Top 4 Teams in Region: 1. UConn, 2. Iowa State, 3. Illinois, 4. Auburn

Johnell Davis (18.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG), Vladislav Goldin (15.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG) and Alijah Martin (13.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG) lead the way, and the team's top six scorers were all part of last year's Cinderella squad that reached the Final Four.

They began the year at No. 10 in the AP poll and spent much of the year ranked, but road losses to UAB, South Florida and Memphis in February moved them down the NCAA tournament seeding picture.

The Owls rank 16th in the nation with 82.8 points per game and check in 17th in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency, but their defense has been inconsistent, and they allowed a sub-.500 Temple team to shoot 12-of-24 from behind the arc in their semifinal loss in the AAC tournament.

Still, there is something to be said for experience in the bright lights of March Madness, and this team is loaded with returning talent from last year's surprise run to national prominence.