RE: Championship Week and Selection Sunday Questions
I just completed my first bracket prediction of the year for you all to enjoy. As of today my 1 seeds are UVA, UNC, Tennessee and Gonzaga. Only UVA is set in stone. The SEC and ACC tournament will tell us a ton and theoretically I could see Michigan State getting there as well. There is a decent chance any of the last 3 could fall off.
LSU as a 3 seed was difficult and I think they could still get a 1 seed (if they win the SEC tournament they absolutely will). Because Houston beat them I just gave Houston the edge. The 4 and 5 seeds are kind of a jumble, but I think they've mostly separated themselves from the 6 and 7 seeds.
I have Cincinnati as the second 7 seed right now. I could see them as a 6 seed depending on how the committee views Iowa State, Nevada, Buffalo and Maryland (all of these teams have resumes that are really a matter of preference, not significantly better than one or the other). I think UC should be able to play themselves to a 6 seed this week. I think falling to an 8 seed would take a loss before the finals AND other teams behind them having a good week (such as UCF/Baylor/Iowa). I don't see them falling below an 8 seed.
I had a really hard time differentiating between teams at the end of the bracket. Starting with Temple on down I could see the committee leaving any of those bottom teams out in place of a team like TCU, Creighton, Indiana or even UNCG if anyone on the committee decides to value strength of record. My assumption in making this bracket is that Clemson holds on against NC State. If they do I think NC State gets left out because of their dreadful nonconference SOS. I'm not confident Clemson is in and the teams behind them could certainly pass them even if they are right now.
1 Seeds Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Gonzaga
2 Seeds Kentucky, Duke, Michigan State, Houston
3 Seeds LSU, Texas Tech, Michigan, Purdue
4 Seeds Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Florida State, Kansas
5 Seeds Mississippi State, Wisconsin, Auburn, Marquette
6 Seeds Villanova, Iowa State, Nevada, Buffalo
7 Seeds Maryland, Cincinnati, Louisville, Wofford
8 Seeds Baylor, Iowa, UCF, Syracuse
9 Seeds Seton Hall, Minnesota, VCU, Washington
10 Seeds Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Temple, Ohio State
11 Seeds Utah State, St Johns, Arizona State, Texas/Clemson,
12 Seeds Belmont/Florida, St Marys, Murray State, Liberty
13 Seeds NM State, Yale, GA Southern, Old Dominion
14 Seeds Bradley, Vermont, UC Irvine, NKU
15 Seeds Montana, Colgate, Northeastern, Iona
16 Seeds Gardner Webb, Sam Houston St., North Dakota State/Prarie View A&M, Fairleigh Dickinson/Norfolk State
Last 6 In: St Johns, Arizona State, Texas, Belmont, Florida, Clemson
First 6 Out: TCU, Creighton, Indiana, NC State, UNCG, Alabama
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