Selection Sunday is 117 days away, but staff writer Don Markus gets a jump on the selection committee with his seeded predictions for the field of 64

1. Cincinnati

Conference: Conference USA

Last year: 27-6

Tournament result: Lost to Temple in East second round

Player to watch: Pete Mickeal

Skinny: The Bearcats have more experience than any other elite team.

2. Connecticut

Conference: Big East

Last year: 34-2

Tournament result: Defeated Duke for NCAA championship

Player to watch: Ajou Ajou Deng

Skinny: With Richard Hamilton gone, more pressure falls on point guard Khalid El-Amin.

3. Auburn

Conference: Southeastern

Last year: 29-4

Tournament result: Lost to Ohio State in South semifinals

Player to watch: Chris Porter

Skinny: The Tigers won't surprise people again, but they still must prove they aren't a fluke.

4. Florida

Conference: Southeastern

Last year: 22-9

Tournament result: Lost to Gonzaga in West semifinals

Player to watch: Mike Miller

Skinny: Billy Donovan's team of mostly sophomores and freshmen has enough talent to win it all.

5. North Carolina

Conference: Atlantic Coast

Last year: 24-10

Tournament result: Lost to Weber State in West first round

Player to watch: Ed Cota

Skinny: Cota's return from suspension gives Tar Heels a huge boost.

6. Michigan State

Conference: Big Ten

Last year: 33-5

Tournament result: Lost to Duke in NCAA semifinals

Player to watch: Mike Chappell

Skinny: Preseason injury to guard Mateen Cleaves makes the Spartans a question mark.

7. Temple

Conference: Atlantic 10

Last year: 24-11

Tournament result: Lost to Duke in East final

Player to watch: Mark Karcher

Skinny: Temple's shooters must come through in the clutch to help point guard Pepe Sanchez.

8. Duke

Conference: Atlantic Coast

Last year: 37-2

Tournament result: Lost to Connecticut in NCAA title game

Player to watch: Jason Williams

Skinny: Duke still has underrated Shane Battier, unsung Chris Carrawell, underused Nate James.

9. Ohio State

Conference: Big Ten

Last year: 27-9

Tournament result: Lost to Connecticut in NCAA semifinals

Player to watch: Scoonie Penn

Skinny: The Buckeyes could have even been better if 7-3 Aleksandar Radojevic wasn't ruled ineligible.

10. Arizona

Conference: Pac-10

Last year: 22-7

Tournament result: Lost to Oklahoma in Midwest first round