Field of 65
* = Conference Champ
1s: Memphis*, Kansas*, Duke*, Tennessee*
2s: Stanford, UCLA*, Georgetown*, North Carolina
3s: Kansas State, Connecticut, Texas, Wisconsin*
4s: Notre Dame, Michigan State, Xavier*, Texas A&M
5s: Butler*, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Washington State
6s: Drake, Clemson, Purdue, Louisville
7s: Arkansas, Baylor, Marquette, Gonzaga
8s: St. Mary's California, Vanderbilt, UNLV*, BYU
9s: Rhode Island, Maryland, Mississippi, USC
10s: St. Joseph's, VCU*, Arizona, Illinois State*
11s: George Mason, South Alabama, Kent State*, Dayton
12s: Davidson*, Ohio, Massachusetts, Western Kentucky*
13s: Utah State*, Stephen F. Austin*, NC Asheville*, Wright State
14s: Rider*, IUPUI*, Hampton*, CSU-Northridge*
15s: Northern Arizona*, Belmont*, Cornell*, San Diego*
16s: Alabama State*, Austin Peay*, Maryland Baltimore County*, Wagner*, Holy Cross*
The bubble is thinning out. Teams are playing their ways out of the field. It's becoming easier to pick most at-large teams. However, there still aren't 34 worthy at-large teams(yet, will there ever be?). It was because of that I predicted some conference tournament upsets just to gobble up some at-large bids(San Diego in the WCC, who is hosting the tourney so its not a bad upset pick; Illinois State in the MVC; Western Kentucky in the Sun Belt).
Bold = Conference Champ
SOUTH REGION
March 21 @ Alltel Arena - Little Rock, AR
1. Memphis vs. 16. Alabama State/Austin Peay - 9:40pm
8. Vanderbilt vs. 9. Rhode Island - 7:10pm
March 21 @ BJCC Arena - Birmingham, AL
5. Pittsburgh vs. 12. Davidson - 9:50pm
4. Xavier vs. 13. Wright State - 7:20pm
March 20 @ Pepsi Center - Denver, CO
6. Clemson vs. 11. George Mason - 12:40pm
3. Kansas State vs. 14. IUPUI - 3:10pm
March 21 @ St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa, FL
7. Gonzaga vs. 10. Arizona - 2:55pm
2. Georgetown vs. 15. Cornell - 12:25pm
WEST REGION
March 21 @ BJCC Arena - Birmingham, AL
1. Tennessee vs. 16. Holy Cross - 12:30pm
8. St. Mary's California vs. 9. Maryland - 3:00pm
March 20 @ Verizon Center - Washington, D.C.
5. Butler vs. 12. Ohio - 12:20pm
4. Notre Dame vs. 13. North Carolina-Asheville - 2:50pm
March 20 @ Qwest Center - Omaha, NE
6. Drake vs. 11. South Alabama - 2:55pm
3. Wisconsin vs. 14. Rider - 12:25pm
March 21 @ RBC Arena - Raleigh, NC
7. Marquette vs. 10. Virginia Commonwealth - 12:15pm
2. North Carolina vs. 15. Belmont - 2:45pm
EAST REGION
March 21 @ RBC Arena - Raleigh, NC
1. Duke vs. 16. Wagner - 7:10pm
8. UNLV vs. 9. USC - 9:40pm
March 20 @ Pepsi Center - Denver, CO
5. Indiana vs. 12. Massachusetts - 7:20pm
4. Texas A&M vs. 13. Stephen F. Austin - 9:50pm
March 20 @ Verizon Center - Washington, D.C
6. Purdue vs. 11. Dayton - 7:10pm
3. Connecticut vs. 14. CSU-Northridge - 9:40pm
March 20 @ The Pond - Anaheim, CA
7. Baylor vs. 10. Illinois State - 7:40pm
2. UCLA vs. 15. San Diego - 10:10pm
MIDWEST REGION
March 20 @ Qwest Center - Omaha, NE
1. Kansas vs. 16. Maryland-Baltimore County - 7:10pm
8. BYU vs. 9. Mississippi - 9:40pm
March 21 @ St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa, FL
5. Washington State vs. 12. Western Kentucky - 7:10pm
4. Michigan State vs. 13. Utah State - 9:40pm
March 21 @ Alltel Arena - Little Rock, AR
6. Louisville vs. 11. Kent State - 12:40pm
3. Texas vs. 14. Hampton - 3:10pm
March 20 @ The Pond - Anaheim, CA
7. Arkansas vs. 10. St. Joseph's - 2:40pm
2. Stanford vs. 15. Northern Arizona - 5:10pm
LAST 4 IN
Wright State (13) - Would Wright State(17-6) get in if the brackets were picked today? No, but the fact that there are no deserving teams for that 34th at-large bid made me pick the Raiders(1-0 vs. RPI Top 50, 2-0 vs. Top 75) and winners of 8 straight over all the other teams in cotention for the bid who had poor records vs. the RPI Top 50. I included Wright State not because they necessarily will get in, but to send a message that there are not 34 worthy at-large teams right now.
George Mason (11) - 2-0 vs. RPI Top 25 made this a good choice despite the bad losses. But like I said with Wright State - it was easier to take George Mason over a team like Syracuse who is 1-6 vs. the RPI Top 50.
Massachusetts (12) - Their RPI is too high right now to leave out, plus their record vs. the Top 50 is more deserving than each teams who was left out.
Kent State (11) - Their game at St. Mary's could determine whether or not they get an at-large like I have them getting here. But I honestly do not see them losing another MAC game until the MAC tournament. Why leave out a team who would be 25-6 with a 14-2 MAC record if they ran the table in the MAC like I think they will?
LAST 4 OUT
Arizona State - Good record vs. Top 50, but their RPI is too low right now. It came down to this team and Wright State, with similar profiles I had to take the Raiders with a better RPI and playing much better as of late.
Oklahoma - Longar Longar's injury as well as not playing too well lately means the Sooners are out for now.
Ohio State - 2-7 vs. the RPI Top 50 means no for the Buckeyes. It will take more than beating Syracuse and Florida to get in.
West Virginia - 2-6 vs. the RPI Top 50 and have lost 3 of 4.
NEXT 4 OUT
Syracuse - Teams that are 1-6 don't belong in the field. I don't care how tough a schedule you have played.
Creighton - Unable to put it all together. 1-4 vs. Top 50
Florida - When your ONLY good win this year is over Vanderbilt you don't belong in the field.
Mississippi State - 1-5 vs. Top 50 and fading
ALSO CONSIDERED
Seton Hall
Siena
San Diego State
Oregon
Miami (FL)
North Carolina State
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