Iowa State did reach as high as 11th in the AP Top 25 poll following a home win over the Jayhawks in early February, and nine wins is the most the Cyclones have had in the Big 12 since 2019. They followed that with a fifth-place finish in the Big 12 and a 10-11 record in Quad 1 matchups, losing to Kansas in the conference semifinals. How they got here: The Cyclones reached the Sweet 16 as an 11-seed last year in head coach T.J. He also shot 45.3 percent from the field, (37.8 percent on 3-pointers) and 83.6 percent from the free-throw line. He led the Hurricanes in points (16.2), assists (3.4) and steals (1.4), and averaged 4.3 rebounds per game. Spotlight on: Junior guard Isaiah Wong was named ACC Player of the Year and posted some of the nation’s most balanced numbers. Miami led the ACC in scoring (79.6 points per game), field-goal percentage (48.5) and 3-point percentage (37.2) but was 12th in field-goal defense. 13 squad for adjusted offensive efficiency but not higher than 86th in any other category and 39th overall. What you need to know: The Hurricanes don’t have a profile built in proficiency, except on offense. That showed Miami’s toughness, a trait that should become evident in the tournament. The Hurricanes had an impressive stretch run late in the season, winning eight of their final nine regular-season games and all but one of the outcomes were by single digits. How they got here: Miami claimed only its third regular-season conference title in program history and first since 2012-13. Xavier lost the Big East Tournament title game to Marquette. The Musketeers, who finished second in the Big East during the regular season, went 7-3 overall against league foes Marquette, Creighton, UConn and Providence - all programs that won at least 20 games. How they got here: Xavier won 11 consecutive games at midseason, the program’s longest winning streak since beginning the 2015-16 season 12-0. Texas will go as he goes in March, although Rice as the sixth-man will be an X-factor as well. Spotlight On: Carr was a first-team all-conference selection, leads the Longhorns in scoring at 15.9 points per game and has the highest usage rate on a guard-heavy offense. The Longhorns will need to cut down on the fouls and rebound better if they want to make a run. It’s a perimeter-heavy offensive attack, led by Carr and Hunter, but one that sores a lot of points either at the rim or in the midrange off of dribble penetration. It also features a deeper rotation than most teams, with nine players who average double-figure minutes and eight averaging at least 17 a game. What you need to know: Texas is a well-rounded squad with top-20 metrics in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. How Rodney Terry, Texas won a Big 12 championship His size and athleticism can change any game and, all due respect to Fabian White, gives the Cougars the type of versatile frontcourt presence they haven’t had over the past two tourney runs. The 6-foot-8, AAC Freshman of the Year and future top-10 NBA Draft pick averaged nearly 11 points and 7 rebounds a game while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range. Spotlight On: Sasser is the team’s leading scorer, but Jarace Walker is the X-factor that could spur a championship run. They will need him back at some point if they’re going to make a Final Four run. Sasser missed the final game-and-a-half of the conference tournament, but the hope is he will be ready for the NCAA Tournament. But they are also dominant on the offensive glass and move the ball well, with all five starters averaging double figures and a pair of shot-making guards in Sasser and Jamal Shead.

The always-calloused Cougars are a defensive stalwart yet again, holding opponents to roughly 42 percent in KenPom’s effective field-goal rate and 28 percent from beyond the arc.

What you need to know: This is as well-rounded a squad as Sampson has ever had at Houston, top 10 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive efficiencies. With Houston’s home city set to host the Final Four, the Cougars’ season of dominance has potential for a dream ending. Memphis did knock them off in the AAC tournament championship with AAC Player of the Year Marcus Sasser sidelined by a groin strain. Houston won the conference regular season once again during the final season in the AAC before joining the Big 12, the only losses a come-from-behind win by Alabama in non-conference and surprising one-point road defeat against Temple.

The Cougars made the Final Four in 2021 and Sweet 16 in 2022 and have been arguably the best and most consistent team all season, never dipping lower than 5th in the AP Top 25 or lower than 2nd in the NET. How they got here: Kelvin Sampson has built an absolute monster at Houston. Read more: East Region | South Region | West Region 1.If Houston gets back to Houston, it will have earned its way there.

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