Bracketology: Eric Prisbell's NCAA tournament field of 68
| Newark Region | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | Team | Conf* | Note |
| 1 | Pittsburgh | Big East* | Five top 25 RPI wins |
| 2 | Texas | Big 12* | Gave up 58 points in second half of loss to Colorado |
| 3 | Wisconsin | Big Ten | How good are Badgers outside Madison? |
| 4 | North Carolina | ACC | Only two contenders in ACC |
| 5 | Kentucky | SEC | Fell in tight game at Arkansas |
| 6 | West Virginia | Big East | Failed to outlast Pittsburgh |
| 7 | Cincinnati | Big East | Defense stellar against Hoyas |
| 8 | Old Dominion | CAA | Monarchs are 3-3 vs. top 50 teams |
| 9 | Kansas State | Big 12 | How quickly its outlook has changed |
| 10 | Georgia | SEC | Can't afford late-season slide |
| 11 | Butler | Horizon* | League tournament will be intriguing |
| 12 | Saint Mary's | WCC* | Forget about at-large hopes |
| 13 | Wichita State | MVC* | Missouri State showdown looms |
| 14 | College of Charleston | Southern* | Tough loss at Appalachian State |
| 15 | Fairfield | MAAC* | 9-4 vs. top 200 teams |
| 16 | Texas Southern*/Bethune-Cookman* | Play-in | Bethune-Cookman is MEAC's most talented team |
| New Orleans Region | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | Team | Conf* | Note |
| 1 | Ohio State | Big Ten* | Both losses in two tough road games |
| 2 | Notre Dame | Big East | Had no answer for Providence's Brooks |
| 3 | Florida | SEC | Gators 8-2 vs. top 50 teams |
| 4 | Louisville | Big East | Cardinals have six wins against top 25 RPI teams |
| 5 | Missouri | Big 12 | Ultimate home-court heroes |
| 6 | St. John's | Big East | Can they win away from MSG? |
| 7 | Temple | Atlantic 10 | No challenge for Duke |
| 8 | Washington | Pac-10 | Huskies have won four of five games |
| 9 | Utah State | WAC* | At-large hopes still in question |
| 10 | Michigan State | Big Ten | Do you trust Spartans again? |
| 11 | Minnesota | Big Ten | Gophers a sinking ship? |
| 12 | Alabama | SEC* | Had won 9 of 10 before stumbling at Ole Miss |
| 13 | Belmont | Atlantic Sun* | 15 wins on road/neutral courts |
| 14 | Kent State | MAC* | Golden Flashes 1-6 vs. RPI top 100 |
| 15 | Murray State | OVC* | Avenged earlier loss to Morehead State |
| 16 | McNeese State*/Florida Atlantic* | Play-in | Florida Atlantic has four bad losses |
| Anaheim Region | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | Team | Conf* | Note |
| 1 | Kansas | Big 12 | Defense remains a question mark |
| 2 | San Diego State | MWC | Needs two BYU wins for No. 1 seed |
| 3 | Purdue | Big Ten | Strong season without Hummel |
| 4 | Syracuse | Big East | Orange hang on to beat Hoyas |
| 5 | Vanderbilt | SEC | Helped Tennessee solidfy bid |
| 6 | Villanova | Big East | Wildcats look vulnerable |
| 7 | George Mason | CAA* | The hottest team in the country |
| 8 | Nevada-Las Vegas | MWC | Can't beat San Diego State, BYU |
| 9 | UCLA | Pac-10 | Dropped tough game vs. Cal |
| 10 | Marquette | Big East | Earned much-needed win vs. U-Conn. |
| 11 | Virginia Tech | ACC | On good side of bubble after Duke win |
| 12 | Boston College/Gonzaga | ACC/WCC | ACC could be all over play-in games |
| 13 | Princeton | Ivy* | Back in first in topsy-turvy Ivy League |
| 14 | Coastal Carolina | Big South* | Won 22 straight, but is 2-2 since then |
| 15 | Bucknell | Patriot* | Bison 1-5 vs. top 100 teams |
| 16 | Long Beach State | Big West* | Nonleague schedule strength very strong |
| San Antonio Region | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | Team | Conf* | Note |
| 1 | Duke | ACC* | Champs in position to defend title |
| 2 | Brigham Young | MWC* | Completed regular season sweep of San Diego State |
| 3 | Georgetown | Big East | Need Wright back for NCAAs |
| 4 | Connecticut | Big East | Young team too erratic |
| 5 | Texas A&M | Big 12 | Two of six losses against Texas |
| 6 | Arizona | Pac-10* | Williams a first-team all-American |
| 7 | Xavier | Atlantic 10* | 3-3 against top 50 teams |
| 8 | Tennessee | SEC | NCAA shadowing Pearl, Vols |
| 9 | Illinois | Big Ten | Veteran team needs strong finish |
| 10 | UAB | C-USA* | Several bubble teams from Conference USA |
| 11 | Florida State | ACC | Hopes diminished without Singleton |
| 12 | Richmond/Colorado State | Atlantic 10/MWC | Richmond clinging to Purdue win |
| 13 | Oakland | Summit* | Three losses by three points or less |
| 14 | Vermont | America East* | Bracket Buster loss to Charleston |
| 15 | Long Island | Northeast* | SOS ranks 299th |
| 16 | Montana | Big Sky* | Beat Portland State by one point |
* - Projected conference champion
By
Eric Prisbell
| February 25, 2011; 11:22 AM ET
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bucknell will lose in the patriot league tourney. look for au to make it to the big dance again.
a big showing for penn state against ohio state could be huge...
and i love the comment on mason, ha!
Posted by: rubyx4soho | February 25, 2011 11:32 AM | Report abuse
BYU will only play in New Orleans or Anaheim regionals. No potential for Sunday games there.
Posted by: PGEMF1 | February 25, 2011 3:39 PM | Report abuse
Sorry, I just don't see how 5 teams is justified from the ACC this year. Heck, 4 even seems plenty. On the other hand, I just don't see how the CAA won't get three in, they are deserving of it for sure.
Posted by: variaban | February 25, 2011 4:18 PM | Report abuse
no md?
Posted by: Airborne82 | February 25, 2011 5:07 PM | Report abuse
Grow up Prisbell! This is what 13-year-olds do.
Posted by: ajlerner1 | February 25, 2011 6:21 PM | Report abuse
I'm with rubyx4soho -- AU all the way in the Patriot -- peaking at the right time!
Posted by: esp7711 | February 25, 2011 6:43 PM | Report abuse
Prisbell asks "can [St. John's] win away from MSG?" This bracket was updated with Saturday's results. Did the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia become MSG yesterday and I missed it somehow?
Posted by: atl2ny1 | February 27, 2011 9:54 AM | Report abuse
Stating that Minnesota is "in" makes no sense. They are 6-10 in the Big Ten and behind teams like Michigan who are on your bubble but beat them.
Posted by: 4472jon | February 28, 2011 2:47 PM | Report abuse
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