Here it is– my annual projection for this year’s NCAA tournament bracket.  The only problem is there is no NCAA tournament this season.  Nevertheless, the show must go on and my love for “Christmas”, as I call the first round of the NCAA tournament, will not be diminished by this mass overreaction to this year’s flu.

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 Midwest vs. East and South vs. West.

Midwest Regional- Indianapolis, IN (March 26, 28)

(1) Kansas vs. (16) Robert Morris/Prairie View- Thursday March 19 (St. Louis, MO)

(8) LSU vs. (9) Rutgers– Thursday March 19 (St. Louis, MO)

(5) Butler vs. (12) Liberty- Friday March 20 (Omaha, NE)

(4) Kentucky vs. (13) Akron– Friday March 20 (Omaha, NE)

(6) Houston vs. (11) Indiana/Richmond- Friday March 20 (Greensboro, NC)

(3) Louisville vs. (14) Belmont- Friday March 20 (Greensboro, NC)

(7) Virginia vs. (10) Southern California– Friday March 20 (Cleveland, OH)

(2) Michigan State vs. (15) Eastern Washington- Friday March 20 (Cleveland, OH)

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East Regional- New York, NY (March 27, 29)

(1) Dayton vs. (16) Winthrop- Friday March 20 (Cleveland, OH)

(8) Florida vs. (9) Saint Mary’s- Friday March 20 (Cleveland, OH)

(5) West Virginia vs. (12) East Tennessee State- Thursday March 19 (Tampa, FL)

(4) Maryland vs. (13) North Texas- Thursday March 19 (Tampa, FL)

(6) Iowa vs. (11) Arizona State- Thursday March 19 (Albany, NY)

(3) Villanova vs. (14) UC Irvine- Thursday March 19 (Albany, NY)

(7) Penn State vs. (10) Texas Tech- Friday March 20 (Greensboro, NC)

(2) Duke vs. (15) Arkansas Little Rock- Friday March 20 (Greensboro, NC)

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South Regional- Houston, TX (March 27, 29)

(1) Baylor vs. (16) Boston U/North Carolina Central– Friday March 20 (Omaha, NE)

(8) Colorado vs. (9) Marquette- Friday March 20 (Omaha, NE)

(5) Auburn vs. (12) Yale- Friday March 20 (Sacramento, CA)

(4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Vermont- Friday March 20 (Sacramento, CA)

(6) Michigan vs. (11) Stanford- Thursday March 19 (Albany, NY)

(3) Seton Hall vs. (14) Hofstra- Thursday March 19 (Albany, NY)

(7) Illinois vs. (10) Utah State– Thursday March 19 (Tampa, FL)

(2) Florida State vs. (15) Northern Kentucky- Thursday March 19 (Tampa, FL)

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West Regional- Los Angeles, CA (March 26, 28)

(1) Gonzaga vs. (16) Siena– Thursday March 19 (Spokane, WA)

(8) Providence vs. (9) Oklahoma- Thursday March 19 (Spokane, WA)

(5) Ohio State vs. (12) Stephen F. Austin– Thursday March 19 (Spokane, WA)

(4) Oregon  vs. (13) New Mexico State– Thursday March 19 (Spokane, WA)

(6) Brigham Young vs. (11) NC State/Wichita State- Thursday March 19 (St. Louis, MO)

(3) Creighton vs. (14) Bradley- Thursday March 19 (St. Louis, MO)

(7) Arizona vs. (10) Cincinnati- Friday March 20 (Sacramento, CA)

(2) San Diego State vs. (15) North Dakota State- Friday March 20 (Sacramento, CA)