Well, it’s that time of year again.
We unveil our first NCAA Tournament projections now that nearly every team is approaching the midpoint of conference play. We’ve got a big enough sample of games to evaluate teams across conferences in an attempt to find the 68 teams that are most deserving of a bid to the Big Dance.
As usual, it’s not easy to parse the minute differences in many cases. The selection committee faces a tough task every season. Although they’ll never make everyone happy, the committee always delivers a final product that produces thrills and drama for nearly a month in late March and early April. Team A might feel shafted, but Team B might turn into VCU and write a Cinderella story for the ages.
So let’s get right to the brackets. As always, please share your thoughts.
Midwest(Atlanta)
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(1) Kentucky vs. (16) UT-Arlington (Southland) vs. (16) Mississippi Valley State (SWAC) (Louisville)
(8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Harvard (Louisville) (4) Michigan vs. (13) St. Louis vs. (13) Cincinnati (Columbus) (5) Florida State vs. (12) New Mexico (Columbus) (2) Missouri vs. (15) Drexel (CAA) (Omaha) (7) Louisville vs. (10) Xavier (Omaha) (3) Michigan State vs. (14) La Salle (Atlantic 10) (Columbus) (6) Wichita State vs. (11) Notre Dame (Columbus) |
West(Phoenix)
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(1) Duke vs. (16) Norfolk State (MEAC) (Greensboro)
(8) West Virginia vs. (9) Iowa State (Greensboro) (4) UNLV vs. (13) Long Beach State (Big West) (Portland) (5) Saint Mary’s vs. (12) Oral Roberts (Summit) (Portland) (2) Baylor vs. (15) Weber State (Big Sky) (Albuquerque) (7) Mississippi State vs. (10) Southern Miss (C-USA) (Albuquerque) (3) Marquette vs. (14) NC State vs. (14) Ole Miss (Nashville) (6) Illinois vs. (11) Washington (Pac-12) (Nashville) |
East(Boston) |
(1) Syracuse vs. (16) UNC-Asheville (Big South) vs. Stony Brook (America East) (Pittsburgh)
(8) Purdue vs. (9) Vanderbilt (Pittsburgh) (4) Creighton (Missouri Valley) vs. (13) Davidson (SoCon) (Albuquerque) (5) Wisconsin vs. (12) Memphis (Albuquerque) (2) North Carolina vs. (15) Belmont (Atlantic Sun) (Greensboro) (7) Kansas State vs. (10) Middle Tennessee State (Sun Belt) (Greensboro) (3) Florida vs. (14) Akron (MAC) (Nashville) (6) Indiana vs. (11) Seton Hall (Nashville) |
South(St. Louis) |
(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Long Island (NEC) (Louisville)
(8) Alabama vs. (9) Connecticut (Louisville) (4) Murray State (Ohio Valley) vs. (13) Nevada (WAC) (Portland) (5) San Diego State vs. (12) Cleveland State (Horizon) (Portland) (2) Kansas vs. (15) Bucknell (Patriot) (Omaha) (7) Virginia vs. (10) Minnesota (Omaha) (3) Georgetown vs. (14) Iona (MAAC) (Pittsburgh) (6) Temple vs. (11) Arkansas (Pittsburgh) |
Last Eight In: |
Notre Dame
Memphis Seton Hall New Mexico Cincinnati Saint Louis Ole Miss NC State |
First Eight Out:
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Colorado State
Dayton Central Florida Ohio South Florida Miami Denver BYU |
Conference
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Big East: 9
Big Ten: 8 SEC: 7 ACC: 5 Big 12: 5 Atlantic 10: 4 Mountain West: 3 Conference USA: 2 Missouri Valley: 2 West Coast: 2 21 one-bid conferences |
