Give them an outside chance

Most coaches preach working the ball inside rather than hoisting three-point shots -- apparently with solid reasoning. Of the 19 teams that averaged nine or more three-point baskets per game this season, only five are still playing. Of those, Davidson, at No. 7, was the highest-rated. The tournament teams, with their national rank and average:

7. Davidson 9.6

9. Oregon 9.4

11(t). Texas 9.3

13. Vanderbilt 9.3

17. Notre Dame 9.1

The team you definitely don’t want to be trailing during the final minutes of a tournament game is Villanova, which led all Division I teams this season in free-throw percentage. A look at the best-shooting tournament teams at the line, with their national rank and percentage:

1. Villanova 78.1%

6. Butler 76.3

11. Creighton 75.5

12. Oregon 75.5

17. Gonzaga 75.1

19. Nevada 75.0

20. Davidson 75.0