If you would like to see this in bracket form, let me know and I’ll send you an excel copy of the bracket.  My regional final four pairings are East vs. West and Midwest vs. South.

East Regional- Washington D.C. (March 28, 30)

(1) Louisville vs. (16) James Madison/North Carolina A & T- Thursday March 21 (Lexington, KY)

(8) San Diego State vs. (9) Illinois- Thursday March 21 (Lexington, KY)

(5) Oklahoma State vs. (12) La Salle/Saint Mary’s- Thursday March 21 (San Jose, CA)

(4) Arizona vs. (13) New Mexico State- Thursday March 21 (San Jose, CA)

(6) Notre Dame vs. (11) California- Friday March 22 (Austin, TX)

(3) Florida vs. (14) Florida Gulf Coast- Friday March 22 (Austin, TX)

(7) North Carolina vs. (10) Oklahoma- Friday March 22 (Dayton, OH)

(2) Ohio State vs. (15) Iona- Friday March 22 (Dayton, OH)

——————————————————————————————————————

West Regional- Los Angeles, CA (March 28, 30)

(1) Gonzaga vs. (16) Southern- Thursday March 21 (Salt Lake City, UT)

(8) Memphis vs. (9) Missouri- Thursday March 21 (Salt Lake City, UT)

(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) Bucknell- Thursday March 21 (San Jose, CA)

(4) Syracuse vs. (13) Valpo- Thursday March 21 (San Jose, CA)

(6) UCLA vs. (11) Villanova- Thursday March 21 (Salt Lake City, UT)

(3) New Mexico vs. (14) Montana- Thursday March 21 (Salt Lake City, UT)

(7) VCU vs. (10) Iowa State- Friday March 22 (Dayton, OH)

(2) Indiana vs. (15) Pacific- Friday March 22 (Dayton, OH)

———————————————————————————————————

Midwest Regional- Indianapolis, IN (March 29, 31)

(1) Kansas vs. (16) LIU-Brooklyn/Liberty- Friday March 22 (Kansas City, MO)

(8) Oregon vs. (9) Minnesota- Friday March 22 (Kansas City, MO)

(5) Saint Louis vs. (12) Belmont- Friday March 22 (Austin, TX)

(4) Marquette vs. (13) Akron- Friday March 22 (Austin, TX)

(6) Pittsburgh vs. (11) Temple- Thursday March 21 (Auburn Hills, MI)

(3) Michigan vs. (14) Harvard- Thursday March 21 (Auburn Hills, MI)

(7) Colorado State vs. (10) Wichita State- Thursday March 21 (Lexington, KY)

(2) Miami-FL vs. (15) Albany- Thursday March 21 (Lexington, KY)

———————————————————————————————————

South Regional- Arlington, TX (March 29, 31)

(1) Duke vs. (16) Western Kentucky- Friday March 22 (Austin, TX)

(8) Creighton vs. (9) Cincinnati- Friday March 22 (Austin, TX)

(5) Butler vs. (12) Boise State/Kentucky- Friday March 22 (Kansas City, MO)

(4) Kansas State vs. (13) South Dakota State- Friday March 22 (Kansas City, MO)

(6) UNLV vs. (11) Ole Miss- Thursday March 21 (Auburn Hills, MI)

(3) Michigan State vs. (14) Davidson- Thursday March 21 (Auburn Hills, MI)

(7) NC State vs. (10) Colorado- Friday March 22 (Philadelphia, PA)

(2) Georgetown vs. (15) Northwestern State- Friday March 22 (Philadelphia, PA)

———————————————————————————————————————

First Four

(16) James Madison vs. (16) North Carolina A & T- Tuesday March 19

(12) La Salle vs. (12) Saint Mary’s- Tuesday March 19

(16) LIU-Brooklyn vs. (16) Liberty- Wednesday March 20

(12) Boise State vs. (12) Kentucky- Wednesday March 20

Well… the day has finally arrived!  Our Christmas presents will be revealed for us tonight at 6:00.  Here are the final seeds I have assigned to the NCAA and NIT tourney fields.  I will publish a full bracket with seeds sites, and regions later this afternoon, but I thought I would go ahead and just post the seeds so that you have an idea if your team is in or out and along what seed line you can expect to see your favorite team later tonight.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams have clinched automatic berths into their respective postseason tournaments or are projected to later on today.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Louisville, Kansas, Duke, Gonzaga

2-seeds: Indiana, Miami-FL, Ohio State, Georgetown

3-seeds: Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, New Mexico

4-seeds: Kansas State, Arizona, Marquette, Syracuse

5-seeds: Oklahoma State, Saint Louis, Wisconsin, Butler

6-seeds: UCLA, UNLV, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame

7-seeds: North Carolina, VCU, Colorado State, NC State

8-seeds: Memphis, Creighton, Oregon, San Diego State

9-seeds: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Cincinnati

10-seeds: Iowa State, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wichita State

11-seeds: California, Temple, Villanova, Ole Miss

12-seeds: Boise State, La Salle, Saint Mary’s, Kentucky, Belmont, Bucknell

13-seeds: Akron, South Dakota State , New Mexico State, Valpo

14-seeds: Davidson, Harvard, Montana, Florida Gulf Coast

15-seeds: Northwestern State, Iona, Pacific, Albany

16-seeds: Southern, Western Kentucky, LIU-Brooklyn, James Madison, North Carolina A & T, Liberty

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Tennnessee, UMass, Middle Tennessee, Maryland

2-seeds: Virginia, Alabama, Southern Miss, Iowa

3-seeds: Baylor, Arizona State, Stanford, Charlotte

4-seeds: Air Force, Arkansas, Providence, Brigham Young

5-seeds: Washington, Florida State, Xavier, St. John’s

6-seeds: Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech, Indiana State, LSU

7-seeds: Stony Brook, Mercer, Long Beach State, Robert Morris

8-seeds: Niagara, Northeastern, Norfolk State, Charleston Southern

First Four Out of NIT: Denver, St. Joe’s, Northern Iowa, Ohio

Second Four Out: Richmond, Wyoming, Detroit, Texas A & M

This will be my last published Brad-ketology prior to my final bracket projection being posted on Sunday.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  The bolded teams are ones who have already clinched an automatic bid to either the NCAA or NIT tournament.  Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.  These bracket projections are included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Duke, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville

2-seeds: Kansas, Georgetown, Michigan, Florida

3-seeds: Miami-FL, Arizona, Michigan State, Ohio State

4-seeds: Kansas State, Oklahoma State, New Mexico, Marquette

5-seeds: Syracuse, Butler, Saint Louis, Pittsburgh

6-seeds: Wisconsin, Notre Dame, UNLV, Colorado State

7-seeds: VCU, UCLA, San Diego State, NC State

8-seeds: North Carolina, Memphis, Creighton, Illinois

9-seeds: Oregon, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Missouri

10-seeds: Iowa State, Oklahoma, Wichita State, Colorado

11-seeds: California, Temple, La Salle, Kentucky

12-seeds: Villanova, Boise State, Saint Mary’s, Tennessee, Belmont, Bucknell

13-seeds: Akron, Stephen F. Austin, South Dakota State , New Mexico State

14-seeds: Valpo, Davidson, Harvard, Montana

15-seeds: Florida Gulf Coast, Iona, Long Beach State, Vermont

16-seeds: Southern, Western Kentucky, James Madison, LIU-Brooklyn, Morgan State Liberty

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Virginia, Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss, Iowa

2-seeds: Alabama, UMass, Baylor, Southern Miss

3-seeds: Maryland, Arizona State, Stanford, Charlotte

4-seeds: Akron, Arkansas, Brigham Young, Providence

5-seeds: Air Force, Florida State, Xavier, Louisiana Tech

6-seeds: Washington, St. John’s, Indiana State, Ohio

7-seeds: Northern Iowa, Stony Brook, Niagara, Mercer

8-seeds: Robert Morris, Northeastern, Norfolk State, Charleston Southern

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: St. Joe’s, Stephen F. Austin, LSU, New Mexico State, Detroit, Richmond, Wyoming, Denver, Texas A & M

Here are my latest NCAA and NIT bracket projections.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  The bolded teams are ones who have already clinched an automatic bid to either the NCAA or NIT tournament.  Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.

Brad-ketology columns will be published at least twice a week (typically on Fridays and Sundays) and more often than that when it gets closer to tourney time.  These bracket projections are  included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Duke, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville

2-seeds: Kansas, Georgetown, Michigan, Florida

3-seeds: Miami-FL, Arizona, Michigan State, Ohio State

4-seeds: Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Marquette, Pittsburgh

5-seeds: New Mexico, Syracuse, Butler, Saint Louis

6-seeds: Wisconsin, UNLV, Colorado State, VCU

7-seeds: Notre Dame, UCLA, San Diego State, NC State

8-seeds: North Carolina, Memphis, Creighton, Illinois

9-seeds: Oregon, Minnesota, Oklahoma, California

10-seeds: Cincinnati, Missouri, Colorado, Wichita State

11-seeds: Temple, La Salle, Iowa State, Saint Mary’s

12-seeds: Boise State, Kentucky, Villanova, Tennessee, Belmont, Bucknell

13-seeds: Akron, Louisiana Tech, Stephen F. Austin, South Dakota State

14-seeds: Valpo, Davidson, Harvard, Montana

15-seeds: Florida Gulf Coast, Iona, Long Beach State, Vermont

16-seeds: Florida International, Mount St. Mary’s, Northeastern, Norfolk State, Southern, Liberty

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Virginia, Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss, Baylor

2-seeds: Iowa, Alabama, Stanford, UMass

3-seeds: Arkansas, Southern Miss, Maryland, Charlotte

4-seeds: Arizona State, Bucknell, St. John’s, Providence

5-seeds: Air Force, Akron, Xavier, Brigham Young

6-seeds: Florida State, Washington, Louisiana Tech, Indiana State

7-seeds: Ohio, Northern Iowa, Stephen F. Austin, Stony Brook

8-seeds: Niagara, Mercer, Robert Morris, Charleston Southern

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: South Dakota State, Valpo, Wyoming, Denver, LSU, New Mexico State, St. Joe’s, Davidson, Richmond, Detroit, Texas A & M

Here are my latest NCAA and NIT bracket projections.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.  Unlike some bracketologists, I am not trying to predict how each team will finish the season and then seed the teams based on that.  There is one slight exception to this rule, however, and that is that I have always chosen to award the projected automatic bid for each conference to my projected best team in that conference, and not the team who is currently leading the conference standings.   Given how unbalanced conference schedules are, it just seems like common sense to project that the best team in a conference will win the league championship, not the squad currently in first place.

Brad-ketology columns will be published at least twice a week (typically on Fridays and Sundays) and more often than that when it gets closer to tourney time.  These bracket projections are  included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Indiana, Duke, Kansas, Georgetown

2-seeds: Gonzaga, Louisville, Michigan, Florida

3-seeds: Miami-FL, Kansas State, New Mexico, Arizona

4-seeds: Michigan State, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Syracuse

5-seeds: Ohio State, Pittsburgh, UNLV, Oregon

6-seeds: Notre Dame, Butler, Wisconsin, Saint Louis

7-seeds: Minnesota, VCU, NC State, UCLA

8-seeds: San Diego State, Illinois, Colorado State, Oklahoma

9-seeds: North Carolina, Memphis, Missouri, California

10-seeds: Colorado, Creighton, Cincinnati, La Salle,

11-seeds: Wichita State, Temple, Iowa State, Middle Tennessee

12-seeds: Belmont, Boise State, Saint Mary’s, Kentucky, Villanova, Virginia

13-seeds: Louisiana Tech, Akron, Bucknell, Stephen F. Austin

14-seeds: South Dakota State, Valpo, Davidson, Stony Brook

15-seeds: Montana, Princeton, Long Beach State, Robert Morris

16-seeds: Mercer, Niagara, Northeastern, Norfolk State, Southern, Charleston Southern

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Ole Miss, Maryland, Tennessee, Southern Miss

2-seeds: Louisiana Tech, St. John’s, Alabama, Arkansas

3-seeds: Arizona State, UMass, Baylor, Stanford

4-seeds: Iowa, Charlotte, Akron, Providence

5-seeds: Brigham Young, Bucknell, Air Force, Washington

6-seeds: Northern Iowa, Indiana State, Ohio, Xavier

7-seeds: Stephen F. Austin, South Dakota State, Valpo, Detroit

8-seeds: Texas A & M, Wyoming, LSU, Richmond

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: Florida State, St. Joe’s, Davidson, Denver, New Mexico State, Stony Brook

Here are my latest NCAA and NIT bracket projections.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.  Unlike some bracketologists, I am not trying to predict how each team will finish the season and then seed the teams based on that.  There is one slight exception to this rule, however, and that is that I have always chosen to award the projected automatic bid for each conference to my projected best team in that conference, and not the team who is currently leading the conference standings.   Given how unbalanced conference schedules are, it just seems like common sense to project that the best team in a conference will win the league championship, not the squad currently in first place.

Brad-ketology columns will be published at least twice a week (typically on Fridays and Sundays) and more often than that when it gets closer to tourney time.  These bracket projections are  included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Indiana, Duke, Kansas, Georgetown

2-seeds: Gonzaga, Louisville, Michigan, Florida

3-seeds: Miami-FL, Kansas State, New Mexico, Arizona

4-seeds: Michigan State, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Syracuse

5-seeds: Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Oregon, UNLV

6-seeds: Notre Dame, Butler, Wisconsin, Saint Louis

7-seeds: Minnesota, VCU, NC State, UCLA

8-seeds: San Diego State, Illinois, Colorado State, Oklahoma

9-seeds: North Carolina, Cincinnati, Missouri, California

10-seeds: Memphis, Creighton, La Salle, Wichita State

11-seeds: Temple, Colorado, Iowa State, Middle Tennessee

12-seeds: Belmont, Boise State, Saint Mary’s, Kentucky, Villanova, Virginia

13-seeds: Louisiana Tech, Akron, Bucknell, Stephen F. Austin

14-seeds: South Dakota State, Valpo, Davidson, Stony Brook

15-seeds: Montana, Princeton, Long Beach State, Robert Morris

16-seeds: Mercer, Niagara, Northeastern, Norfolk State, Texas Southern, Charleston Southern

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Ole Miss, Maryland, Baylor, Southern Miss

2-seeds: Louisiana Tech, St. John’s, Tennessee, Alabama

3-seeds: Arkansas, Arizona State, Stanford, Iowa

4-seeds: Charlotte, Akron, UMass, Providence

5-seeds: Brigham Young, Bucknell, Air Force, Washington

6-seeds: Northern Iowa, Indiana State, Ohio, Xavier

7-seeds: Stephen F. Austin, South Dakota State, Valpo, Detroit

8-seeds: Texas A & M, Wyoming, LSU, Richmond

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: Florida State, St. Joe’s, Davidson, Denver, New Mexico State, Stony Brook

It’s officially March, conference tourneys are set to start next week, and it’s time for me to update my annual list of potential Cinderella stories.  The mid-major conference tournaments are the source much of the early holiday season drama, as only the tourney champion will be able to put on their dancing shoes.  While almost all mid-major NCAA teams have the chance to play Cinderella come Christmas Day (aka the round of 64 of the NCAA tourney), it is particularly special when these teams have an inspiring sentimental storyline.  Often times this involves a squad making its first trip to the Big Dance (see Northern Colorado last year).  Other times there is a likable coach who warms the hearts of the nation (see Pete Carril in 1994).  Inevitably, when the second week of March comes around, these stories will come to fruition.  In the meantime, it’s worth looking at the standings and checking out which mid-major conference leaders/contenders could inspire us during ESPN’s annual championship week.  These are listed in alphabetical order by conference.

I published my original 2012 mid-major Cinderella watch column a few weeks ago, but due to several shifts in some of the conference standings, it is now necessary for me to modify my original entry.  Only teams currently in first or second place of their respective conferences OR squads with good chances at earning at-large bids will be included in this column.  They are listed in alphabetical order by conference.

Stony Brook (America East)- The Seawolves have been close the past few seasons, but this program has still never earned an NCAA tourney bid.  Stony Brook finds itself atop the America East standings at this point with a two game lead over perennial powerhouse Vermont.   They have already clinched the regular season conference crown and will have home court advantage throughout the league tourney.

La Salle (Atlantic 10)- The Explorers haven’t danced since 1992 but currently find themselves on the right side of the NCAA tourney bubble.

Mercer (Atlantic Sun)- The Bears haven’t danced since 1985 (the first year the tourney expanded to 64 teams) but they can clinch the regular season A-Sun title with a road win against Stetson on Saturday.  They’ll also be able to create a home court atmosphere in the conference tourney which is held in nearby Macon.

Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun)- The Eagles are a Big Dance virgin who are only a game behind Mercer in the A-Sun.

High Point (Big South)- These Big Dance virgins have runaway with the Big South North Division and can clinch a share of the conference crown with a home win over Campbell on Saturday afternoon.  Unfortunately, the Panthers lost their only regular season meeting with projected co-champ Charleston Southern so they will likely need to win the Big South tourney in order to qualify for either the NCAA or NIT.

Northeastern (Colonial)- One aspect of conference realignment that no one talks much about is how it has opened up some leagues previously dominated by  recently departed powerhouse.  The Colonial is a perfect example as VCU’s departure has put Northeastern in prime position to clinch its first tourney bid since 1991.

North Carolina Central (MEAC)- These Big Dance virgins are only a game back of Norfolk State for first place in the MEAC.

Bryant (NEC)- This program has  never played in the NCAA tournament before, yet they are currently tied for second in the NEC.

Robert Morris (NEC)- See comment about Bryant above.

Elon (Southern)- My law school alma mater has never received an invite to the Big Dance before, but they have already clinched the SoCon North Division championship.

Western Illinois (Summit)- Can you imagine a team nicknamed “the Leathernecks” in the Big Dance?  It’s never happened before, but Western Illinois is currently tied with South Dakota State atop the Summit League standings.  Unfortuantely for WIU, the Leathernecks were swept by the Jackrabbits in the regular season and now have to travel to Sioux Falls, SD for a potentail rematch in the conference title game.

Middle Tennesse State (Sun Belt)- The Blue Raiders have been close the past few seasons, but their 24 year tourney drought is still intact.  This is definitely their best chance yet at ending the streak, as MTSU is class of the Sun Belt and has an RPI good enough to possibly get an at-large bid should they falter in the conference tourney again.

Louisiana Tech (WAC)- The Bulldog women’s team has been a basketball powerhouse over the past few decades, but the men’s team hasn’t danced since 1992.  This year’s LA Tech squad looks poised to end that drought, as they have a two game lead on the rest of the WAC.

Denver (WAC)- Even though LA Tech has the above-mentioend two game lead on the rest of the Sun Belt, the Pioneers of Denver are hot on their heels.  This squad has won their last 7 games (14 of their last 15) and gets to host the Bulldogs in the regular season conference finale.

It’s March!!!  The month of Madness has begun!  Here are my latest NCAA and NIT bracket projections.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.  Unlike some bracketologists, I am not trying to predict how each team will finish the season and then seed the teams based on that.  There is one slight exception to this rule, however, and that is that I have always chosen to award the projected automatic bid for each conference to my projected best team in that conference, and not the team who is currently leading the conference standings.   Given how unbalanced conference schedules are, it just seems like common sense to project that the best team in a conference will win the league championship, not the squad currently in first place.

Brad-ketology columns will be published at least twice a week (typically on Fridays and Sundays) and more often than that when it gets closer to tourney time.  These bracket projections are  included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Indiana, Duke, Kansas, Miami-FL

2-seeds: Georgetown, Gonzaga, Louisville, Michigan

3-seeds: Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan State

4-seeds: Syracuse, Kansas State, Marquette, Oklahoma State

5-seeds: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh

6-seeds: Butler, Oregon, NC State, Minnesota

7-seeds: UNLV, Saint Louis, Colorado State, VCU

8-seeds: San Diego State, Illinois, Oklahoma, North Carolina  

9-seeds: UCLA, Cincinnati, Missouri, Colorado

10-seeds: California, Wichita State, Memphis, Creighton

11-seeds: La Salle, Temple, Iowa State, Middle Tennessee

12-seeds: Belmont, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Virginia, Saint Mary’s, Villanova

13-seeds: Louisiana Tech, Akron, Bucknell, Stephen F. Austin

14-seeds: Detroit, South Dakota State, Harvard, Davidson

15-seeds: Stony Brook, Loyola-MD, Long Beach State, Montana

16-seeds: Robert Morris, Mercer, Northeastern, NC Central, Texas Southern, Charleston Southern

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Boise State, Baylor, St. John’s, Tennessee  

2-seeds: Louisiana Tech, Alabama, Maryland, Arizona State

3-seeds: Southern Miss, Charlotte, Akron, Iowa

4-seeds: Indiana State, Air Force, Stanford, Brigham Young

5-seeds: Bucknell, Arkansas, UMass, Stephen F. Austin

6-seeds: Xavier, Washington, Providence, Northern Iowa

7-seeds: Detroit, Ohio, Wyoming, Richmond

8-seeds: Texas A & M, LSU, Florida State, New Mexico State

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: St. Joe’s, Valpo, South Dakota State, Harvard, Davidson, Rutgers, Denver

Here are my latest NCAA and NIT bracket projections.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.  Unlike some bracketologists, I am not trying to predict how each team will finish the season and then seed the teams based on that.  There is one slight exception to this rule, however, and that is that I have always chosen to award the projected automatic bid for each conference to my projected best team in that conference, and not the team who is currently leading the conference standings.   Given how unbalanced conference schedules are, it just seems like common sense to project that the best team in a conference will win the league championship, not the squad currently in first place.

Brad-ketology columns will be published at least twice a week (typically on Fridays and Sundays) and more often than that when it gets closer to tourney time.  These bracket projections are  included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Indiana, Duke, Gonzaga, Michigan

2-seeds: Florida, Kansas, Miami-FL, Arizona

3-seeds: Georgetown, Louisville, Syracuse, New Mexico

4-seeds: Michigan State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Ohio State

5-seeds: Wisconsin, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh

6-seeds: Butler, Oregon, NC State, Oklahoma

7-seeds: UNLV, Saint Louis, San Diego State, Cincinnati

8-seeds: Colorado State, Wichita State, VCU, Memphis

9-seeds: Minnesota, Illinois, North Carolina, UCLA

10-seeds: Missouri, Colorado, California, Iowa State

11-seeds: Creighton, La Salle, Temple, Villanova

12-seeds: Middle Tennessee, Belmont, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Saint Mary’s, Boise State

13-seeds: Louisiana Tech, Akron, Bucknell, Stephen F. Austin

14-seeds: Detroit, South Dakota State, Harvard, Davidson

15-seeds: Stony Brook, Long Beach State, Montana, Mercer

16-seeds: Robert Morris, Niagara, Northeastern, NC Central, Southern, Charleston Southern

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Baylor, Charlotte, Maryland, Louisiana Tech

2-seeds: Virginia, St. John’s, Arizona State, Indiana State

3-seeds: Alabama, Southern Miss, Brigham Young, Stanford

4-seeds: Akron, Arkansas, Iowa, Air Force

5-seeds: Bucknell, Tennessee, UMass, Stephen F. Austin

6-seeds: Detroit, Ohio, Northern Iowa, Wyoming

7-seeds: Washington, Texas A & M, Richmond, Xavier

8-seeds: St. Joe’s, Providence, Florida State, New Mexico State

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: Valpo, LSU, South Dakota State, Harvard, Davidson, Rutgers, Denver

Here are my latest NCAA and NIT bracket projections.  The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.  Unlike some bracketologists, I am not trying to predict how each team will finish the season and then seed the teams based on that.  There is one slight exception to this rule, however, and that is that I have always chosen to award the projected automatic bid for each conference to my projected best team in that conference, and not the team who is currently leading the conference standings.   Given how unbalanced conference schedules are, it just seems like common sense to project that the best team in a conference will win the league championship, not the squad currently in first place.

Brad-ketology columns will be published at least twice a week (typically on Fridays and Sundays) and more often than that when it gets closer to tourney time.  These bracket projections are  included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Miami-FL, Indiana, Duke, Gonzaga

2-seeds: Michigan, Syracuse, Florida, Kansas

3-seeds: Arizona, Georgetown, Louisville, Michigan State

4-seeds: New Mexico, Butler, Marquette, Kansas State

5-seeds: Oklahoma State, NC State, Ohio State, Notre Dame

6-seeds: Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, Cincinati, Oregon

7-seeds: Oklahoma, Missouri, UNLV, San Diego State

8-seeds: Colorado State, Memphis, Wichita State, Saint Louis

9-seeds: VCU, Minnesota, UCLA, Colorado

10-seeds: Illinois, Iowa State, North Carolina, California

11-seeds: Creighton, Middle Tennessee, Belmont, Kentucky

12-seeds: Ole Miss, La Salle, Temple Villanova, Baylor, Charlotte

13-seeds: Louisiana Tech, Akron, Bucknell, Detroit

14-seeds: Stephen F. Austin, South Dakota State, Harvard, Davidson

15-seeds: Stony Brook, Florida Gulf Coast, Long Beach State, Montana

16-seeds: Robert Morris, Niagara, Northeastern, NC Central, Southern, Charleston Southern

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Saint Mary’s, St. John’s, Arizona State, Boise State

2-seeds: Maryland, Louisiana Tech, Alabama, Southern Miss

3-seeds: Stanford, Virginia, Iowa, Indiana State

4-seeds: Brigham Young, Akron, Northern Iowa, Air Force

5-seeds: Arkansas, Bucknell, Ohio, Wyoming

6-seeds: Tennessee, Texas A & M, UMass, Xavier

7-seeds: Detroit, Florida State, Richmond, St. Joe’s,

8-seeds: Stephen F. Austin, Providence, Washington, Rutgers

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: New Mexico State, South Dakota State, Valpo,  Harvard, Davidson, LSU, Lehigh, West Virginia

The teams below are displayed below on an S-curve, so they are ranked from left to right within each seeding line.  The italicized teams are ones predicted to win their conference tourney and gain an automatic bid to the dance.  For the conferences who currently have NCAA tourney teams, it is assumed that one of those teams will win their conference tourney.  If not, then a stolen bid would result, and the number of at-large bids would drop.

Also, just to clarify, my bracket projection is intended to project the NCAA Tournament field if it was chosen today.  Unlike some bracketologists, I am not trying to predict how each team will finish the season and then seed the teams based on that.  There is one slight exception to this rule, however, and that is that I have always chosen to award the projected automatic bid for each conference to my projected best team in that conference, and not the team who is currently leading the conference standings.   Given how unbalanced conference schedules are, it just seems like common sense to project that the best team in a conference will win the league championship, not the squad currently in first place.

Brad-ketology columns will be published at least twice a week (typically on Fridays and Sundays) and more often than that when it gets closer to tourney time.  These bracket projections are  included in the prestigious bracket project poll that can be found at: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm.

NCAA Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Miami-FL, Florida, Indiana, Duke

2-seeds: Gonzaga, Michigan State, Michigan, Syracuse

3-seeds: Kansas, Arizona, Georgetown, Louisville

4-seeds: Oklahoma State, Kansas State, New Mexico, Butler

5-seeds: Marquette, Pittsburgh, Oregon, NC State

6-seeds: Ohio State, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Colorado State

7-seeds: Minnesota, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, UNLV

8-seeds: San Diego State, VCU, Wichita State, Missouri

9-seeds: UCLA, Colorado, Memphis, Illinois

10-seeds: Iowa State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Creighton

11-seeds: Middle Tennessee, Saint Louis, La Salle, Belmont

12-seeds: Baylor, Kentucky, California, Temple, Villanova, Maryland

13-seeds: Louisiana Tech, Akron, Bucknell, South Dakota State

14-seeds: Stephen F. Austin, Valpo, Harvard, Davidson

15-seeds: Stony Brook, Florida Gulf Coast, Long Beach State, Montana

16-seeds: Robert Morris, Niagara, Northeastern, NC Central, Southern, Charleston Southern

NIT Tourney Field:

1-seeds: Charlotte, Saint Mary’s, St. John’s, Arizona State

2-seeds: Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Alabama, Southern Miss

3-seeds: Virginia, Indiana State, Brigham Young, Stanford 

4-seeds: Air Force, Iowa, Akron, Wyoming

5-seeds: UMass, Ohio, Xavier, Arkansas

6-seeds: Bucknell, Tennessee, Texas A & M, Florida State

7-seeds: Washington, South Dakota State, Rutgers, Providence

8-seeds: Richmond, St. Joe’s, Stephen F. Austin, LSU

Ranking of Other Postseason Contenders: New Mexico State, Valpo, Detroit, West Virginia, Northwestern, Harvard, Lehigh, Davidson