Bracketology -3/9/20

Now we're down the home stretch. Conference Tournament Week promises to be an exciting, fun-filled, dramatic week. However, it is important to note that each game counts as much as every other game during the season. There is only so much a team can move up the seed list (though many could take a page from Utah State's book and punch their ticket now).

Midwest Region
1.      Kansas (1) - Omaha
16.  St. Francis (PA) (65)/ Prairie View A&M (66)
8.      Saint Mary’s (32)
9.      Florida (33)
5.      Ohio State (17)
12.  Liberty (50)
4.      Louisville (14) – Tampa
13.  Vermont (51)
6.      BYU (22)
11.  ETSU (43)
3.      Michigan State (10) – St. Louis
14.  Belmont (56)
7.      Illinois (25)
10.  Arizona State (38)
2.      Creighton (8) – St. Louis
15.  Eastern Washington (62)
South Region
1.      Baylor (2) - Omaha
16.  North Dakota State (64)
8.      Houston (29)
9.      Rutgers (36)
5.      Auburn (19)
12.  Stephen F. Austin (49)
4.      Wisconsin (16) – Sacramento
13.  North Texas (53)
6.      Penn State (23)
11.  Utah State (42)
3.      Seton Hall (11) – Albany
14.  Colgate (57)
7.      Colorado (26)
10.  Indiana (39)
2.      Florida State (7) - Tampa
15.  Little Rock (60)
West Region
1.      Gonzaga (3) - Spokane
16.  Siena (67)/North Carolina Central (68)
8.      Marquette (31)
9.      Oklahoma (35)
5.      West Virginia (20)
12.  NC State (46)/Richmond (47)
4.      Oregon (15) – Spokane
13.  New Mexico State (54)
6.      Michigan (21)
11.  Wichita State (44)/Stanford (45)
3.      Kentucky (12) – Cleveland
14.  Bradley (55)
7.      Arizona (27)
10.  Texas Tech (40)
2.      San Diego State (5) - Sacramento
15.  UC Irvine (61)
East Region
1.      Dayton (4) - Cleveland
16.  Winthrop (63)
8.      LSU (30)
9.      Providence (34)
5.      Butler (18)
12.  Yale (48)
4.      Maryland (13) - Greensboro
13.  Akron (52)
6.      Iowa (24)
11.  Xavier (41)
3.      Duke (9) - Greensboro
14.  Wright State (58)
7.      Virginia (28)
10.  USC (37)
2.      Villanova (6) - Albany
15.  Hofstra (59)

Last Four In

Wichita State

Stanford

NC State

Richmond

First Four Out

Cincinnati

Texas

UCLA

Northern Iowa

Bracketology - 3/2/20

Well, it's finally March. Thank heavens for small mercies.

This week I have to give props to two teams: Providence and UCLA. Both teams suffered through abysmal non-conference performances. Providence had three Q3 losses and a nice Q4 shiner due to Long Beach State. UCLA had a Q3 and Q4 loss each, and both programs looked lost.

And yet, Providence is fairly safe, and UCLA is right outside the field. How?

Conference play has been a revelation for both teams. Providence owns wins at Villanova, Butler, and Marquette, and home wins over Seton Hall and Creighton. UCLA has swept Arizona and Colorado, and is 1st place in the Pac-12 standings.

The committee has shown to favor teams that pick up big wins in conference play to off-set some bad non-conference losses (think Baylor last season). Even if both teams fall a bit short, both should be commended for their remarkable turnarounds.

Midwest Region
1.      Kansas (1) - Omaha
16.  St. Francis (PA) (65)/ Prairie View A&M (66)
8.      Virginia (31)
9.      Saint Mary’s (33)
5.      Ohio State (18)
12.  Cincinnati (46)/NC State (47)
4.      Kentucky (14) – Cleveland
13.  Liberty (51)
6.      BYU (24)
11.  Wichita State (42)
3.      Creighton (9) – St. Louis
14.  Wright State (58)
7.      Marquette (26)
10.  USC (40)
2.      Maryland (6) - Greensboro
15.  UC Irvine (61)
South Region
1.      Baylor (2) - Omaha
16.  Winthrop (63)
8.      Houston (30)
9.      Florida (35)
5.      Butler (19)
12.  Stephen F. Austin (50)
4.      Michigan State (16) – Sacramento
13.  Akron (53)
6.      West Virginia (23)
11.  ETSU (44)
3.      Villanova (11) - Albany
14.  Colgate (56)
7.      Illinois (28)
10.  Xavier (37)
2.      Florida State (7) - Tampa
15.  Eastern Washington (62)
West Region
1.      Gonzaga (3) - Spokane
16.  Siena (67)/North Carolina A&T (68)
8.      Texas Tech (32)
9.      Arizona State (34)
5.      Michigan (20)
12.  Northern Iowa (48)
4.      Oregon (13) – Spokane
13.  North Texas (54)
6.      Iowa (21)
11.  Stanford (43)/Rhode Island (45)
3.      Louisville (12) – St. Louis
14.  New Mexico State (55)
7.      Arizona (27)
10.  Indiana (38)
2.      Seton Hall (8) – Albany
15.  Hofstra (59)
East Region
1.      San Diego State (4) - Sacramento
16.  North Dakota State (64)
8.      LSU (29)
9.      Oklahoma (36)
5.      Auburn (17)
12.  Yale (49)
4.      Penn State (15) - Tampa
13.  Vermont (52)
6.      Wisconsin (22)
11.  Providence (41)
3.      Duke (10) - Greensboro
14.  Belmont (57)
7.      Colorado (25)
10.  Rutgers (39)
2.      Dayton (5) - Cleveland
15.  Little Rock (60)

Last Four Byes

Rutgers

USC

Providence

Wichita State

Last Four In

Stanford

Rhode Island

Cincinnati

NC State

First Four Out

Utah State

UCLA

Arkansas

Purdue

Next Four Out

Georgetown

Texas

Richmond

Mississippi State