Final 4: Ohio State, UConn, BYU, Kansas

After the first week of the NCAA Tournament, you can hear Charles Barkley leading the rest of the country in jeering the Big East: "Over-rated! Over-rated! Over-rated!"

The Big East dominated the national rankings all season and dominated Selection Sunday with a record 11 teams receiving bids.

One week later, two survived to reach the Sweet 16 -- Connecticut and 11th-seeded Marquette. The Golden Eagles eliminated third-seeded Big East power Syracuse, and second-seeded Notre Dame went down in flames to Florida State.

So, the conference is going to have to live with Barkley's moniker, "Big Least," for awhile.

But as the tournament moves into the Sweet 16, even Barkley would have to agree the East Regional in Newark is where the power teams and name brands in the field are concentrated, starting with No. 1 Ohio State. Here's a look at how the four regionals shape up:

EAST -- The Buckeyes faced weak opposition in the first two rounds but performed impressively. No team can match their inside outside combination of big man Jared Sullinger and outsidse shooters Jon Diebler and William Buford. They face a young Kentucky team led by Brandon Knight that scraped by Ivy champ Princeton in the opener.

North Carolina has size with Tyler Zeller and freshman star Harrison Barnes, but there's little depth. That could be a problem against a scrappy, veteran Marquette team that could push the Tar Heels.

Carolina got a break when it sidestepped a semifinal meeting with Syracuse, but it can't match Ohio State's consistent shooting.

Final Four pick: Ohio State.

WEST -- Defending national champion Duke should have no trouble in the regional semis handling Arizona, which is built around Derrick Williams. Second-seeded Mountain West tourney champion San Diego State will have a huge crowd advantage at a regional based in Anaheim, but the Aztecs took two overtimes to beat Temple and will run into a well-rested UConn team following senior sensation Kemba Walker's lead.

Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving returned to action for Duke in the first two rounds, but it's very difficult this late in the season to integrate even a player as good as Irving without disrupting chemistry. Duke's height might bother Walker, but the Devils might not be able to keep up with him.

Final Four pick: UConn.

SOUTHEAST -- This regional in New Orleans lost its No. 1 seed when Pitt went down against Butler, but it might have the best storylines. First of all, no one expected last year's national runner-up to be so dangerous without Gordon Heyward, but coach Brad Stevens' Bulldogs won two squeakers and will face Wisconsin in a match of cerebral coaches against the Badgers' Bo Ryan. The other semi features the next installment of "Jimmermania" with Jimmer Fredette leading BYU against an athletic Florida team.

Wisconsin has a little more firepower than Butler with Jon Leuer and Jordan Taylor, but BYU has had time to adjust to the loss of suspended forward Brandon Davies, and no one has stopped Fredette yet.

Final Four pick: BYU.

SOUTHWEST -- This is the weakest of all regionals with 12th-seeded Richmond facing top-seeded Kansas, and 11th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth going against 10th-seeded Florida State. The Seminoles' Chris Singleton hasn't played well coming off a broken foot. The Cinderellas in this bracket aren't belle-of-the-ball material. VCU advanced from the First Four.

Kansas, with the Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff, its great depth, powerful front line and the nation's No. 1 shooting team, should win easily. The Jayhawks often make it look hard, but they ought to be able to navigate the easiest road to Houston against foes seeded 16th, 8th, 12th and 10th or 11th.

Final Four pick: Kansas.