Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, we can turn our attention to college hoops and the rapidly approaching NCAA Tournament.
Here is my latest bracket projection. Remember this is not an attempt to predict future results. It is based only on games already played, as if today were Selection Sunday.
This is through games played on Tuesday. Here is the bracket, with some notes below:
West plays South and East plays Midwest in Final Four
West (Phoenix)
Played in Omaha, Neb.
1. Kansas vs. 16. Wagner
8. Clemson vs. 9. Ohio State
Played in Denver
5. Marquette vs. 12. Mississippi St.
4. Drake vs. 13. Utah St.
Played in Washington D.C.
3. Xavier vs. 14. Rider
6. St. Maryâs vs. 11. Syracuse
Played in Anaheim, Calif.
7. Oklahoma vs. 10. Mississippi
2. UCLA vs. 15. Austin Peay
South (Houston)
Played in Little Rock, Ark.
1. Memphis vs. 16. Jacksonville/Alabama St.
8. Dayton vs. 9. West Virginia
Played in Tampa, Fla.
5. Arizona vs. 12. NC State
4. Connecticut vs. 13. VCU
Played in Anaheim, Calif.
3. Stanford vs. 14. Cornell
6. Notre Dame vs. 11. Kent St.
Played in Tampa, Fla.
7. Gonzaga vs. 10. UNLV
2. Michigan St. vs. 15. Hampton
Midwest (Detroit)
Played in Raleigh, N.C.
1. North Carolina vs. 16. Lamar
8. Louisville vs. 9. Vanderbilt
Played in Denver
5. Texas A&M vs. 12. George Mason
4. Washington St. vs. 13. Davidson
Played in Birmingham, Ala.
3. Texas vs. 14. UNC Asheville
6. Indiana vs. 11. South Alabama
Played in Birmingham, Ala.
7. Rhode Island vs. 10. Arkansas
2. Georgetown vs. 15. Lafayette
East (Charlotte)
Played in Raleigh, N.C.
1. Duke vs. 16. Portland St.
8. Purdue vs. 9. Southern Cal
Played in Washington D.C.
5. Kansas St. vs. 12. Seton Hall
4. Butler vs. 13. Oral Roberts
Played in Omaha, Neb.
3. Wisconsin vs. 14. CS-Northridge
6. Baylor vs. 11. Massachusetts
Played in Little Rock, Ark.
7. Pittsburgh vs. 10. St. Josephâs
2. Tennessee vs. 15. UMBC
Last three in: Seton Hall, Indiana and Purdue
Last three out: BYU, Oregon and Ohio
Dropping out: Providence, Florida, Miami (Fl.), Georgia Tech, Marist, Northern Arizona
Dropping in: Purdue, Arkansas, NC State, George Mason, Rider and Portland St.
Rising seeds: Texas A&M (+6), UConn (+3), Clemson (+2), Stanford (+2), Notre Dame (+2), UNLV (+2), Kansas State (+2), St. Joseph’s (+2)
Falling seeds: Mississippi (-5), Indiana (-3), Mississippi St. (-2), St. Mary’s (-2), Oklahoma (-2), Dayton (-2), UMass (-2)
A few of you commented on Memphis last week. Like it or not, the Tigers are the No. 1 overall seed at the moment.
They may play in a weak conference, but Memphis did play a tough non-conference schedule. The Tigers are ranked No. 2 in RPI and No. 26 in strength of schedule. They are 6-0 against top-50 teams, four of those victories coming against teams from the power conferences.
