The only major changes in this week’s bracket came as a result of the resurgent A-10. After feasting on the Big East this week, Dayton and Rhode Island made their way into the field, with fellow conference mate Charlotte not far behind. The only major conference shake-up was in the ACC, as Boston College joins the bracket after its nice win at Maryland. The Eagles replace one-week wonder Providence, which lost both of its games last week and dropped out. The only other developing story bracket-wise this past week was in the Horizon, where Wright State beat Butler, again, at home. That result, plus the play thus far of Valparaiso (the Crusaders are 8-1 and already won at Wright State), means the Horizon might have enough talent to steal a second bid again this season. Just something to keep an eye on…
Out This Bracket
Providence, Bradley, St. Joseph’s, Miami (OH), Albany, Robert Morris
In This Bracket
Boston College, Dayton, Rhode Island, Kent State, UMBC, Wagner
Last Four In
Rhode Island, North Carolina State, Mississippi, Creighton
Last Four Out
Charlotte, Missouri, Notre Dame, Drake
Next Four Out
Houston, UNLV, Connecticut, Valparaiso
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Conference Breakdown
ACC (8), Big East (7), Pac-10 (7), Big XII (5), SEC (5), Big Ten (4), A-10 (3), MVC (3), A-10 (2), Horizon (2), WCC (2)
America East - UMBC
ACC - North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Virginia, Miami (FL), Boston College, North Carolina State, Florida State
Atlantic Sun - Belmont
A-10 - Xavier, Dayton, Rhode Island
Big East - Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Louisville, West Virginia, Syracuse
Big Sky - Montana
Big South - Winthrop
Big Ten - Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State
Big 12 - Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Kansas State
Big West - UC-Santa Barbara
Colonial - George Mason
C-USA - Memphis
Horizon - Butler
Ivy - Cornell
MAAC - Siena
MAC - Kent State
MEAC - Hampton
MVC - Southern Illinois, Creighton
MWC - BYU
Northeast - Wagner
Ohio Valley - Austin Peay
Pac-10 - UCLA, Washington State, Oregon, Arizona, USC, California, Stanford
Patriot - Holy Cross
SEC - Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi
Southern - Davidson
Southland - Sam Houston State
Summit - IUPUI
Sun Belt - Western Kentucky
SWAC - Alabama A&M
WAC - Utah State
WCC - Gonzaga, St. Mary's
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The Seeds
The 1s
North Carolina, Memphis, Kansas, UCLA
The 2s
Texas, Duke, Georgetown, Washington State
The 3s
Michigan State, Marquette, Tennessee, Texas A&M
The 4s
Indiana, Oregon, Clemson, Xavier
The 5s
Gonzaga, Butler, Pittsburgh, Arizona
The 6s
USC, Vanderbilt, Villanova, BYU
The 7s
Virginia, Wisconsin, Arkansas, St. Mary's
The 8s
Louisville, California, Ohio State, Miami-FL
The 9s
West Virginia, Baylor, Boston College, Dayton
The 10s
Stanford, Florida, Kansas State, Syracuse
The 11s
Florida State, Southern Illinois, Rhode Island, North Carolina State
The 12s
George Mason, Mississippi, Creighton, Davidson
The 13s
Holy Cross, Kent State, Utah State, Winthrop
The 14s
UC-Santa Barbara, Belmont, Western Kentucky, Sam Houston State
The 15s
Siena, Hampton, Montana, Cornell
The 16s
IUPUI, UMBC, Wagner, Austin Peay (Play-In Game), Alabama A&M (Play-In Game)
The Bracket
(Bracket courtesy Matt Reeves)
Questions? Comments? E-mail Bracketology 101 at bracketologyblog@yahoo.com
10 comments:
How can NC State still be in the bracket at this point?? I know they beat 'Nova, but losses to New Orleans (at home), East Carolina, and a complete blowout at Michigan State? I'm interested in hearing your reasoning for their inclusion at this point. Certainly a 4-3 start isn't what Sidney Lowe had in mind after his team's wonderful run last March.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 6-1 so far. I know they haven't played amazing teams yet, but at what point do they start to be considered for the bracket?
We admit that N.C. State is only in the bracket at this point because of their potential, and not because of how they've played so far. The Wolfpack have been one of the more disappointing and hard-to-figure big conference teamsover the first month of the season, but we have faith that they will turn things around once conference play starts. They are certainly talented enough - and it's about time that they start showing off some of those talents on the court.
Minnesota isn't worthy of consideration yet because of their extremely poor schedule thus far. They have only one win over a team that is currently over .500 and that was a victory over 5-4 Colorado State.
Thanks!
I can certainly understand your thinking on NC State's potential.. certainly they have been rather disappointing to this point.. You are probably correct in your thinking about how they will perform in conference play.. Another team that I find rather hard to figure out is Maryland.. I thought they would have had a better record so far, but they may also be one of those teams that will turn it around come ACC play. Thoughts?
Maryland is in that second tier of ACC teams (along with BC, FSU, etc.) that will be battling all year to earn the league's sixth, seventh, or maybe even eighth NCAA bid. Like NC State, Maryland has not played up to its talent level so far, but remember that most of the Terps' talent is young. If those young players continue to mature, there's no reason why Maryland can't go dancing in March.
Good point.. I didn't realize how young Maryland was this year. Just looked at their roster, and it's mostly Freshmen and Soph's. Certainly they will need time to adjust a bit.. Gary Williams is a great coach though, so people better not overlook UM when conference play starts.
Boy, tough night tonight for the ACC.. Maryland losing at home to Ohio University, and BC falling at home to the upstart UMass Minutemen.. The A-10 is really surprising some people so far.. Could UMass start being considered for the bracket with their nice road wins vs. Syracuse and now BC?
It may not be next bracket, but with Charlotte, and now UMass, in the discussion, the A-10 is performing like a four-bid league.
Good post.
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