Princes Of The Perimeter

Here are SI's picks for the five best backcourts in the nation.

1. SAINT JOSEPH'S
Coach Phil Martelli has four aces and can mix and match them at will. Jameer Nelson, a 5'11" senior (and the leading candidate for national player of the year) and Delonte West, a 6'4" junior, are superlative scorers and passers, while 6'5" junior Pat Carroll, who makes 43.4% of his three-pointers, is the Hawks' best pure shooter. Tyrone Barley, a 6'1" senior, is a defensive stopper.

2. DUKE
Point guard Chris Duhon, a 6'1" senior, drives Mike Krzyzewski's top-ranked Blue Devils; 6'3" junior Daniel Ewing can play either guard slot; and 6'4" sophomore J.J. Redick tosses daggers from deep.

3. LOUISVILLE
Sophomore long-range bombers Francisco Garcia and Taquan Dean combine for almost 30 points a game and give coach Rick Pitino a two-headed point guard to direct his up-tempo attack.

4. NORTH CAROLINA
Two sophomores, 6'1" point Raymond Felton and 6'4" streak shooter Rashad McCants, provide coach Roy Williams with a potent one-two punch.

5. ARIZONA
Mustafa Shakur, the 6'3" freshman point guard, is a blur with the ball, and when 6'1" junior Salim Stoudamire and 6'4" sophomore Hassan Adams are zeroed in, the Wildcats are too hot to handle.