to shoot more. The senior is the very picture of efficiency and accuracy on offense, but per kenpom.com, he's accounting for only 22.4 percent of the Hurricanes' shots during his minutes. McClellan's willingness to defer to teammates might be part of the reason Miami ranked No. 7 in the ACC in points scored per possession during league play. And, in light of the fact that the Canes are very good on defense, a few more shots from McClellan could pay big dividends for Jim Larrañaga's team.
11. Utah
Number to know: 1
A low foul rate from a team that's not playing good defense can indicate a lack of depth, will or both. (Ahem, Duke.) But a low foul rate from a team that plays excellent D is always impressive. And no team in the field can touch Utah's body of work in this area. Actually no team outside the field can equal the Utes in this respect, either. In league play this season, Utah ranked No. 1 for lowest opponent free throw rate (FTA/FGA) of the 75 major-conference teams. It is unlikely that Larry Krystkowiak's guys will end their season by being outshot at the line.
12. Texas A&M
Number to know: 268
In his illustrious and, one might even say, felonious career, Alex Caruso has thus far recorded 268 steals. The ability to make the opposing scorer worry about merely hanging onto the ball is one reason why this A&M defense is so outstanding. In SEC play, the Aggies allowed opponents just 0.99 points per trip, the best figure in the league.
13. Duke Blue
Number to know: 41.6
You were expecting me to talk about Grayson Allen tripping people or Brandon Ingram's draft stock, but everyone always talks about those guys. Today is the time to pay attention to Matt Jones. The junior shot 41.6 percent from 3 this season. You might think that sounds excellent yet not particularly eye-popping, but do keep in mind that Jones shot 14.3 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman. His improvement is staggering, and in a Duke rotation where every body counts, the emergence of a true perimeter threat where there was none before is no small matter.
14. California
Number to know: 43.3
When people think of Cal in 2016, terms like "great recruiting year" and "NBA talent" likely come to mind. Those are applicable terms, and alongside those, I have one more to recommend: "outstanding defense." In Pac-12 play, opponents converted just 43.3 percent of their 2-point attempts. Between Maryland and the Golden Bears, the top half of the South bracket is not lacking for examples of the "talented yet tough" brand of hoops.
15. Kentucky
Number to know: 45
Tyler Ulis is quite simply one of the best point guards in the nation, and in Kentucky's 82-77 overtime win against Texas A&M in the SEC tournament title game, he had a virtually perfect 45 minutes. Ulis scored 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field to go along with five assists, three steals and just one turnover. On a day when the Aggies' Alex Caruso was harassing Jamal Murray into 3-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, the Wildcats leaned on the smallest player on the floor. John Calipari will need that kind of performance from Ulis if Kentucky is to escape a very challenging bracket.
16. Iowa State
Number to know: 53
Georges Niang has scored 53 points combined in his past two outings, and while it's true both of those games turned out to be losses, it's hard to see how the senior could have done any more to help the Cyclones win. In those losses to Kansas and Oklahoma, Niang made 19 of his 29 2-point attempts while dishing 10 assists and pulling down 12 defensive boards. The Cyclones have had trouble stopping elite offenses, but now that Steve Prohm's men have escaped the rigors of Big 12 play, Niang's heroics on offense may once again have the desired effect.
17. Indiana
Number to know: 6
Some coaches are known for being analytics-friendly. Jim Larrañaga has sung the praises of advanced stats for years, and Sean Miller's Arizona staff is fairly notorious for feverishly checking the team's updated numbers at kenpom.com. Add Tom Crean to that list. Per hoop-math.com, the Hoosiers ranked No. 6 in Division I for lowest percentage of shot attempts devoted to 2-point jumpers. Staying away from inefficient 2-point jumpers helped propel an Indiana offense that scored 1.15 points per possession in Big Ten play.
18. Purdue
Number to know: 27 and 11
A.J. Hammons put up a 27-11 double-double in Purdue's 76-59 win over Michigan in the Big Ten tournament semifinals. The senior's continued development as a high-possession-usage scorer in the post has helped lift a Purdue offense that has improved dramatically since 2014-15. If you appreciate strength-on-strength collisions, be near a TV when this offense takes the floor against the tenacious and intense defense of Arkansas-Little Rock.
19. Maryland
Number to know: 661
Robert Carter traveled 661 miles to transfer from Georgia Tech to Maryland, and I must confess that when he made the decision, I wondered if people were overstating the impact he would have. After all, the junior arrived in College Park as a stretch-4 who had made just 27 percent of his 3-point attempts in his career. Well, I was mistaken. If anything, people are now understating just how valuable Carter is to the Terrapins. In addition to hitting 37 percent of his 3s in Big Ten play, Mark Turgeon's forward has been unstoppable inside the arc.
20. Baylor
Number to know: 41
Cut the Baylor defense some slack. I know it looks pretty unimpressive on paper, but Scott Drew ran into some brutal luck in the form of opponents' 3-point shooting. The Bears did their part, limiting the number of attempts that Big 12 opponents launched from beyond the arc. But on the few tries that were recorded, opponents shot a blistering 41 percent in conference play. The Baylor D may not be the equal of Virginia, but it can quickly look a lot better than you think if opposing teams ever cool off from outside.
21. Texas
Number to know: 61
Prince Ibeh has recorded 61 blocks this season, a number that becomes even more impressive when you consider that the senior has logged just 561 minutes. Those blocks don't come free for Shaka Smart, however. Another remarkable number underscores the risk of having such an excellent shot-blocker on the floor: 41.5, as in Ibeh's free throw percentage.
22. Notre Dame
Number to know: 47
The number 47 must surely annoy Mike Brey and the Fighting Irish, even as they prepare for a round-of-64 matchup against either Michigan or Tulsa. That is, of course, the number of points ND scored in a blowout loss to North Carolina in the ACC tournament semifinals. The Irish finished the season with the ACC's best offense on paper, but in three of their past five outings, they've failed to score a point per possession.
23. Arizona
Number to know: 4
This marks the fourth consecutive year that Sean Miller has brought his team into the NCAA tournament having already won at least 25 games. This season's Wildcats are one of the best shooting teams Miller has had in his seven seasons in Tucson. With Ryan Anderson scoring inside the arc, and Gabe York hitting 42 percent of his 3s, Arizona's offense stands out in this field of 68.
24. Seton Hall
Number to know: 7
Isaiah Whitehead has scored at least 20 points in seven consecutive games, and while I'm not ordinarily a big points-per-game guy, I'm making an exception in this case. Whitehead's possession usage is pretty consistent, and when he's scoring, Seton Hall usually has a chance to win (thanks in large part to a very good defense). The only limiting factor for the talented sophomore can be found in another number during that seven-game stretch: 33, as in the number of turnovers he has committed.
25. Wisconsin
Number to know: 20.1
Possibly the most remarkable aspect of what has clearly been a remarkable season for Greg Gard has been the willingness he has shown to change the Badgers' style of play. For example, take their surprisingly high rate of forced turnovers on defense. Making Big Ten opponents cough the ball up on 20.1 percent of their possessions would be striking in any case. Coming from a program with a strong defend-the-paint tradition like Wisconsin's makes it all the more notable. The field of 68 is less adept at avoiding turnovers than teams in the Big Ten, so Wisconsin's ability to record takeaways could come to the fore.
26. Dayton
Number to know: 3
The Flyers are 3-0 in overtime games this season, and two of those wins happened in the past three weeks. Dayton prevailed after 45 minutes on the road against Saint Louis and at home over VCU. In an alternate universe, where Archie Miller's team loses both of those games, the Flyers are sitting at 23-9, having lost six of their past eight games. Do they get into the tournament then? We'll never know, but I do know not to bet against Miller's team if I see a game going to OT.
27. Iowa
Number to know: 8
The Iowa bandwagon has plenty of room now that the Hawkeyes have lost six of their past eight games. Particularly painful for the Iowa City faithful was a 68-66 loss in the Big Ten tournament to No. 12 seed Illinois. Losing to the Illini is not an ideal memory to carry into the NCAA tournament, surely, but that close loss was the latest in a series of nail-biters. Iowa hasn't lost a game by more than eight points all season. Who knows, maybe the "clutch" gods will now decide the Hawkeyes have suffered long enough and smile on them for a change.
28. Oregon State
Number to know: 26
No one in Corvallis needs to read anymore -- they know all too well that it's been 26 years since Oregon State made its last appearance in the NCAA tournament. This is not the time to speak of any Pac-12 RPI voodoo or ominous scoring differentials in conference play. Wayne Tinkle, Gary Payton II and company got the long-awaited job done. Salute.
29. Texas Tech
Number to know: 865
Toddrick Gotcher was on the floor for 865 possessions in Big 12 play and he committed just 13 turnovers. The senior's near-superhuman ability to avoid giveaways was a key contributing factor in a Red Raiders offense that might best be termed cumulatively effective. Tubby Smith's team isn't necessarily the most accurate shooting unit in the field, but it does the hard-to-register things like take care of the ball and get to the line.
30. Colorado
Number to know: 16 and 13
The numbers came in a losing cause, but Josh Scott recorded a 16-13 double-double against Arizona in the Buffaloes' Pac-12 tournament loss. As he has for much of his career, the senior has excelled this season by converting post touches, drawing fouls and sinking his free throws. Colorado has one of the weaker offenses in the field, but with Scott, it at least has a proven source of points.
31. USC
Number to know: 42
As the season has progressed, Jordan McLaughlin has been recording fewer assists and more shot attempts. I'm not so sure that's such a bad thing. The sophomore has put up 42 points over the Trojans' past two games, shooting 13-of-25 from the field and 14-of-15 at the line. USC is not a high-powered offense, so any scoring opportunities McLaughlin can create for himself are a welcome development.
32. Saint Joseph's
Number to know: 13.5
Across college basketball, the rate of giveaways on offense has been dropping for years, but even in this low-turnover era, coughing the ball up just 13.5 percent of the time is extreme. That's precisely what Saint Joe's did in A-10 play this season, and DeAndre Bembry led the way. The junior's ability to score in high volume inside the arc without committing turnovers has helped propel a Hawks offense that notched 1.12 points per trip in league play.
33. Providence
Number to know: 28.5
Even as the Friars' offense has struggled with inconsistency for much of the season, their defense has been far more reliable and effective. Particularly on the perimeter, where opponents have been singularly unsuccessful against Kris Dunn and company. Big East opponents made just 28.5 percent of their 3s against PC. The Friars also excel at limiting the sheer number of opponents' 3-point attempts.
34. Butler
Number to know: 39.3
In honor of Chris Holtmann's team, I have a new version of a much-beloved basketball phrase. When speaking of Butler, I think "live by the 3, die by the 2" has a nice ring to it. In league play, the Bulldogs hit 39.3 percent of their 3s, and while that may seem rather tame compared to what Michigan State and Oklahoma did this season, BU's shooting needs to be compared to what the rest of the Big East was doing. No other team shot better than 36.3 percent on its 3s in Big East play. Meanwhile, Holtmann's team achieved below-average results on their 2-point tries, meaning Butler has needed its 3s to fall.
35. Cincinnati
Number to know: 251
Cincinnati is known for great defense, and this year's team is definitely continuing that tradition. In league play, opponents committed 251 turnovers against the Bearcats. That netted out to a 21.2 percent turnover rate, and the steals recorded by Gary Clark, Farad Cobb and Kevin Johnson definitely contributed to that impressive number.
36. Connecticut
Number to know: 55
It's been a few days now and I've seen an awful lot of basketball, but I have to admit I'm still thinking about that four-overtime win the Huskies recorded against Cincinnati in the American tournament quarterfinals. Yes, Jalen Adams' three-quarter-court buzzer-beater at the end of the third overtime was amazing, but let's give equal time to the game Daniel Hamilton had. Playing 55 of the 60 minutes, the sophomore scored 32 points to go along with 12 rebounds and eight assists. He's a warrior, and UConn needed both Adams and Hamilton to emerge from that incredible game with a win.
37. Pittsburgh
Number to know: 10
Pitt has been a .500 team in calendar year 2016, posting a 10-10 mark after an 11-1 start. In ACC play, the Panthers were somehow able to record a 9-9 record despite opponents hitting a truly prodigious number of shots against them. Panthers opponents connected on 51 percent of their 2s and 39 percent of their 3s; only Boston College recorded a worse number for field goal defense in league play. Give credit to Michael Young, Jamel Artis and the rest of this very good offense for being able to keep pace with the opposition's scoring.
38. Temple
Number to know: 548
Fans of continuous action, meet your favorite team. In American play this season, the Owls and their opponents combined to attempt just 548 free throws. Temple neither draws nor commits fouls, and the games that result are notable for their long, uninterrupted stretches with the clock running. If you find non-crunch-time free throws somewhat boring (guilty), I highly recommend the Owls for your viewing pleasure.
39. Syracuse
Number to know: 837
The very name "Syracuse" is virtually synonymous with forcing opponents to shoot over a zone, but if you haven't seen the Orange lately, you may not realize just how many 3s are taken in their games. Over the course of 18 ACC games, for example, Syracuse attempted 432 3-point attempts (Trevor Cooney alone recorded 137) while opponents launched 405 attempts. If you're an old-school purist who laments the allegedly deleterious effect that Steph Curry is having on our basketball-playing youth, um, don't watch the Orange.
40. VCU
Number to know: 217
In an era of increasing specialization, Justin Tillman is a shining beacon of general rebounding excellence. Offensive boards, defensive boards, it doesn't matter -- the sophomore will get that miss. Tillman has pulled down a total of 217 rebounds, and in percentage terms, he's elite on both the defensive (27.0) and especially the offensive glass (15.3).
41. Vanderbilt
Number to know: 87.3
To me, there are two amazing things about Vanderbilt's defense. First, it's very good, allowing SEC opponents to score just 1.00 point per possession this season. But, second (and this is the really amazing part), that D is good even though opponents absolutely never commit turnovers. In league play, Commodore opponents ended an astounding 87.3 percent of their possessions with a shot attempt from either the floor or the line. If Vandy's defense ever forces a merely average number of turnovers, it would be ... scary? Formidable? Legendary? I'll settle on "very interesting to see."
42. Michigan
Number to know: 55.5
Fans in Ann Arbor lean toward the knowledgable end of the spectrum, so I suspect they saw my number for the Wolverines and winced. It is the percentage that Big Ten opponents shot on their 2s against Michigan, and the number that resulted is even higher than what Rutgers posted (50.9). John Beilein's team does take excellent care of the ball, and this season's group is surprisingly strong on the defensive glass. But whatever tournament feats and wonders lay in the Wolverines' near future, it is unlikely that they will come about because of good rim protection.
43. Wichita State
Number to know: 23
This is instantly recognizable to all Shockers -- it's the number that adorns Fred VanVleet's jersey. And in 2015-16, the senior has had a season worthy to be termed a capstone to his career. While VanVleet's assist rate has hit an all-time low, one requires a microscope to try to find his turnover rate. (Good luck.) And the 3-point accuracy that abandoned him for stretches last season has come back. In fact, he may end his career as a 40 percent shooter from beyond the arc. The number 23 has been very, very good to fans in Wichita for four seasons now.
44. Gonzaga
Number to know: 286
Domantas Sabonis has recorded 286 defensive rebounds this season, and he is arguably one of the finest practitioners of that valuable art in all of Division I. At the same time, Sabonis has expanded his responsibilities on offense as a sophomore, and he now accounts for 23 percent of the Bulldogs' shot attempts when he's on the court. The Zags barely made the field, but with a rotation of Sabonis and Kyle Wiltjer, they're capable of sticking around.
45. Tulsa
Number to know: 0
Yes, I'm taking the low-hanging fruit. This is the number of people outside the committee room who thought the Golden Hurricane would receive an at-large bid. Now that I've knocked that softball out of the park, I'll note additionally that Frank Haith's team thrives on interior scoring (hello, Shaquille Harrison) and a huge turnover advantage.
46. Northern Iowa
Number to know: 12
This is the team higher seeds don't want to see. The Panthers are seeded on the No. 11 line, which is par for the course for an auto-bid winner that started conference play 2-6. But somehow Ben Jacobson flipped a switch with his team, and they've gone 12-1 since -- including not one, but two wins over Wichita State.
47. Chattanooga
Number to know: 56
The last time the Mocs reached the NCAA tournament, they lost by 56 points in the round of 64 to No. 1-seeded Connecticut. That's not going to happen against Indiana. No offense to the Hoosiers, mind you, but Matt McCall has a much better team than what John Shulman had seven years ago. McCall's balanced rotation features above-average production inside the arc from both Justin Tuoyo and Tre' McLean.
Number to know: 21.4
The Trojans have forced opponents to commit turnovers on 21.4 percent of their possessions this season and, intriguingly, Chris Beard's team has achieved this havoc (if you will) at a decidedly slow pace. Josh Hagins and Roger Woods are both adept at the scoring-steals combination that Beard clearly favors.
49. Yale
Number to know: 54
You may have heard that it's been 54 years since the Bulldogs last appeared in the NCAA tournament. Yale was able to end that rather lengthy exile thanks not only to the scoring of Justin Sears and Makai Mason, but also because of a patient, stubborn and most of all effective defense.
Number to know: 2
Mike Daum has made just two career starts, but don't get hung up on that number. The 6-foot-9 freshman is a very important Jackrabbit, one who draws fouls with regularity and shoots 82 percent at the line.
51. UNC Wilmington
Number to know: 36
The Seahawks are capable of making 3s (they shot 36 percent from outside the arc in CAA play) and forcing turnovers, but one concern for Kevin Keatts is definitely the defensive glass. In league play, UNCW pulled down just 65.8 percent of its opponents' misses. If Duke is reading this, I say go strong to the offensive boards.
52. Hawaii
Number to know: 61.1
Onetime Missouri Tiger Stefan Jankovic has found a home in Honolulu, where he's draining 61.1 percent of his 2s for first-year head coach Eran Ganot. Jankovic is also a frequent visitor to the line, where he shoots 77 percent.
53. Stony Brook
Number to know: 18 and 22
In the America East tournament title game against Vermont, Jameel Warney scored 43 points on 18-of-22 shooting from the floor. It was quite simply one of the best individual performances of the season, and it is the nature of mid-major hoops that the reward for that performance is a game against Kentucky. That being said, the Wildcats had better bring their A game, because Warney is a man.
54. Iona
Number to know: 9.2
I know I'm supposed to talk about A.J. English or coach Tim Cluess, but per kenpom.com, Jordan Washington is drawing 9.2 fouls per 40 minutes. Granted, he's averaging less than 20 minutes a game. Still: 9.2. Washington is like a foul-trouble grenade rolled under the opponent's bench. Goodness.
55. Green Bay
Number to know: 99
To get this far, the Phoenix had to score 99 points in an overtime win against favored Valparaiso in the Horizon tournament semifinals. Charles Cooper, Jordan Fouse and Carrington Love all scored at least 23 points in that game, with Cooper personally recording 24 free throw attempts. It got the job done.
56. Buffalo
Number to know: 73.0
At 73 possessions per 40 minutes, the Bulls rank as one of the fastest-paced teams in the field. Then again, round-of-64 opponent Miami will likely slow the game down to a tempo more to its taste. Buffalo prevailed in a 66-possession contest against Akron to win the MAC title, so the Hurricanes aren't counting on winning through tempo alone.
57. Fresno State
Number to know: 14.1
Everyone had San Diego State slotted as the Mountain West's likely representative, but keep in mind FSU went 13-5 in the conference and is especially adept at holding on to the ball. The Bulldogs committed turnovers on just 14.1 percent of their possessions in MWC play.
Number to know: 53 and 1
As in Brad Underwood's career record as the head coach of SFA in conference play: 53-1. He is the John Wooden of the Southland.
59. Middle Tennessee
Number to know: 60.7
Just two teams in Division I made free throws at a lower rate than Middle Tennessee's 60.7 percent.
60. CSU Bakersfield
Number to know: 42.6
Rod Barnes painted a defensive masterpiece in Bakersfield this season, holding opponents to 42.6 percent shooting inside the arc with a WAC rotation that customarily included just one player on the floor taller than 6-foot-6.
61. UNC Asheville
Number to know: 69
Nick McDevitt's team will try to force Villanova to commit turnovers, and Ahmad Thomas will be leading that disruptive charge. The sophomore has recorded 69 steals this season.
62. Weber State
Number to know: 299
With apologies to Domantas Sabonis, Joel Bolomboy might be the finest defensive rebounder in the field of 68. The senior has pulled down 299 defensive boards this season for the Wildcats.
63. Austin Peay
Number to know: 16.8
When the Governors miss a shot, they at least have the comfort of knowing Chris Horton is on hand. The senior is one of the best offensive rebounders in the nation, pulling down 16.8 percent of his teammates' misses during his minutes.
64. Hampton
Number to know: 72.7
The Pirates must be feeling unlucky after watching opponents drain 72.7 percent of their free throws this season. Let's get busy on that Curtain of Distraction in Hampton, Virginia.
Number to know: 125
It required just 125 minutes at the Atlantic Sun tournament -- three games, with one overtime -- for the Eagles to wash away the memory of a second-place regular-season finish and enter the field of 68. Joe Dooley's team has benefited from the poor 3-point shooting of its opponents.
Number to know: 64.0
This season, the Knights have pulled down just 64 percent of opponents' misses. There could be opportunities available on the offensive glass for Florida Gulf Coast.
67. Southern
Number to know: 16.3
Say this for the Jaguars: Through a season that included both an eight-game win streak and two separate three-game losing streaks, the one constant was ending possessions with a shot. Southern gave the ball away on just 16.3 percent of its possessions this season.
68. Holy Cross
Number to know: 13
Aside from a no-show by Army (which Holy Cross won 60-38), Bill Carmody's Crusaders prevailed in their other three Patriot tournament games by a combined margin of just 13 points. Did someone say "team of destiny"?