BRACKETOLOGY-PART TWO

PICKING THE NCAA FIELD-PART TWO

 

With Selection Sunday still two weeks away, trying to outsmart the committee is like driving blindfolded on a country road. With that caveat in mind and realizing conference tournaments can (and probably will) upset the apple cart, here are my picks for this year's NCAA Tournament invitations.

 

POWER CONFERENCES
(Bubble teams listed in Blue)

 

ACC (5)

In: Duke, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Florida State

Comment: Virginia Tech's win over Duke moved them "in" but with work to do. BC and FSU are "in" for the time being.

 

BIG EAST (11)

In: Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Notre Dame, UConn, Louisville, Villanova, Syracuse, St. John's, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Marquette

Comment: It's hard to leave any of these teams out, although Cincy and Marquette may have a little more to prove.

 

BIG TEN (6)

In: Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Illinois, Penn State

Comment: Illinois and Penn State are definitely on the bubble. Michigan is moving up.

 

BIG XII (5)

In: Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Kansas State

Comment: Some analysts have Colorado and Baylor as bubble teams. Missouri is sliding toward the bubble.

 

SEC (5)

In: Florida, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia

Comment: Georgia still has something to prove. Alabama is on the outside looking in.

 

PAC-10 (3)

In: Arizona, UCLA, Washington

Comment: The Bruins' two wins over Arizona hurts the Wildcats' seed.

 

 

MID-MAJORS

 

ATLANTIC 10 (2)

In: Xavier, Temple

Out: Dayton, Richmond

Comment: If the Flyers or Spiders win the conference tournament, that team will bust a bubble.

 

COLONIAL (2)

In: Old Dominion, George Mason

Out: Virginia Commonwealth

Comment: ODU and George Mason should both be in, regardless of the tourney champ, which could be another bubble buster.

 

CONFERENCE USA (3)

In: Memphis, UTEP, UAB

Comment: UTEP and UAB will be two of the first four out.

 

HORIZON (2)

In: Butler, Cleveland State

Out: Valparaiso

Comment: It's quite possible only the conference tournament champion will receive an invite.

 

IVY LEAGUE (1)

In: Princeton

Out: Harvard

Comment: This entry could flip-flop depending on the outcome of Saturday's Ivy League showdown.

Harvard has put together a great season but lacks any significant wins.

 

MISSOURI VALLEY (1)

In: Missouri State

Out: Wichita State

Comment: Both teams deserve an invitation; but both could miss if neither wins the Valley tourney.

 

MOUNTAIN WEST (3)

In: San Diego State, Brigham Young, UNLV

Out: Colorado State

Comment: UNLV has flirted with the Top 25 all year, has strong RPI (26) and SOS (29) and should be in.

 

THE REST

With the exception of the West Coast Conference, the teams that are "In" are the current conference leaders. Almost without exception* the winners of the conference tournaments will be the only teams invited to the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

 

AMERICA EAST (1): Vermont

 

ATLANTIC SUN (1): Belmont

 

BIG SKY (1): Montana

 

BIG SOUTH (1): Coastal Carolina

 

BIG WEST (1): Long Beach State

 

GREAT WEST (1): Utah Valley State

 

MID-AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (1): Kent State

 

MID-ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (1): Fairfield

 

MID-EAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: (1): Hampton

 

NORTHEAST (1): Long Island

 

OHIO VALLEY (1): Murray State

 

PATRIOT (1): Bucknell

 

SOUTHERN (1): College of Charleston

 

SOUTHLAND (1): McNeese State

 

SUMMIT (1): Oakland

 

SUN BELT (1): Florida Atlantic

 

SWAC (1): Texas Southern

 

WAC (1): *Utah State could still make the Big Dance without winning the WAC Tournament,

 

WEST COAST (2): Gonzaga, St. Mary's