I waited a couple weeks later than some to start the weekly (and eventually more frequent) bracketology updates.
Halfway through this one, I realized I probably should have waited longer, especially with a 68-team field.
So consider this a dry run of sorts as the resumes of respective teams get committed to memory in the weeks to come. This isn't perfect analysis (though observing the Big East is going to create its share of bracketing headaches seems to be rather spot-on at the moment), but it is a building block for more accurate assessments in the future.
In short, this probably isn't the best take available right now, but it ensures a far better chance of achieving that level in another eight weeks.
Onto the breakdown:
SOUTHWEST
Tulsa, Okla.
(1) BIG 12/Kansas vs. (16) NEC/Long Island-SWAC/Texas Southern
(8) UNLV vs. (9) ATLANTIC 10/Xavier
Tucson, Ariz.
(4) Georgetown vs. (13) IVY/Harvard
(5) Michigan State vs. (12) Florida State/Old Dominion
Chicago
(3) SEC/Kentucky vs. (14) ATLANTIC SUN/Belmont
(6) Texas vs. (11) Gonzaga
Charlotte, N.C.
(2) Villanova vs. (15) MAAC/Iona
(7) Illinois vs. (10) Miami
SOUTHEAST
Cleveland
(1) BIG TEN/Ohio State vs. (16) SOUTHLAND/McNeese State-MEAC/Bethune-Cookman
(8) Georgia vs. (9) Butler
Tampa, Fla.
(4) Notre Dame vs. (13) SUMMIT/Oakland
(5) PAC-10/Washington vs. (12) CONFERENCE USA/Southern Mississippi
Denver
(3) Brigham Young vs. (14) PATRIOT/Bucknell
(6) Missouri vs. (11) Cincinnati
Washington
(2) Connecticut vs. (15) BIG WEST/Long Beach State
(7) North Carolina vs. (10) WAC/Utah State
EAST
Washington
(1) BIG EAST/Syracuse vs. (16) BIG SKY/Northern Colorado
(8) Arizona vs. (9) Central Florida
Tampa, Fla.
(4) Minnesota vs. (13) HORIZON/Valparaiso
(5) Tennessee vs. (12) Marquette/Colorado
Chicago
(3) West Virginia vs. (14) AMERICA EAST/Vermont
(6) Wisconsin vs. (11) Boston College
Tucson, Ariz.
(2) MOUNTAIN WEST/San Diego State vs. (15) MAC/Ball State
(7) Temple vs. (10) Oklahoma State
WEST
Charlotte, N.C.
(1) ACC/Duke vs. (16) OHIO VALLEY/Austin Peay
(8) Vanderbilt vs. (9) Louisville
Denver
(4) Purdue vs. (13) SOUTHERN/College of Charleston
(5) St. John's vs. (12) COLONIAL/James Madison
Tulsa, Okla.
(3) Texas A&M vs. (14) BIG SOUTH/Coastal Carolina
(6) Florida vs. (11) Washington State
Cleveland
(2) Pittsburgh vs. (15) SUN BELT/Florida Atlantic
(7) WEST COAST/Saint Mary's vs. (10) MISSOURI VALLEY/Missouri State
Among the near-misses: Kansas State, Wichita State, UCLA and Cleveland State.
1. Assume that should say A-SUN/Belmont
2. Thinking K-State slid closer to the not-so-near miss category yesterday.
Posted by: Eddie T | 01/18/2011 at 01:08 PM
This is like talking about the bowl games in Sept.. and if the Terps don't improve dramatically in foul shooting we will not have this topic to think about
Posted by: ngaterp | 01/19/2011 at 10:55 AM