The Sports Headquarters

Bracketology (March 10^th 2012 -11am Update)

by Gus Elvin

It’s Championship Week and like I promised I am going to be delivering Bracketology updates all week long, and “a bubble watch” breakdown nightly.  As we begin many of the conference tournaments we have a pretty good idea of most of the at larges teams, as I figure there are about 30 teams competing for about 15 remaining at large spots. While seeds, bubble teams and mid-major conference auto bid winners will without question change as we approach Selection Sunday, I will keep you updated on everything regarding the bracket, including who’s in, who’s out and seeding. If you followed the site last year you will remember the general concept of Bracketology as I will list you the 68 teams in my field and tell you the teams who are still in play but just outside the field at the time of publication. Like last year I am not going to match the teams up because this is a waste of time and there is almost zero chance I or anyone else will get the matchups correct.

Secondly, like last year the team that is currently in 1^st or 2^nd in their conference will be selected at my digression as the conference’s automatic berth when dealing with mid-majors until the conference tournament final is completed. Although I’d like to just project the conference winners, this will ensure that my picks are more objective and not just affected by biases or my personal opinions. While in my previous installments I have added a small writeup to accompany each team, because it is Championship Week and I want to keep this up to date, we will abandon that system for the duration of the season. Finally the seeds are not ranked 1-4, with the exception of the #1 seeds and the “Last 4 and First 4 Out Categories” which will be ranked 1-4 in order to designate the top overall seed and the last teams in and last teams out. As a disclaimer remember that over the next week a lot will change and seeding and bubble teams will change on a nightly basis.  I will be constantly updating this post, specifically the last 4, first 4 out element, so stay tuned and check back in for updates. Finally these projections are reflected on Monday March 5^th, so a major loss or win after this date will not impact or be reflected in this version of Bracketology. Lastly, since some conference tournaments have been completed all teams that are in bold have already clinched an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament while an asterisk denotes my projected conference winner.That’s about it from me I officially declare class in session.

*Denotes Current Conference leader

Bold Denotes Conference Champion-Automatic Bid

#1 Seeds

1.) Kentucky

2.) Syracuse

3.)*(Big Ten)Michigan State

4.) *(Big 12)-Missouri

#2 Seeds

Kansas

Ohio State

Duke

North Carolina

#3 Seeds

Michigan

Marquette

Wisconsin

Baylor

#4 Seeds

Georgetown

Indiana

*(ACC)-Florida State

*(OVC)-Murray State

#5 Seeds

Wichita State

*(Big East)-Louisville

*(SEC)-Vanderbilt

Florida

#6 Seeds

*(C-USA)-Memphis

*(WCC)-Saint Mary’s

Temple

*(Mountain West)-New Mexico

#7 Seeds

*(Missouri Valley)-Creighton

UNLV

Notre Dame

San Diego State

#8 Seeds

Gonzaga

Iowa State

Cincinnati

Kansas State

#9 Seeds

Connecticut

Alabama

Saint Louis

Purdue

#10 Seeds

Southern Miss

California

West Virginia

Virginia

#11 Seeds

*(IVY)-Harvard

Texas

*(Big West)-Long Beach State

Xavier

#12 Seeds

*(Pac-12)-Colorado

Colorado State

*(Colonial) –VCU

First Four Game:  USF vs. NC State

#13 Seeds

*(Atlantic Sun)-Belmont

*(Southern)-Davidson

*(A-10)- St. Bonaventure

First Four Game: BYU vs.Seton Hall

#14 Seeds

*(WAC)-NMSU

*(SUMMIT)-South Dakota State

*(MAC)-Ohio

*(Big Sky)-Montana

15 Seeds

*(MAAC)-Loyola -Maryland

*(Patriot)-Lehigh

*(Horizon)-Detroit

*(NEC)-Long Island

#16 Seeds

*(Southland) – Lamar

*(Big South)-UNC-Asheville

First Four Game: *(America East)-Vermont vs. *(SWAC)-Mississippi Valley State

First Four Game *(MEAC)-Nofolk State vs. *(Sun Belt)-Western Kentucky

Bubble Watch

Last 4 In

USF

NC State

BYU

Seton Hall 

First 4 Out

Mississippi State

Washington

Iona

Drexel

Next Four Out

Arizona

Marshall

Northwestern

Nevada

Next Next Four Out

Ole Miss

Oral Roberts

Oregon

Tennessee

Also Considered: Oregon, Middle Tennessee State,  Dayton,