With the country getting its first dose of March Madness during this week's conference tournament action, things could get even crazier next Thursday when the first round of the NCAA tournament kicks off. So before you print out those brackets and start filling them out for your office tourney pool, here's 10 things to consider about this year's field of 65.

10. Sure, it was awhile ago, but don't forget what Portland State did back in late December, shocking Gonzaga at home behind a 25-point performance from 5-foot-6 point guard Jeremiah Dominguez. Now after a six-game winning streak, the Vikings are back in the NCAA tournament for a second straight year, with another Big Sky championship to their name.

9. Utah didn't get a lot of press during the regular season, but watch out for Jim Boylen's team in the Big Dance. The Utes have wins over Gonzaga, LSU and BYU on their r