Sunday, December 06, 2015

W-14 BP68

It was college football's conference championship weekend, which means it's the last college basketball Saturday without much to watch.

We did have the ACC/Big Ten Challenge during the week, which is always fantastic. We do have other challenges, such as the Big 12/SEC Challenge, but it's never done right. Having the games all compressed into three nights really adds to the rooting interest and drama. It made everybody care about the finish of Iowa/Florida State.

There were a few changes to the bracket this week. I didn't panic with Kentucky's loss, and they are still a 1 seed, but we did have two changes to the projected Field of 68. South Carolina and George Washington slide in while BYU and NC State slide out.

Remember, this is a projection of what the bracket will look like on Selection Sunday, and not a measure of where teams would be if the season ended now.

For now, here's how I see things ending up on Selection Sunday 2016:

1. KANSAS (BIG 12)
1. NORTH CAROLINA (ACC)
1. MICHIGAN STATE (BIG TEN)
1. KENTUCKY (SEC)

2. ARIZONA (PAC-12)
2. Virginia
2. VILLANOVA (BIG EAST)
2. Oklahoma

3. Duke
3. GONZAGA (WCC)
3. Purdue
3. Iowa State

4. Maryland
4. Xavier
4. Baylor
4. UCONN (AAC)

5. Cincinnati
5. Miami-Florida
5. Vanderbilt
5. West Virginia

6. Louisville
6. Butler
6. Utah
6. DAVIDSON (ATLANTIC TEN)

7. Oregon
7. Texas A&M
7. Dayton
7. UCLA

8. Iowa
8. Georgetown
8. Wisconsin
8. Indiana

9. Pittsburgh
9. WICHITA STATE (MVC)
9. Notre Dame
9. Texas

10. Michigan
10. Providence
10. California
10. Florida State

11. UNLV
11. Syracuse
11. Ohio State
11. South Carolina
11. SAN DIEGO STATE (MOUNTAIN WEST)

12. George Washington
12. LSU
12. VALPARAISO (HORIZON)
12. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (SOUTHLAND)
12. AKRON (MAC)

13. UAB (CONFERENCE USA)
13. IONA (MAAC)
13. HOFSTRA (COLONIAL)
13. BELMONT (OVC)

14. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (SUMMIT)
14. UC-IRVINE (BIG WEST)
14. STONY BROOK (AMERICA EAST)
14. UT-ARLINGTON (SUN BELT)

15. PRINCETON (IVY LEAGUE)
15. CHATTANOOGA (SOUTHERN)
15. WINTHROP (BIG SOUTH)
15. NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC)

16. NORTH FLORIDA (ATLANTIC SUN)
16. MONTANA (BIG SKY)
16. BUCKNELL (PATRIOT)
16. ROBERT MORRIS (NEC)
16. NORFOLK STATE (MEAC)
16. SOUTHERN (SWAC)

Teams seriously considered that just missed the cut:
Memphis, Tulsa, NC State, Rhode Island, VCU, Northern Iowa, Boise State, Oregon State, USC, Florida, BYU

Other teams with a decent shot to get onto the bubble:
Temple, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph's, Creighton, Marquette, Seton Hall, Nebraska, Northwestern, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, William & Mary, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, Evansville, New Mexico, Arizona State, Colorado, Washington, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Saint Mary's

Other teams I'm keeping my eye on:
Houston, Virginia Tech, Fordham, UMass, Illinois, Minnesota, TCU, Texas Tech, Hawaii, Northeastern, Yale, Kent State, Loyola-Chicago, Southern Illinois, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State, North Dakota State, Stanford, Washington State, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee

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