FINAL BP65

I'll be back later this evening with analysis of what I think the Selection Committee got right or wrong, as well as help with filling out your bracket. I'll link to posts from the past that have discussed things like which 12 & 13 seeds to pick for upsets. And either tonight or Monday afternoon I willhave a full analysis of each of the four regions. But for now, here is my final attempt at nailing this year's bracket.

For the record, my toughest selections were Boston College/Saint Mary's in, and Arizona/Florida/Maryland out. And for the record, I think that all three of the teams I left out had a better overall resume than Saint Mary's. The sense I'm getting, though, is that the Selection Committee does not want to punish them for the Patty Mills injury. But that's why this is an inexact science... you have to try to predict the psychology of the members of the Selection Committe, in addition to everything else. Excuses aside, here's the bracket:


1. North Carolina
1. MEMPHIS (C-USA)
1. Pittsburgh
1. LOUISVILLE (BIG EAST)

2. DUKE (ACC)
2. UConn
2. Michigan State
2. Oklahoma

3. MISSOURI (BIG 12)
3. Villanova
3. Kansas
3. Florida State

4. Wake Forest
4. Syracuse
4. PURDUE (BIG TEN)
4. GONZAGA (WCC)

5. UCLA
5. Illinois
5. Washington
5. Arizona State

6. West Virginia
6. UTAH (MWC)
6. LSU
6. Xavier

7. Texas
7. Clemson
7. Ohio State
7. Tennessee

8. Marquette
8. Oklahoma State
8. Butler
8. California

9. BYU
9. Minnesota
9. USC (PAC-10)
9. Texas A&M

10. Wisconsin
10. UTAH STATE (WAC)
10. SIENA (MAAC)
10. Dayton

11. MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC)
11. San Diego State
11. Michigan
11. TEMPLE (ATLANTIC 10)

12. Boston College
12. Saint Mary's
12. NORTHERN IOWA (MVC)
12. WESTERN KENTUCKY (SUN BELT)

13. VCU (COLONIAL)
13. CLEVELAND STATE (HORIZON)
13. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (PATRIOT)
13. STEPHEN F AUSTIN (SOUTHLAND)

14. AKRON (MAC)
14. BINGHAMTON (AMERICA EAST)
14. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (SUMMIT)
14. ROBERT MORRIS (NORTHEAST)

15. PORTLAND STATE (BIG SKY)
15. CORNELL (IVY)
15. EAST TENNESSEE STATE (ATLANTIC SUN)
15. MORGAN STATE (MEAC)

16. CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (BIG WEST)
16. RADFORD (BIG SOUTH)
16. MOREHEAD STATE (OVC)
16. CHATTANOOGA (SOUTHERN)
16. ALABAMA STATE (SWAC)


If I missed somebody on the bubble, here are the most likely teams:
Maryland, Penn State, Creighton, Arizona, Auburn, Florida, South Carolina

Other more distant possibilities - that could possibly get a bit, but probably shouldn't:
Miami (Fl), Virginia Tech, Providence, Tulsa, Illinois State, New Mexico, Davidson