Kansas Jayhawks

Picked by Sports Illustrated in November to take the tourney, the Big 12’s Jayhawks could be peaking at the right time. With coach Bill Self sending a unit of second- and third-year players on the floor, Kansas strikes a blend of eagerness (to avenge 2006’s first-round exit) and maturity that so often wins big games. The team’s play develops from point guard Russell Robinson, who dishes out about five assists a game.