No. 19 Memphis (2-0)
The coach: Josh Pastner—Pastner just turned 35 years old last month, but has taken Memphis to the NCAA tournament each of the last two years.
The season so far: Led by a trio of juniors in point guard Joe Jackson, shooting guard Antonio Barton and big man Tarik Black alongside sophomore wing Adonis Thomas, the Tigers are an athletic and balanced team but struggle with some of the finer points like long-range shooting.
The player to watch: D.J. Stephens. High-flying 6-foot-5 senior Stephens has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and even considered redshirting this season after he had surgery in April to help alleviate symptoms of his severe asthma. But his talent is undeniable, and he led Memphis in rebounding in just 17 minutes off the bench in its last game against Samford.
Projected starting five: G Joe Jackson, G Chris Crawford, SF Adonis Thomas, Tarik Black, F Ferrakohn Hall
Road to the championship: The Tigers must beat Shaka Smart's Virginia Commonwealth in the first round before beating the winner of No. 5 Duke-Minnesota in the semifinals to get to the championship.
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