NCAA Tournament Crystal Ball – March 12, 2005
by Michael Protos
It’s the penultimate Crystal Ball, and I seemingly have more questions than answers. Who wants to join the NCAA Tournament? No, really. We have open spots. Somebody please step forward. Anybody?
With less than 36 hours until the selection committee announces the field, the final two or three teams in the NCAA Tournament remains painfully unclear. Losses by Maryland and Notre Dame gave teams like UAB, Indiana and Georgetown an opportunity to reclaim a spot in the tournament. But they all lost. Virginia Tech, Miami and Maryland managed to drop their first games in the ACC Tournament, meaning that the ACC will get no more than five bids. And that’s only if the committee thinks North Carolina State’s recent work is enough to ignore that ugly 7-9 conference record.
Who is the hottest team? This one is easy – West Virginia. The Mountaineers are putting together one of the more memorable performances in Big East Tournament history. They can cap off a magical run with an unprecedented fourth win in four days. If the Mountaineers can beat Providence, Boston College, Villanova and Syracuse in four consecutive days, they can beat almost any two teams in three days.
So what’s the bottom line on the bubble? With the current state of chaos after every game concluded Friday night, North Carolina State, New Mexico, Notre Dame and Maryland are the last four teams in. Those last two are there by default. Memphis, Georgetown, Indiana and UAB are the last four out. But only the Tigers are still alive in conference tournament action.
What does all this mean for the bracket predictions? Upsets are not as bountiful in this edition as the real contenders are becoming clearer. The Final Four features all No. 1 or No. 2 seeds – Illinois, North Carolina, Arizona and Duke. A North Carolina vs. Duke national semifinal is a match up almost too good to be true. So would an Illinois vs. Arizona clash featuring some of the best guards in the entire country. In the national championship, North Carolina edges Illinois based on the Tar Heels’ ability to pull out tough wins in close games. That’s something Illinois has not been forced to do against ACC-caliber competition.
Read on to see the rest of the bracket predictions. Send me your comments and complaints and look for more Crystal Ball readings later this week.
No. 1 Seeds:
Illinois
North Carolina
Kentucky
Wake Forest
No. 2 Seeds:
Arizona
Louisville
Duke
Kansas
Squeaking By
North Carolina State
New Mexico
Notre Dame
Maryland
Last Four Teams Out:
Memphis
Georgetown
Indiana
UAB
First Round Upsets
No. 11 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Pacific
No. 11 North Carolina State vs. No. 6 Wisconsin
No. 10 UTEP vs. No. 7 Southern Illinois
No. 9 St. Mary’s vs. No. 8 Nevada
No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 8 Cincinnati
No. 9 George Washington vs. No. 8 Texas Tech
The Brackets
Chicago Region:
First and second rounds in Indianapolis
No. 1 Illinois vs. DELAWARE STATE (MEAC)
No. 8 Cincinnati vs. No. 9 UCLA
First and second rounds in Nashville
No. 5 Syracuse vs. No. 12 Maryland
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 PENNSYLVANIA (Ivy)
First and second rounds in Worcester
No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 11 North Carolina State
No. 3 Boston College vs. No. 14 St. Joseph’s
First and second rounds in Oklahoma State
No. 7 Charlotte vs. No. 10 Stanford
No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 15 EASTERN KENTUCKY (OVC)
Albuquerque Region:
First and second rounds in Charlotte
No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 16 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (NEC)
No. 8 Texas Tech vs. No. 9 George Washington
First and second rounds in Tucson
No. 5 Florida vs. No. 12 Notre Dame
No. 4 GONZAGA (WCC) vs. No. 13 BUCKNELL (Patriot)
First and second rounds in Worcester
No. 6 Pacific (Big West) vs. No. 11 Iowa State
No. 3 Connecticut vs. No. 14 Vermont (America East)
First and second rounds in Boise
No. 7 Southern Illinois vs. No. 10 UTEP
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Northwestern State (Southland)
Austin Region:
First and second rounds in Indianapolis
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 16 MONTANA (Big Sky)
No. 8 Nevada vs. No. 9 St. Mary’s
First and second rounds in Tucson
No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 12 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (Sun Belt)
No. 4 Utah vs. No. 13 WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE (Horizon)
First and second rounds in Oklahoma City
No. 6 LSU vs. No. 11 New Mexico
No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 14 WINTHROP (Big South)
First and second rounds in Nashville
No. 7 West Virginia vs. No. 10 DePaul
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 CENTRAL FLORIDA (Atlantic Sun)
Syracuse Region:
First and second rounds in Charlotte
No. 1 North Carolina vs. winner of play-in game between OAKLAND (Mid-Continent) and Alabama A&M (SWAC)
No. 8 CREIGHTON (MVC) vs. No. 9 Mississippi State
First and second rounds in Cleveland
No. 5 Villanova vs. No. 12 OLD DOMINION (CAA)
No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Ohio (MAC)
First and second rounds in Boise
No. 6 Pittsburgh vs. No. 11 Texas
No. 3 Washington vs. No. 14 TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA (Southern)
First and second rounds in Cleveland
No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. No. 10 Minnesota
No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 15 NIAGARA (MAAC)
Sweet 16
Chicago
No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 5 Syracuse
No. 7 Charlotte vs. No. 11 North Carolina State
Albuquerque
No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 4 Gonzaga
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 3 Connecticut
Austin
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Utah
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State
Syracuse
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 5 Villanova
No. 3 Washington vs. No. 7 Georgia Tech
Elite Eight
Chicago: No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 11 North Carolina State
Albuquerque: No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 4 Gonzaga
Austin: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 2 Duke
Syracuse: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 3 Washington
Final Four
No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 2 Arizona
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Duke
Championship
No. 1 North Carolina beats No. 1 Illinois
