BRACKETOLOGY
This is part one of our analysis of how we see the final field of 68 for the forthcoming NCAA Tournament – the GREATEST yearly tournament in sports (my opinion only).
America East – The only team coming from this conference is whoever wins their conference. For mine, I’ll go with Vermont. Currently second in the conference and do have an abysmal loss at New Hampshire, but apart from that their only loss was at Stony Brook (the current top side). And it was only by 6 points. Figure they’ll continue rolling and get revenge on Stony Brook. They do look the goods to make it out of here.
Atlantic 10 – Have 5 sides coming from here. It will be a bit of a raffle but pretty sure Temple, Xavier, Saint Louis and Massachusetts (though that loss at Rhode Island the other day was disgusting!) get out. The last spot is a real raffle between La Salle, Saint Joseph’s, Dayton and St Bonaventure. Personally I’d probably take Dayton. The conference deserves 5 teams however.
ACC – Doesn’t deserve more than 4 places, but you know they’ll probably get more. North Carolina and Duke are guarantees, Florida State and Virginia should also get through without trouble. Apart from that, any other team that makes the field should consider themselves incredibly blessed. Very much a down down down year for the ACC.
Atlantic Sun – Think only the champions will get through and for mine that’s Belmont. They have a good record this year (16-7, 9-2 in conference) and have had good performances out of conference. Of course, they have to win their conference to get through. Might come down to their final game at Mercer (currently top).
Big 12 – Deserves 5 teams I think. Kansas, Missouri, Baylor are guarantees. I also think Iowa State (solid wins over Kansas and Kansas State) and Kansas State should make it. Maybe a 6th team on the bubble, such as Oklahoma State (they did beat Mizzou after all) or Oklahoma (they did beat K-State twice!) or maybe even Texas (maybe scraping the barrel now). We’ll say 5 definites.
Big East – While I think the Big East is better this year than last, I also think the NCAA will push teams through that really don’t deserve to be there. Syracuse, Marquette, Georgetown, Cincinnati and West Vrginia belong there for mine. I’d then consider a raffle with Notre Dame, Louisville, UConn, Seton Hall and Pittsburgh for the final perhaps 3 spots. Doesn’t deserve more than 8 bids.
Big Sky – Soft spot for this conference. They’ve looked after me this year. Think 2 teams should be granted a place. Both Weber State and Montana have been very good this year. I will accept that the non-champion of those two goes into the first round knock out (to narrow the field to 64) but still think they deserve two places. I know it will be hard to justify, but remember Montana did beat Long Beach State late November. Maybe…just maybe.
Big South – Thinking only one team from here. UNC-Asheville have looked pretty good this year, with their 11-1 conference record, but do not sleep on Coastal Carolina or Charleston Southern. One of those three will make the tourney. I’ll go with Coastal Carolina.
Big Ten – Any team that averages over 60 points in this conference deserves to get in. While some may say its crap basketball, like the NBA, the low scoring in this conference is due to downright defense, game controlling tempo and grittiness. Ohio State are guaranteed, as I feel are Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and Indiana. I could not possibly throw in Illinois. They disgust me. But they might make it. If they make it, however, Purdue has to make it. Give Robbie Hummel some love in his final year! That’d be all though. At least 6 teams, maybe 7. I’ll go with 6 though.
Big West – Long Beach State wins this conference (please no choke job like last year!) and that should be the only team making it from here. You’ve all read about their schedule etc but they are too good for these cats.
CAA –VCU, Drexel, George Mason and Old Dominion will be vying for two spots as I see it. Could be three but those are the teams. All with decent resumes for this, and good conference records (only 2 losses each).
C-USA – I like three teams here, but would be surprised if they all got in. Southern Mississippi’s win over Memphis the other day was huge. Really huge. That puts them in good stead to progress from the group, with Memphis. My third team is Marshall. They looked good early but seem to have slightly lost their way. Hopefully three teams come from here as they’re all deserving.
Great West – Only the champion will get through. I have no idea who that’ll be.
Horizon – Cleveland State have been good this year, Valparaiso have impressed, as have Youngstown State and Milwaukee. Detroit has been a disappointment (given the pre-season expectations) and Butler is very good considering the talent they lost. Hoping two sides make it out of this conference, Cleveland State will definitely be one. I’ll take Valpo as the other.
Ivy – The only conference where no tournament occurs. Harvard are that much better than everyone here, they MUST make it through. And they’ll be the only one.
MAAC – Love this conference. Has a fair amount of talent and hope two sides make it through. Iona should win the conference, thus securing their guaranteed berth. Scott Machado and Mike Glover are outstanding players, but I’d also like to see Loyola Maryland make it. They’ve been good this year and deserve a place.
Mid-American – Think at least two sides deserve to progress, maybe even three (won’t happen). Akron have been great, Ohio and Buffalo too (East division). Ball State should be clear in the West but that hasn’t happened. The two that make it SHOULD be Akron and Ball State. We’ll wait and see.
That’s all for part one. We may need to review this as we've got 46 teams coming through. We will table it all at the end of part two over the weekend. Please feel free to comment or send any thoughts via Twitter to @AusSportsGuys, @mal68au or @wiggum7534.
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