Thursday’s Bracket
Yesterday’s results did not affect the bracket. Not too many upsets. Texas Tech beating Texas A&M was the biggest surprise, but I’m keeping the Aggies as a No. 8 seed for now.
ALSO: TIM BONTEMPS’ BUBBLE WATCH One change I made was dropping Penn State and replacing it with Minnesota. I dropped the Gophers yesterday after Cleveland State forced Butler into the at-large field. But after looking at Minnesota and Penn State again, I’m giving the Gophers the edge.
The Nittany Lions’ non-conference schedule was abysma, ranked 310 in the RPI Strength of Schedule. That’s tough to overcome. Penn State needs a couple of wins in the Big 10 Tourney to make it, I think.
Here’s today’s bracket:
Final Four: West vs. East, South vs. Midwest
West (Glendale, Ariz.)
Kansas City, Mo.
1. Louisville vs. 16. Bowling Green
8. Texas vs. 9. Wisconsin
Dayton, Ohio
5. Gonzaga vs. 12. Rhode Island
4. Florida St. vs. 13. Cleveland St.
Portland, Ore.
3. Washington vs. 14. North Dakota St.
6. LSU vs. 11. Michigan
Kansas City, Mo.
7. West Virginia vs. 10. Boston College
2. Memphis vs. 15. Morgan State
East (Boston)
Philadelphia
1. Connecticut vs. 16. CS Northridge
8. California vs. 9. Oklahoma St.
Minneapolis
5. Clemson vs. 12. Western Kentucky
4. Xavier vs. 13. American
Miami
3. Duke vs. 14. Portland State
6. Marquette vs. 11. Minnesota
Boise, Idaho
7. Tennessee vs. 10. Siena
2. Oklahoma vs. 15. East Tenn State
South (Memphis)
Greensboro, N.C.
1. North Carolina vs. 16. Morehead St.
8. Texas A&M vs. 9. Dayton
Portland, Ore.
5. Syracuse vs. 12. Northern Iowa
4. Illinois vs. 13. Niagara
Miami
3. Villanova vs. 14. Robert Morris
6. Purdue vs. 11. Arizona
Boise, Idaho
7. Butler vs. 10. Utah State
2. Kansas vs. 15. Cornell
Midwest (Indianapolis)
Dayton, Ohio
1. Pittsburgh vs. 16. Chattanooga/Alabama St.
8. Utah vs. 9. Ohio State
Minneapolis
5. UCLA vs. 12. VCU
4. Missouri vs. 13. Stephen F. Austin
Greensboro, N.C.
3. Wake Forest vs. 14. Binghamton
6. Arizona State vs. 11. New Mexico
Philadelphia
7. BYU vs. 10. Creighton
2. Michigan St.vs. 15. Radford
Last three in: Arizona, Minnesota, Rhode Island
Last three out: St. Mary’s, Temple, Tulsa
Conferences With Multiple Bids
Big 10: 7
Big East: 7
ACC: 6
Big 12: 6
Pac 10: 5
A10: 3
Mountain West: 3
Missouri Valley: 2
SEC: 2
MAAC: 2
Horizon: 2

