Regional analysis: East

Regional rank: 1 (toughest)

Going sweet: Pitt (1), Duke (2), Villanova (3), Florida State (5)

Dark horse: Portland State (13).

The Vikings won 11 games away from home, including a 77-70 decision at Gonzaga in December. And they lost at Washington by a point. Xavier's a classic "Team a Year Late" missing three starters from last year's Elite Eight team.

Don't touch: UCLA (6).

UCLA has won more tournament games (13) in the past three than any team in the country but the committee did the Bruins no favors with the Philadelphia locale or the opening-round draw (VCU).

Even if the Bruins outlast VCU, Villanova — literally playing on its home court (or one of them) — will send the offensively-challenged Bruins back on their long trip home to L.A.

Five-star players: G Levance Fields, Pitt; F DeJuan Blair, Pitt; G Gerald Henderson, Duke; G Scottie Reynolds, Villanova; G Toney Douglas, FSU

Did you know?: The regional boasts four coaches with 15 Final Four appearances — Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (10), UCLA's Ben Howland (3), Minnesota's Tubby Smith (1) and Texas' Rick Barnes (1)

Underrated coach: Travis Ford, Oklahoma State

Couldn't get over the NIT hump at UMass but has the Cowboys dancing in his first season. Plus, he could be the next coach at Kentucky.

Overrated coach: Rick Barnes, Texas

The Hickory native's 8-8 in the first round, seven have been by four points or less. That's not the track record of an elite tournament coach.

The Pick: Pitt has been my pick all year and if you remember anything from standardized tests (other than a ballou is a bear), it's always go with your first answer.

The Panthers have a veteran team with three great players (Rule of 3) and a good coach. But Jamie Dixon can't win the big one. They (however you want to define "they") said the same thing about Dixon's Big East cohorts Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim.

DeJuan Blair's size, Sam Young's shooting and Levance Fields' leadership give the Panthers a hard-fought spot in the Final Four because any combination of Duke, Villanova or Florida State will be tough grind to complete.