Saturday Morning Bracket

1 Seeds:  Virginia, Villanova, Kansas, Xavier

2 Seeds:  UNC, Duke, Cincinnati, Purdue

3 Seeds:  Michigan State, Tennessee, Wichita State, Michigan

4 Seeds:  West Virginia, Auburn, Texas Tech, Arizona

5 Seeds:  Gonzaga, Clemson, Houston, Ohio State

6 Seeds:  Arkansas, Miami (fl), Kentucky, Florida

7 Seeds:  TCU, Providence, Rhode Island, Butler

8 Seeds:  Nevada, Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, St Bona,

9 Seeds:  Kansas State, Creighton, Missouri, Texas A&M

10 Seeds:  Florida State, UCLA, NC State, Texas

11 Seeds:  Alabama, Loyola-Chicago, Oklahoma / USC, St Marys / Arizona State

12 Seeds:  Western Kentucky, South Dakota St., Buffalo, San Diego State

13 Seeds:  New Mexico State, Louisiana Lafayette, Vermont, Murray State

14 Seeds:  Charleston, UC Santa Barbara, Bucknell, Montana

15 Seeds:  Penn, UNC Greensboro, Radford, Wright State

16 Seeds:  Iona, Stephen F. Austin, Lipscomb / Texas Southern, LIU Brooklyn / Hampton

 

Last Four In:  Oklahoma, St Marys, Arizona State, USC
Five Other teams with a shot:  Middle Tennessee St., Marquette, Louisville, Baylor, Syracuse
"Bubble" Teams I think are definitely out:  Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Utah, Penn State, Boise State, Mississippi State, Nebraska

Today is my first attempt at bracketing the field which I've put below.  I think Xavier clinched a one seed with the Duke loss to UNC, however, UNC has a unique profile loaded with great wins.  Despite their losses I could see UNC ending up as a one seed.  As of right now I have UNC as the 1st two seed.  I think a win today and UC clinches a 2 seed.  If they lose I think Tennessee could get a two seed over them.  I've moved Arizona ahead of Gonzaga for the four seed line.  They just have more T1/T2 wins than Gonzaga.  I think the Shockers clinch a 3 seed with a win today, but will fall to a 4 with a loss to Houston.

Looking at the bubble, I hope the committee takes Middle Tennessee State over Oklahoma, Arizona State or USC, but I don't have confidence it will happen.  They just don't have the wins over tournament caliber teams the committee likes.  I hope I am wrong.  I'd love to be wrong on that one.  I'd have them in the field if it were me.  I'd also have Penn State in and I'd knock out Arizona State and Oklahoma. 

And now...my first actual projected bracket:

Atlanta Regional

(1) Virginia

(16) Texas Southern / Lipscomb

               Pittsburgh Pod

(8) Nevada

(9) Creighton

(4) Auburn

(13) Vermont

               San Diego Pod

(5) Houston

(12) South Dakota State

(3) Tennessee

(14) Montana

               Wichita Pod

(6) Miami (fl)

(11) Alabama

(2) Cincinnati

(15) Wright State

               Nashville Pod

(7) Butler

(10) NC State

Boston Regional

(1) Villanova

(16) LIU Brooklyn / Hampton

               Pittsburgh Pod

(8) Virginia Tech

(9) Kansas State

(4) Texas Tech

(13) Louisiana Lafayette

               Boise Pod

(5) Clemson

(12) San Diego St.

(3) Wichita State

(14) UC Santa Barbara

               Dallas Pod

(6) Florida

(11) Oklahoma / USC

(2) Purdue

(15) Penn

               Detroit Pod

(7) Providence

(10) Texas

Omaha Regional

(1) Kansas

(16) Stephen F. Austin

               Wichita Pod

(8) Seton Hall

(9) Texas A&M

(4) Arizona

(13) New Mexico State.

               San Diego Pod

(5) Ohio State

(12) Western Kentucky

(3) Michigan State

(14) Bucknell

               Detroit Pod

(6) Arkansas

(11) St Marys / Arizona State

(2) UNC

(15) UNC Greensboro

               Charlotte Pod

(7) TCU

(10) UCLA

Los Angeles Regional

(1) Xavier

(16) Iona

               Nashville Pod

(8) St. Bona

(9) Missouri

(4) West Virginia

(13) Murray State

               Boise Pod

(5) Gonzaga

(12) Buffalo

(3) Michigan

(14) Charleston

               Detroit Pod

(6) Kentucky

(11) Loyola-Chicago

(2) Duke

(15) Radford

              Charlotte Pod

(7) Rhode Island

(10) Florida State