RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) This years NCAA Tournament features a top tier of teams that are heavy Final Four favorites, starting with No. 1 overall seed Duke and star freshman Zion Williamson.
Figuring out how to stop them wont be easy.
Gonzaga joined the Atlantic Coast Conference trio of Duke, Virginia and North Carolina atop the four regional brackets, followed Michigan State, Tennessee, Kentucky and Michigan as No. 2 seeds. These eight teams have won 85 percent of their games this season. And nearly half of their games lost (18 of 40) have come against another team within this group of 1- and 2-seeds.
That makes for a tricky puzzle, though some clues may be in weaknesses that showed when these top-tier teams lost.
DUKE
It starts with 3-point shooting and free-throw shooting, though the Blue Devils typically overcome both behind the brilliance of Williamson, fellow freshman RJ Barrett and a tough defense led by Tre Jones.
Duke shoots 30.2 percent on 3s, the worst mark of any tournament team and worst in program history. The struggles stood out in a loss to Syracuse (9 of 43 against the zone) and in losses to UNC (8 of 39 in the first, 8 of 32 in the second).
At the free throw line, 69 percent could be a problem for the Blue Devils in a close game. Barrett missed two free throws with 12.4 seconds left in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals, giving UNC a final-play shot for the win even though Duke ultimately won, 74-73.
VIRGINIA
Fans already know all about Virginias worst-case scenario thanks to No. 16 UMBC trouncing the overall No. 1 Cavaliers in last years first round.
This years team plays similarly with a style that can reduce its margin for error.
Virginia again has the tough defense and methodical tempo offense, a combination that tests the discipline and patience of its opponent.
Behind Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome and DeAndre Hunter, the Cavaliers own their most efficient attack since coach Tony Bennetts breakout season there in 2014.
If they struggle for stops and get behind, it can be difficult to reverse momentum with fewer possessions to work with thanks to their pace illustrated in Fridays loss to Florida State in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
FSU played with an aggressive edge and shot 57 percent, increasing the pressure on Virginias offense to offset those troubles. But the Cavaliers shot 42 percent and made 5 of 24 3-pointers as they fell behind, and they arent built to score in bunches in a comeback bid.
That showed last year in the unprecedented UMBC loss, a game in which the Cavaliers fell further and further behind as history unfolded.
UNC
The Tar Heels have three scorers capable of big games with Cameron Johnson, Coby White and Luke Maye. And theyre at their best when loose in transition or attacking the glass.
Things get tougher when the pace slows.
Despite its rebounding prowess, UNC lacks a true post scorer a staple of Roy Williams best teams and can struggle matching up with bigger teams. And its perimeter strength makes the team more dependent on the 3.
In the Virginia loss, the Tar Heels couldnt push tempo, had season lows of 61 points and 76 possessions, and shot 9 of 30 from behind the arc. The trouble from 3 resurfaced in the ACC Tournament loss to Duke, with UNC making 1 of 12 after halftime while struggling to find consistent production off the dribble against Dukes perimeter pressure.
