PROJECTED SEEDING

The 1 Seeds

Syracuse, Kentucky, Duke, Michigan State

The 2 Seeds

Kansas, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio State

The 3 Seeds

Marquette, Baylor, Georgetown, Michigan

The 4 Seeds

Louisville, Wisconsin, Florida, UNLV

The 5 Seeds

Indiana, Wichita State, Florida State, Temple

The 6 Seeds

Creighton, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Murray State

The 7 Seeds

St. Mary’s, Virginia, Gonzaga, San Diego State

The 8 Seeds

New Mexico, Iowa State, California, Kansas State

The 9 Seeds

Memphis, Southern Miss, Saint Louis, Purdue

The 10 Seeds

Connecticut, Alabama, Harvard, BYU

The 11 Seeds

Seton Hall, Washington, West Virginia, Mississippi State

The 12 Seeds

Texas, Arizona, Long Beach State, Cincinnati, Miami (FL)

The 13 Seeds

Northwestern, Xavier, Iona, Oral Roberts, Middle Tennessee

The 14 Seeds

Drexel, Belmont, Nevada, Davidson

The 15 Seeds

Akron, Weber State, Bucknell, Valparaiso

The 16 Seeds

Texas-Arlington, LIU Brooklyn, UNC-Asheville, Stony Brook, Miss.Valley State, Savannah State

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BUBBLE ACTION

Last Four In
Cincinnati, Miami (FL), Northwestern, Xavier

Last Four Out
Colorado State, South Florida, Oregon, VCU

Next Four Out
UCF, St. Joseph’s, Dayton, NC State

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CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (9), Big Ten (7), Big 12 (6), ACC (5), SEC (5), Pac-12 (3), MWC (3), WCC (3), A-10 (3), MVC (2), C-USA (2)

America East – Stony Brook

ACC – Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, Miami (FL)

Atlantic Sun – Belmont

Atlantic 10 – Temple, Saint Louis, Xavier

Big East – Syracuse, Marquette, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Cincinnati

Big Sky – Weber State

Big South – UNC-Asheville

Big Ten – Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern

Big 12 – Missouri, Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas

Big West – Long Beach State

Colonial – Drexel

Conference USA – Memphis, Southern Miss

Horizon – Valparaiso

Ivy – Harvard

MAAC – Iona

MAC – Akron

MEAC – Savannah State

MVC – Wichita State, Creighton

MWC – UNLV, San Diego State, New Mexico

Northeast – LIU Brooklyn

Ohio Valley – Murray State

Pac-12 – California, Washington, Arizona

Patriot – Bucknell

SEC – Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Mississippi State

Southern – Davidson

Southland – Texas-Arlington

Summit – Oral Roberts

Sun Belt – Middle Tennessee

SWAC – Miss. Valley State

WAC – Nevada

WCC – St. Mary’s, Gonzaga, BYU

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(Click to Enlarge)
THE BRACKET:

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THE 1-3-1 MIDWEEK REVIEW

1 Thought From the Games Earlier this Week

Colorado State is a tournament-caliber team. The Rams took care of business against New Mexico on Tuesday, paced by Pierce Hornung’s 13 point, 15 rebound double-double. Colorado State played a fairly tough non-conference schedule (@Stanford, Southern Miss, Colorado, @Northern Iowa, @Duke) and plays in a fairly tough Mountain West Conference. They’ve managed to achieve a 17-9 record thus far this season, and definitely have the opportunity to play their way onto (or off of) the tournament bubble. They close the season with games against San Diego State, UNLV, and Air Force. If they can win 2 of these, they’ll definitely be in the thick of the bubble conversation at 19-10.

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3 Games to Watch this Weekend

i. Marquette @ West Virginia (Friday @ 9 pm EST, TV – ESPN)
Marquette has one of the best 1-2 punches in all of college basketball in the form of Jae Crowder and DJO. The two of them are fun to watch, and have led Marquette to a relatively quiet 23-5 record. On the other end of the floor, West Virginia has who I think is clearly the best player in the Big East Conference – Kevin Jones. He scores 20+ a game, while shooting over 50% from the field, and pulls down almost 12 boards a game. Plus, he’s fun to watch and really gets after it. West Virginia needs to avoid a late season collapse in order to make the tournament.

ii. Missouri @ Kansas (Saturday @ 4 pm EST, TV – CBS)
The first time these two teams played, Marcus Denmon played what I think was his best game of the season. However, he’s struggled at times with his shot selection this season, and if Missouri faces an early deficit playing in Lawrence, I fear he may start hoisting up unnecessary shots from deep. I’d also like to take this time to point out how egregiously underrated I believe Tyshawn Taylor is as a basketball player and a point guard; He’s DAMN good. Hopefully both teams come out to play, as the winner of this game is in the driver seat in the Big 12 title race.

iii. Wisconsin @ Ohio State (Sunday @ 1 pm EST, TV – CBS)
This game is not for the faint of heart. Then again, I think that could be said about any basketball game that Wisconsin is involved in. Michigan and Michigan State will be cheering for the Badgers to go in to Columbus and pull the upset, which would essentially make the Big Ten regular season title a 2-horse race between the in-state rivals. Ohio State can win their way back onto the 1-line with a strong finish to the season. By the same token, they could also end up a 3-seed if they stumble to the finish line.

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1 Bold Prediction for the Weekend

The Bubble gets more crowded and more mediocre. This is a pretty generic prediction, but that doesn’t take away from the possibility of its veracity. A lot of bubble teams have important games this weekend. Most of these games are the type where a win just keeps a team alive and on the bubble, but does not bolster their tournament resume, and a lost critically damages their chances of making the tournament. I would also like to point out that the general mediocrity of teams on the bubble this season does nothing but further my belief that the tournament field should have stayed at 64. Sadly, that’s not for me to decide.

PROJECTED SEEDING

The 1 Seeds

Syracuse, Kentucky, Missouri, Duke

The 2 Seeds

Michigan State, North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio State

The 3 Seeds

Marquette, Baylor, Georgetown, Michigan

The 4 Seeds

Louisville, Florida, Wisconsin, Florida State

The 5 Seeds

UNLV, Wichita State, Indiana, Temple

The 6 Seeds

Gonzaga, Creighton, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame

The 7 Seeds

Virginia, Southern Miss, New Mexico, California

The 8 Seeds

Murray State, St. Mary’s, Saint Louis, San Diego State

The 9 Seeds

Memphis, Iowa State, BYU, Harvard

The 10 Seeds

Connecticut, West Virginia, Kansas State, Mississippi State

The 11 Seeds

Alabama, Seton Hall, Purdue, Texas

The 12 Seeds

Washington, Miami (FL), Northwestern, Cincinnati, NC State,  Xavier

The 13 Seeds

Long Beach State, Oral Roberts, Middle Tennessee, Iona

The 14 Seeds

Nevada, Drexel, Belmont, Davidson

The 15 Seeds

Weber State, Akron, Bucknell, Valparaiso

The 16 Seeds

LIU Brooklyn, Texas-Arlington, UNC-Asheville, Stony Brook, Miss.Valley State, Savannah State

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BUBBLE ACTION

Last Four In
Northwestern, Cincinnati, NC State, Xavier

Last Four Out
Arizona, UCF,  Minnesota, Colorado State

Next Four Out
Oregon, Illinois, South Florida, VCU

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CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (9), Big Ten (7), Big 12 (6), ACC (6), SEC (5), MWC (3), WCC (3), A-10 (3), Pac-12 (2), MVC (2), C-USA (2)

America East – Stony Brook

ACC – Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, Miami (FL), North Carolina State

Atlantic Sun – Belmont

Atlantic 10 – Temple, Saint Louis, Xavier

Big East – Syracuse, Marquette, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Cincinnati

Big Sky – Weber State

Big South – UNC-Asheville

Big Ten – Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern

Big 12 – Missouri, Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas

Big West – Long Beach State

Colonial – Drexel

Conference USA – Southern Miss, Memphis

Horizon – Valparaiso

Ivy – Harvard

MAAC – Iona

MAC – Akron

MEAC – Savannah State

MVC – Wichita State, Creighton

MWC – UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State

Northeast – LIU Brooklyn

Ohio Valley – Murray State

Pac-12 – California, Washington

Patriot – Bucknell

SEC – Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Alabama

Southern – Davidson

Southland – Texas-Arlington

Summit – Oral Roberts

Sun Belt – Middle Tennessee

SWAC – Miss. Valley State

WAC – Nevada

WCC – Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, BYU

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THE BRACKET:

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PROJECTED SEEDING

The 1 Seeds

Syracuse, Kentucky, Missouri, Duke

The 2 Seeds

Michigan State, North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio State

The 3 Seeds

Baylor, Marquette, Georgetown, UNLV

The 4 Seeds

Michigan, Wisconsin, Louisville, Indiana

The 5 Seeds

Florida, Temple, Wichita State, Gonzaga

The 6 Seeds

San Diego St., St. Mary’s, Creighton, Florida State

The 7 Seeds

Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Virginia, Vanderbilt

The 8 Seeds

California, Notre Dame, Saint Louis, Murray State

The 9 Seeds

Memphis, New Mexico, Iowa State, Connecticut

The 10 Seeds

Seton Hall, Harvard, BYU, West Virginia

The 11 Seeds

Kansas State, Purdue, Alabama, NC State

The 12 Seeds

Texas, Illinois, Long Beach State, Minnesota, Miami(FL)

The 13 Seeds

Arizona, Xavier, Oral Roberts, Middle Tennessee, Davidson

The 14 Seeds

Iona, Nevada, Belmont, Akron

The 15 Seeds

Drexel, Bucknell, Weber State, Valparaiso

The 16 Seeds

LIU Brooklyn, Texas-Arlington, UNC-Asheville, Norfolk State, Stony Brook, Miss.Valley State

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BUBBLE ACTION

Last Four In
Minnesota, Miami (FL), Arizona, Xavier

Last Four Out
Washington, Northwestern, Cincinnati, Colorado State

Next Four Out
UCF, Oregon, Wyoming, Arkansas

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CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (8), Big Ten (8), Big 12 (6), ACC (6), SEC (5), MWC (3), WCC (3), A-10 (3), Pac-12 (2), MVC (2), C-USA (2)

America East – Stony Brook

ACC – Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, North Carolina State, Miami (FL)

Atlantic Sun – Belmont

Atlantic 10 – Temple, Saint Louis, Xavier

Big East – Syracuse, Marquette, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Seton Hall, West Virginia

Big Sky – Weber State

Big South – UNC-Asheville

Big Ten – Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota

Big 12 – Missouri, Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas

Big West – Long Beach State

Colonial – Drexel

Conference USA – Southern Miss, Memphis

Horizon – Valparaiso

Ivy – Harvard

MAAC – Iona

MAC – Akron

MEAC – Norfolk State

MVC – Wichita State, Creighton

MWC – UNLV, San Diego State, New Mexico

Northeast – LIU Brooklyn

Ohio Valley – Murray State

Pac-12 – California, Arizona

Patriot – Bucknell

SEC – Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Alabama

Southern – Davidson

Southland – Texas-Arlington

Summit – Oral Roberts

Sun Belt – Middle Tennessee

SWAC – Miss. Valley State

WAC – Nevada

WCC – Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, BYU

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THE BRACKET:

 

 

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THE 1-3-1 MIDWEEK REVIEW

1 Thought From the Games Earlier this Week

North Carolina may have lost, but they are better equipped for a deep tournament run than Duke. UNC is better at penetrating the lane and getting open looks. Unlike Duke, UNC does not live and die by the three-point shot. UNC rebounds at a far better rate than Duke. Finally, and most importantly, UNC has Harrison Barnes. Rivers may have hit that buzzer-beating shot, but I’ll take Barnes with the ball in his hands when tournament time rolls around.

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3 Games to Watch this Weekend

i. San Diego State @ UNLV
Two top-fifteen mid-majors squaring off in a game that obviously has huge implications in the Mountain West conference standings. San Diego State won the first meeting by two, but winning won’t be as easy playing in Vegas.

ii. Michigan State @ Ohio State
Right now, Ohio State is firmly positioned as the third #1 seed, behind Syracuse and Kentucky. All that could change if they can’t hold court against the 2nd-best team in the Big 10. This is the Spartans first road game since that painful 42-41 loss in Champaign; it will be interesting to see how they respond.

iii. Baylor @ Missouri
The first match-up between these two teams was fun to watch; Missouri came away with 1-point victory in Waco. Missouri is undefeated at home. Baylor just got shellacked by a Kansas team that Missouri beat 5 days ago. All signs point to a Tigers victory, but the Lee Corso within me keeps saying “Not so fast, my friend!” This game should be damn good.

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1 Bold Prediction for the Weekend

Scott Machado and Michael Glover both log double-doubles as Iona downs Loyola (MD) in Baltimore to take the outright lead in the MAAC. Machado and Glover are two of the best players you’ve never heard of; I’m here to change that. Both these teams are very capable of earning a 13-seed out of the MAAC with a strong finish to the season. I believe Iona’s star power leads them to the big W.

PROJECTED SEEDING

The 1 Seeds

Syracuse, Kentucky, Ohio State, Missouri

The 2 Seeds

Baylor, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke

The 3 Seeds

Michigan State, Georgetown, Florida, Marquette

The 4 Seeds

UNLV, Creighton, Wisconsin, Louisville

The 5 Seeds

Michigan, San Diego State, St. Mary’s, Florida State

The 6 Seeds

Virginia, Murray State, Indiana, Mississippi State

The 7 Seeds

Temple, Gonzaga, Wichita State, Vanderbilt

The 8 Seeds

Connecticut, Harvard, West Virginia, Southern Miss

The 9 Seeds

Illinois, Iowa State, Memphis, Saint Louis

The 10 Seeds

Washington, Alabama, California, BYU

The 11 Seeds

Notre Dame, Kansas State, New Mexico, Seton Hall

The 12 Seeds

Purdue, NC State, Colorado State, Miami(FL), Xavier, Arkansas

The 13 Seeds

Long  Beach State, Davidson, Oral Roberts, Middle Tennessee

The 14 Seeds

Iona, Nevada, Akron, Cleveland State

The 15 Seeds

Drexel, Belmont, Weber State, Bucknell

The 16 Seeds

Stony Brook, Miss. Valley State, Norfolk State, LIU Brooklyn, Texas-Arlington, UNC-Asheville

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BUBBLE ACTION

Last Four In
Colorado State, Miami (FL), Xavier, Arkansas

Last Four Out
Minnesota, Texas, Arizona, Wyoming

Next Four Out
Northwestern, Pittsburgh, UCF, Massachusetts

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CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (8), Big Ten (7), SEC(6),  ACC (5), Big 12 (5), MWC (4), WCC (3), Atlantic 10 (3), Pac-12 (2), MVC (2), C-USA (2)

 

America East – Stony Brook

ACC – North Carolina, Duke, Florida State, Virginia, North Carolina State, Miami (FL)

Atlantic Sun – Belmont

Atlantic 10 – Temple, Saint Louis, Xavier

Big East – Syracuse, Georgetown, Marquette, Louisville, Connecticut, West Virginia, Seton Hall, Notre Dame

Big Sky – Weber State

Big South – UNC-Asheville

Big Ten – Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue

Big 12 – Kansas, Baylor, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State

Big West – Long Beach State

Colonial – Drexel

Conference USA – Southern Miss, Memphis

Horizon – Cleveland State

Ivy – Harvard

MAAC – Iona

MAC – Akron

MEAC – Norfolk State

MVC – Creighton, Wichita State

MWC – San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State

Northeast – LIU Brooklyn

Ohio Valley – Murray State

Pac-12 – Washington, California

Patriot – Bucknell

SEC – Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Arkansas

Southern – Davidson

Southland – Texas-Arlington

Summit – Oral Roberts

Sun Belt – Middle Tennessee

SWAC – Miss. Valley State

WAC – Nevada

WCC – St. Mary’s, Gonzaga, BYU