Monday Bracketology

 

1 seed vs 16 seed

Gonzaga (WCC) vs Texas St(Sbelt)/ PVA&M (SWAC)

Michigan (B1G) vs NC A&T(MEAC)/Bryant(NEC)

Baylor (B12) vs Cleveland St (Hor)

Illinois vs James Madison (Col)

2 seed vs 15 seed

Alabama (SEC) vs Grand Canyon (WAC)

Houston vs Siena (MAAC)

Ohio State vs UMBC (Aeast)

Villanova (Beast) vs E.Washington (Bsky)

3 seed vs 14 seed

West Virginia vs UNCG (SoCon)

Iowa vs S.Dakota St (Smmt)

Kansas vs Navy (Pat)

Arkansas vs Abilene Christian (Sland)

4 seed vs 13 seed

Florida St (ACC) vs Liberty (Asun)

Texas Tech vs Winthrop (Bsouth)

Virginia vs Toledo (MAC)

Texas vs Belmont (OVC)

5 seed vs 12 seed

Purdue vs W. Kentucky (Cusa)

Oklahoma St vs UCSB (Bwest)

Creighton vs Georgia Tech/Michigan St

Oklahoma vs Drake/Boise State

6 seed vs 11 seed

Missouri vs Connecticut

Wisconsin vs North Carolina

Virginia Tech vs Wichita St (AAC)

Clemson vs VCU (A10)

7 seed vs 10 seed

Florida vs Loyola (Mvalley)

Colorado vs Colorado St

Tennessee vs LSU

San Diego St (Mwest) vs St. Bonaventure

8 seed vs 9 seed

Maryland vs Xavier

USC vs Oregon

Louisville vs UCLA (P10)

BYU vs Rutgers

 

First Four Out

Duke

Richmond

Utah State

Seton Hall

Next Four Out

St. Louis

Indiana

Memphis

Stanford

Also Considered

St. John's

Louisiana Tech

Syracuse

Minnesota

SMU

Conference Tournaments

 Two more conferences kick off today with the Big South and American East going.

In the Big South Winthrop is the 1 seed and is currently a 12/13 seed in the tournament.  They have the potential to beat a 5 or 4 seed in the NCAA tournament so we will be cheering them on.

The America East's 1 seed is UMBC but the favorite is probably 2 seeded Vermont.  These teams top out at a 14 line but I wouldn't be surprised to see them lower.  TJ Sorrentine and Taylor Coppenrath ain't walking through that door.

Friday Bracketology

 

1 seed vs 16 seed

Gonzaga (WCC) vs Texas St(Sbelt)/ PVA&M (SWAC)

Baylor (B12) vs NC A&T(MEAC)/S.Dakota(Smmt)

Michigan (B1G) vs Cleveland St (Hor)

Illinois vs Wagner (NEC)

2 seed vs 15 seed

Ohio State vs Grand Canyon (WAC)

Villanova (Beast) vs Siena (MAAC)

Alabama (SEC) vs James Madison (Col)

Houston vs E.Washington (Bsky)

3 seed vs 14 seed

West Virginia vs Furman (SoCon)

Iowa vs UMBC (Aeast)

Florida St (ACC) vs North Texas (Cusa)

Oklahoma vs Abilene Christian (Sland)

4 seed vs 13 seed

Texas vs Liberty (Asun)

Kansas vs Colgate (Pat)

Virginia vs UCSB (Bwest)

Arkansas vs Belmont (OVC)

5 seed vs 12 seed

Creighton vs Winthrop (Bsouth)

Tennessee vs Toledo (MAC)

Purdue vs Indiana/North Carolina

Wisconsin vs W.Kentucky/Connecticut

6 seed vs 11 seed

Virginia Tech vs Colorado St

Missouri vs Wichita St (AAC)

Texas Tech vs St. Bonaventure

Oklahoma St vs Xavier

7 seed vs 10 seed

Florida vs Drake

Clemson vs Oregon

UCLA (P10) vs VCU (A10)

USC vs Boise State

8 seed vs 9 seed

Colorado vs Loyola (Mvalley)

San Diego St (Mwest) vs Maryland

Louisville vs LSU

BYU vs Rutgers

 

First Four Out

Duke

Michigan State

Seton Hall

Stanford

Next Four Out

Minnesota

Georgia Tech

St. Louis

SMU

Also Considered

St. John's

Memphis

Louisiana Tech

UAB

Richmond

Syracuse

Utah State

Friday stuff

 

Michigan State got another huge win and is now one of the First Four out.  Belmont took the one loss they could not take and probably need the auto bid now.

 

With Ohio State losing to Michigan State I am moving Illinois to the top line.  I might be the only person who thinks this but I like the Illini better.

 

The game of the night on the bubble is St. Louis vs Richmond.  Neither team is in but a loss may drop them out of consideration.

 

Bracket coming later today

Conference Tournaments - Horizon

 Conference Tournaments start tonight with the Horizon league kicking us off.  Cleveland State is the 1 seed but I will be taking Wright State for the mild upset.  We are looking at 14 seed or so if Wright St wins.  Everybody else and it's 15/16.

Thursday's Action!

 

North Carolina was the big loser last night.  Took a chance on a home game versus Marquette and came up short.  I still have them as my last team in but that’s by a thread.  Who are they playing in First Four according to my bracket?  Fellow Blue Blood Indiana, who also lost last night.  Quite the battle brewing for those last couple spots with Duke and Michigan State right there.

Tonight's big game is Iowa vs Michigan but we have some bubble action too.  Western Kentucky has a gift game against Houston.  They are in my Next Four out but a win here is probably enough to leap several teams.  Boise State plays San Diego State and while both teams are in they don’t have a lot of room for error.  I currently have 3 Mountain West teams in and Utah State as my first team out.  I feel like they end up with 3 in March but best to keep winning.   Speaking of Michigan State, they get another shot at a huge win with Ohio State tonight.  They are coming on strong and no matter what the committee says, a big win at the end of the season just does mean more.

Also in action tonight is Minnesota who is falling like a lead balloon and needs to string some wins together to get back on track.  Lastly is Mid-Major Belmont, who is currently 24-1 and leading the Ohio Valley.  Their resume is a bit bare but it’s a unique year.  If they go undefeated in conference until their tournament and lose will it be enough?

Wednesday Games

 

Last Night Michigan State and Connecticut got big wins to stay in contention for an at-large bid.  On the flip side St. John’s and St. Louis took steps backwards.  St. John’s wasn’t in before the night but St. Louis was.  I think they are now out but I won’t reformulate the bracket until after tonight’s games.

 

As for tonight we have a few games to keep an eye on.St. Boanventure plays Davidson and the Bonnies’ are one of my last 4 in.  Marquette takes on North Carolina and boy would I love to see the Tar Heels drop one here.  They are secure even with a loss but they don’t have ton of room for error.  I give credit to Roy Williams for finding these games to help bolster their resume.  It can work in their favor but if they lose…

 

The last game worth mentioning is Rutgers vs Indiana.  These teams are in the 9-11 range and I don’t think the loser drops out but I think one of these 2 teams is left our come March.  This game could be the sticking point to some people on the committee.