Utah Utes basketball: Utah's midwest regional matchup

No. 5 Utah

Salt Lake City, 24-9.

Nickname: Utes.

Coach: Jim Boylen.

Bid: MWC champion.

Tournament Record: 35-29, 26 years.

Last NCAA Appearance: 2005.

Conference: Mountain West.

Top Scorers: Luke Nevill 16.9; Lawrence Borha 11.7; Shaun Green 10.6; Tyler Kepkay 10.4; Carlon Brown 9.4.

Top Rebounders: Luke Nevill 8.9; Carlon Brown 5.2; Shaun Green 4.9; Kim Tillie 4.5.

Top Assists: Luka Drca 3.5; Carlon Brown 3.3.

The Skinny: Utah is back on top of the Mountain West in just the second season for coach Jim Boylen. The Utes are a good defensive team, especially Luke Nevill, the 7-foot-2 center who was the league's conference tournament MVP.

No. 12 Arizona

Tucson, 19-13.

Nickname: Wildcats.

Coach: Russ Pennell.

Region: Midwest.

Bid: At large.

Tournament Record: 41-25, 26 years.

Last NCAA Appearance: 2008.

Conference: Pac-10.

Top Scorers: Jordan Hill 18.5; Chase Budinger 17.9; Nic Wise 15.1.

Top Rebounders: Jordan Hill 11.0; Chase Budinger 6.3.

Top Assists: Nic Wise 4.6; Chase Budinger 3.4.

The Skinny: The Wildcats are appearing in their 25th straight NCAA tournament, the longest active streak and second-longest behind the 27-year streak by North Carolina from 1975-2001. First-year assistant Russ Pennell was named interim coach after Lute Olson retired.