Sunday, March 17, 2013

Final Bracketology

1 seeds: Indiana, Louisville, Duke, Kansas
2 seeds: Gonzaga, Georgetown, Miami, New Mexico
3 seeds: Ohio State, Michigan State, Florida, Kansas State
4 seeds: Michigan, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Syracuse
5 seeds: Wisconsin, Arizona, UNLV, St. Louis
6 seeds: Notre Dame, VCU, UCLA, Memphis
7 seeds: North Carolina, Butler, Pittsburgh, Creighton
8 seeds: Colorado State, San Diego State, Oregon, Illinois
9 seeds:  NC State, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Missouri
10 seeds: California, Iowa State, Villanova, Colorado
11 seeds: Oklahoma, Temple, Boise State, Ole Miss
12 seeds: Wichita State/La Salle, Mid Tennessee St./St. Mary's, Belmont, Akron
13 seeds: Bucknell, Valparaiso, South Dakota State, Davidson
14 seeds: Northwestern State, Montana, New Mexico State, Harvard
15 seeds: Florida Gulf CoastIona, Pacific, Albany
16 seeds: Western Kentucky, Southern, Long Island/North Carolina A&T, James Madison/Liberty

Last 4 in:  Wichita State, La Salle, Middle Tennessee State, St. Mary's

Last 4 out: Tennessee, Virginia, Baylor, Maryland

Bracket:
Midwest
1. Indiana vs. 16. James Madison/Liberty
8. Oregon vs. 9. NC State
5. St. Louis vs. 12. St. Mary's/Middle Tennessee State
4. Marquette vs. 13. Valparaiso
6. Notre Dame vs. 11. Ole Miss
3. Kansas State vs. 14. Northwestern State
7. Creighton vs. 10. Colorado
2. Miami vs. 15. Albany

East
1. Louisville vs. 16. Long Island/North Carolina A&T
8. San Diego State vs. 9. Minnesota
5. Arizona vs. 12. La Salle/Wichita State
4. Oklahoma State vs. 13. Davidson
6. VCU vs. 11. Oklahoma
3. Michigan State vs. 14. New Mexico State
7. Pittsburgh vs. 10. California
2. New Mexico vs. 15. Florida Gulf Coast

South
1. Kansas vs. 16. Southern
8. Colorado State vs. 9. Missouri
5. Wisconsin vs. 12. Akron
4. Syracuse vs. 13. Bucknell
6. UCLA vs. 11. Temple
3. Ohio State vs. 14. Montana
7. North Carolina vs. 10. Iowa State
2. Georgetown vs. 15. Iona

West
1. Duke vs. 16. Western Kentucky
8. Illinois vs. 9. Cincinnati
5. UNLV vs. 12. Belmont
4. Michigan vs. 13. South Dakota State
6. Memphis vs. 11. Boise State
3. Florida vs. 14. Harvard
7. Butler vs. 10. Villanova
2. Gonzaga vs. 15. Pacific

Friday, March 15, 2013

Bracketology 2.3

Lastest seed updates
1 seeds: Indiana, Duke, Louisville, Kansas
2 seeds: Gonzaga, Georgetown, Michigan State, Miami
3 seeds: New Mexico, Florida, , Kansas State, Ohio State
4 seeds: Michigan, Marquette, Wisconsin, Syracuse,
5 seeds: Oklahoma State, Arizona, UNLV,  St. Louis
6 seeds: Notre Dame, Butler, VCU, UCLA
7 seeds: Colorado State, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Creighton
8 seeds: San Diego State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Illinois
9 seeds:  Oregon, Minnesota, California, Missouri,
10 seeds: Cincinnati, Iowa State, Villanova, Temple,
11 seeds: Oklahoma, Colorado, Boise State, Wichita State
12 seeds: La Salle/Ole Miss, St. Mary's/Kentucky, Belmont, Akron
13 seeds: Stephen F. Austin, Bucknell, Valparaiso, South Dakota State
14 seeds: Davidson, Montana, New Mexico State Harvard
15 seeds: Florida Gulf CoastIona, Vermont, Pacific
16 seeds: Western KentuckyJames Madison, Long Island/Morgan State, Southern/Liberty

Last 4 in: La Salle, Ole Miss, St. Mary's,  Kentucky,

Last 4 out: Tennessee, Virginia, Baylor, Maryland

Next 4 out:  UMass, Alabama, Middle Tennessee State, Southern Miss

Monday, March 11, 2013

Bracketology 2.2


No seed changes after Monday's games.
Western Kentucky and James Madison enter the bracket after securing automatic bids. Gonzaga, Iona and Davidson lock in their spots as well by winning their conference tournaments.
St. Mary's loss to Gonzaga doesn't hurt them, but it will be an anxious week for the Gaels as bubble teams around them will have the opportunity to knock SMC out by adding a few quality wins.

1 seeds: Indiana, Duke, Louisville, Kansas
2 seeds: Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Miami
3 seeds: New Mexico, Michigan, Florida, Marquette
4 seeds: Ohio State, Arizona, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
5 seeds: Wisconsin, UNLV, Syracuse, St. Louis
6 seeds: Butler, VCU, Colorado State, Notre Dame
7 seeds: Memphis, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Creighton
8 seeds: San Diego State, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Carolina State
9 seeds: Illinois, California, Missouri, Cincinnati
10 seeds: Oklahoma, Villanova, Temple, Colorado
11 seeds: Oregon, Boise State, Iowa State, La Salle
12 seeds: Wichita State/Kentucky, St. Mary's/Tennessee, Belmont, Akron
13 seeds: Louisiana Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Bucknell, Valparaiso
14 seeds: South Dakota State, Davidson, Montana, Harvard
15 seeds: Florida Gulf Coast, Iona, Vermont, Long Beach State
16 seeds: Western Kentucky, James Madison, Long Island/Norfolk State, Southern/Liberty

Last 4 in: Wichita State, Kentucky, St. Mary's, Tennessee

Last 4 out: Virginia, Baylor, Ole Miss, Iowa

Next 4 out: Arkansas, Arizona State, Middle Tennessee State, Southern Miss

Also considered: Alabama, UMass, Providence, Maryland.

Bracketology 2.1

1 seeds: Indiana, Duke, Louisville, Kansas
2 seeds: Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Miami
3 seeds: New Mexico, Michigan, Florida, Marquette
4 seeds: Ohio State, Arizona, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
5 seeds: Wisconsin, UNLV, Syracuse, St. Louis
6 seeds: Butler, VCU, Colorado State, Notre Dame
7 seeds: Memphis, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Creighton
8 seeds: San Diego State, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Carolina State
9 seeds: Illinois, California, Missouri, Cincinnati
10 seeds: Oklahoma, Villanova, Temple, Colorado
11 seeds: Oregon, Boise State, Iowa State, La Salle
12 seeds: Wichita State/Kentucky, St. Mary's/Tennessee, Belmont, Akron
13 seeds: Louisiana Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Bucknell, Valparaiso
14 seeds: South Dakota State, Davidson, Montana, Harvard
15 seeds: Florida Gulf Coast, Iona, Vermont, Long Beach State
16 seeds: Florida International, Northeastern, Long Island/Norfolk State, Southern/Liberty

Last 4 in: Wichita State, Kentucky, St. Mary's, Tennessee

Last 4 out: Virginia, Baylor, Ole Miss, Iowa

Next 4 out: Arkansas, Arizona State, Middle Tennessee State, Southern Miss

Also considered: Alabama, UMass, Providence, Maryland.

Gonzaga jumps to the No. 2 line after Michigan, Florida and New Mexico all lost in front of them.

Tennessee replaced Virginia in the field after picking up a win over tournament lock Missouri.

Five teams locked up a bid over the weekend by winning their conferences autobids: Creighton, Harvard, Florida Gulf Coast, Belmont and Liberty.

Iona, Vermont, Florida International and Long Island were all added after the No. 1 seeds in their conference tournaments lost.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Bracketology 2.0

Midwest
1. Indiana
16. Charleston Southern/Southern
8. Oregon
9. Creighton
4. Kansas State
13. Akron
5. Colorado State
12. Middle Tennessee State
6. VCU
11. Iowa State
3. Marquette
14. Valparaiso
7. Notre Dame
10. California
2. Miami
15. Niagara

East
1. Duke
16. Robert Morris
8. San Diego State
9. Oklahoma
4. Syracuse
13. Stephen F. Austin
5. Wisconsin
12. Boise State/St. Mary's
6. St. Louis
11. Villanova
3. Georgetown
14. Davidson
7. UCLA
10. Wichita State
2. Michigan State
15. Montana

South
1. Kansas
16. Mercer/Norfolk State
8. NC State
9. Illinois
4. Ohio State
13. Louisiana Tech
5. UNLV
12. Belmont
6. Pittsburgh
11. La Salle
3. Gonzaga
14. South Dakota State
7. Minnesota
10. Cincinnati
2. Florida
15. Long Beach State

West
1. Louisville
16. Northeastern
8. North Carolina
9. Colorado
4. Arizona
13. Bucknell
5. Oklahoma State
12. Virginia/Kentucky
6. Memphis
11. Temple
3. New Mexico
14. Stony Brook
7. Butler
10. Missouri
2. Michigan
15. Princeton

Last 4 In: Boise State, St. Mary's, Virginia, Kentucky
Last 4 Out: Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Southern Miss
Next 4 Out: UMass, Iowa, Baylor, Providence

Gonzaga is the obvious outlier in the bracket. The Zags low strength of schedule and lack of quality wins in comparison to the teams on the No. 1 and 2 seed lines hold them back. Should they win the WCC tourney they'll move up to a No. 2 seed, but historically, teams with their resume haven't scared a No. 1 seed.

Indiana and Duke are the top two teams by a solid margin. Duke won't win the ACC regular season, but Ryan Kelly has returned ,and the Blue Devils are undefeated with him in the line up. The ACC doesn't play a balanced schedule, so finishing a game behind Miami with a more difficult conference SOS won't hurt them.

The bubble is a mess right now with no teams able to keep any momentum. The SEC tournament will go a long way to decide who gets in from the Kentucky/Ole Miss/Arkansas/Tennessee group, but until then it's impossible to differentiate between these teams. All of them have gaping holes in their resumes. Kentucky is most in need of a win. Since the season ending injury to Nerlens Noel, they've struggled against any teams of note.



Monday, March 4, 2013

Bracketology 1.3

Indiana remains No. 1 overall despite Duke's win over Miami.
The Blue Devils look pretty secure as a top seed with the victory.
Miami doesn't drop based on the loss to Duke, but any other loss outside of Duke again in the ACC title game, and they'll struggle to get a No. 1 seed.
Michigan will have a chance to jump into the top line by beating the Hoosiers at home this weekend.
Arizona is struggling, and it feels as if they shouldn't be on the No. 3 line, but I haven't found the team that knocks them down to the No. 4 line just yet. If Kansas State pulls off a road win against Oklahoma State this weekend then the KSU would likely take Zona's place as a No. 3 seed.
VCU's demolition of Butler jumps the Rams over the Bulldogs.
Boise State's win over Colorado State jumps them into the bracket after no other bubble teams did anything to improve their resumes.
Stephen F. Austin and Princeton join the bracket after taking the regular season leads in their conferences.

1 seeds: Indiana, Duke, Kansas, Miami (FL)
2 seeds: Michigan, Florida, Georgetown, Michigan State
3 seeds: New Mexico, Louisville, Gonzaga, Arizona
4 seeds: Marquette, Syracuse, Kansas State, Ohio State
5 seeds: Wisconsin, UNLV, Oklahoma State, Colorado State
6 seeds: Memphis, St. Louis, Minnesota, Pittsburgh
7 seeds: VCU, Notre Dame, Butler, NC State
8 seeds: San Diego State, Oregon, North Carolina, Illinois
9 seeds: UCLA, Oklahoma, Colorado, Cincinnati
10 seeds: California, Temple, Creighton, Wichita State
11 seeds: Missouri, Virginia, Iowa State, La Salle
12 seeds: St. Mary's, Boise State, Middle Tennessee State, Belmont, Akron
13 seeds: Villanova, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Bucknell
14 seeds: Valpo, South Dakota State, Davidson, Stony Brook
15 seeds: Montana, Princeton, Niagara, Long Beach State
16 seeds: Northeastern, Robert Morris, Mercer, Norfolk State, Charleston Southern, Southern.

Last 4 in: St. Mary's, Boise State, Villanova, Kentucky

Last 4 out: Baylor, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Arkansas

Next 4 out: Tennessee, UMass, St. John's, Alabama

Also considered: Arizona State, Wyoming, Iowa, LSU, Maryland and Stanford.