Connecticut was rewarded with a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament after a dominant regular season.
They'll have to be even better the next two weeks if they expect to get to Indianapolis.
The top-ranked Huskies are in a tough Washington Regional, which includes three of last year's Final Four teams: defending national champion North Carolina, runner-up Illinois and Michigan State.
"There are a ton of big names," Connecticut center Josh Boone said. "That's a very tough bracket, but just about anywhere you go, it's going to be a tough bracket."
The Huskies (27-3) will take on America East Tournament champion Albany (21-10), making its first NCAA Tournament appearance, on Friday in Philadelphia.
"Any team that's won 20 games, we're going to have respect for," Huskies coach Jim Calhoun said. "They have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. But you know what? We have a lot to gain, too. We're really excited about it. I like this time of year. I hope my kids like it as much as I do."
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| Rudy Gay and UConn could be primed for a matchup with Tubby Smith's Wildcats. (Getty Images) |
"As far as we're concerned, we're incredibly happy to be a No. 1 seed," Calhoun said. "Obviously, I don't think anything we did changed us from being the overall No. 1. I think it's what Duke did."
The winner will take on the team that comes out of an intriguing matchup between eighth-seeded Kentucky (21-12) and No. 9 UAB (24-6) in Philadelphia. The teams met in the tournament two years ago, when the Blazers -- also a ninth seed then -- shocked the top-seeded Wildcats 76-75 in the second round.
"It was one of those David vs. Goliaths, and here we are again: Part II," UAB coach Mike Anderson said.
"It was an all-time memory, something I'll probably never forget," point guard Squeaky Johnson said. "I guess it will be a great rivalry."
Tennessee, in the tournament for the first time since 2001, is the No. 2 seed in the bracket -- its highest spot after having been a No. 4 three times. The Volunteers (21-7) will take on Winthrop (23-7), the winner of the Big South Conference Tournament, in Greensboro, N.C., on Thursday.
"It's incredible. To be seeded higher than any team in the history of Tennessee basketball, goes a long way," Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said. "I'm happy with where we're at. Now we have to take advantage of this opportunity."
