Well, I had to make some concessions today because of losses to teams on the 3-5 seed line. Not happy about it but it is what it is. Also, I have Michigan and Gonzaga neck and neck for the final 1 spot. Gonzaga wins the spot for now BUT if Michigan wins both games next week then I’m putting them back on the 1 line. I’m giving Oklahoma one last chance before I toss them from the field completely and a couple of new mid major teams join the last 4 in club.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Duke
16 Prairie View/Robert Morris

8 TCU
9 Wofford

5 Louisville
12 VCU

4 Maryland
13 Yale

6 Kansas St
11 Minnesota

3 Marquette
14 N Kentucky

7 Mississippi St
10 Syracuse

2 Michigan St
15 Montana

West

1 Gonzaga
16 Bucknell

8 Washington
9 Ole Miss

5 Iowa St
12 UNCG/Belmont

4 Nevada
13 Murray St

6 Iowa
11 Clemson

3 Kansas
14 S Dakota St

7 Buffalo
10 Alabama

2 Michigan
15 UC Irvine

South

1 Virginia
16 Sam Houston

8 Texas
9 St John’s

5 Wisconsin
12 New Mexico St

4 LSU
13 Hofstra

6 Virginia Tech
11 Oklahoma

3 Purdue
14 Loyola Chicago

7 Cincinnati
10 NC State

2 Kentucky
15 Texas St

Midwest

1 Tennessee
16 Norfolk St/Rider

8 Ohio St
9 Lipscomb

5 Villanova
12 Indiana/Butler

4 Texas Tech
13 Vermont

6 Florida St
11 Seton Hall

3 Houston
14 Old Dominion

7 Auburn
10 Baylor

2 North Carolina
15 Radford

This will be the last update until Monday. There aren’t really any games of significance tonight and I’ll be traveling to a basketball game on Sunday. It will be interesting to see the committees top 16 tomorrow. I would imagine they will have a Nevada as a top 4 seed whereas I don’t and possibly Gonzaga as a 1 over Michigan. Seeds 3-5 are kind of a mosh pit of teams right now so I’m most interested in their 9-16 teams more than anything.

A couple of new teams joined the bracket tonight because the other bubble teams keep doing what bubble teams do. Arkansas was the first team out and their next two games are very winnable. It’s likely they make an entrance next week at some point the way things are going. UNCG and VCU were also considered but there are certain metrics that prohibit me from including them in the fields as at large teams. I’ll write about the specifics in the upcoming days.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Duke
16 Prairie View/Robert Morris

8 Ohio St
9 Texas

5 LSU
12 Davidson

4 Marquette
13 Belmont

6 Kansas St
11 Temple

3 Purdue
14 Loyola Chicago

7 Cincinnati
10 Syracuse

2 Kentucky
15 Texas St

West

1 Michigan
16 Bucknell

8 Buffalo
9 Wofford

5 Villanova
12 Florida/Clemson

4 Iowa St
13 Vermont

6 Iowa
11 Alabama

3 Kansas
14 S Dakota St

7 Washington
10 Minnesota

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

South

1 Virginia
16 Sam Houston/Norfolk St

8 St John’s
9 Baylor

5 Maryland
12 New Mexico St

4 Virginia Tech
13 Old Dominion

6 Nevada
11 Utah St

3 Houston
14 N Kentucky

7 Florida St
10 Ole Miss

2 Michigan St
15 Princeton

Midwest

1 Tennessee
16 Rider

8 Oklahoma
9 Lipscomb

5 Texas Tech
12 Indiana/Creighton

4 Louisville
13 Hofstra

6 Mississippi St
11 NC State

3 Wisconsin
14 Montana

7 Auburn
10 TCU

2 North Carolina
15 Radford

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Duke
16 Prairie View/Norfolk St

8 Buffalo
9 Texas

5 Maryland
12 Arizona St/Temple

4 Marquette
13 Hofstra

6 Kansas St
11 NC State

3 Purdue
14 N Kentucky

7 Cincinnati
10 Syracuse

2 Kentucky
15 Georgia St

West

1 Michigan
16 Bucknell

8 St John’s
9 Baylor

5 LSU
12 Davidson

4 Iowa St
13 Vermont

6 Nevada
11 Minnesota

3 Kansas
14 S Dakota St

7 Auburn
10 Indiana

2 North Carolina
15 Radford

South

1 Virginia
16 Sam Houston/Robert Morris

8 Ohio St
9 Wofford

5 Texas Tech
12 Seton Hall/UCF

4 Louisville
13 New Mexico St

6 Iowa
11 Alabama

3 Houston
14 Loyola Chicago

7 Washington
10 Ole Miss

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

Midwest

1 Tennessee
16 Rider

8 Oklahoma
9 Lipscomb

5 Villanova
12 Belmont

4 Virginia Tech
13 Old Dominion

6 Mississippi St
11 Utah St

3 Wisconsin
14 Montana

7 Florida St
10 TCU

2 Michigan St
15 Princeton

First 4 Out

Clemson
Arkansas
UNCG
San Francisco

Next 4 Out

Belmont
Butler
Creighton
Florida

A night of updates shook up the seed lines today but it’s still a mess at the bottom. There’s just no a lot separating the 10-11-12-bubble teams right now. I’m sure the picture will become more clear as March approaches, right? RIGHT!?!?!? (Edit: Nebraska will not even see the bubble again, let alone the actual bracket, unless they finish at least 6-2. I’m done with them)

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Duke
16 Prairie View/Robert Morris

8 Baylor
9 Ole Miss

5 Iowa
12 NC State/Temple

4 Villanova
13 Hofstra

6 Kansas St
11 Alabama

3 Louisville
14 N Kentucky

7 Washington
10 Nebraska

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

West

1 Michigan
16 Bucknell

8 Buffalo
9 St John’s

5 Texas Tech
12 Davidson

4 Marquette
13 S Dakota St

6 LSU
11 Utah St

3 Kansas
14 Radford

7 Auburn
10 Indiana

2 North Carolina
15 Georgia St

South

1 Virginia
16 Sam Houston/Robert Morris

8 Ohio St
9 TCU

5 Nevada
12 New Mexico St

4 Wisconsin
13 Vermont

6 Mississippi St
11 Texas

3 Purdue
14 Montana

7 Cincinnati
10 Lipscomb

2 Kentucky
15 Loyola Chicago

Midwest

1 Tennessee
16 Rider

8 Oklahoma
9 Minnesota

5 Virginia Tech
12 Arizona St/UCF

4 Iowa St
13 Belmont

6 Maryland
11 Syracuse

3 Houston
14 Old Dominion

7 Florida St
10 Wofford

2 Michigan St
15 Princeton

On The Bubble (No Particular Order)

UNCG
Clemson
San Francisco
Seton Hall
Creighton
Florida
Arkansas
VCU
Liberty
Arizona
Belmont
Toledo
Butler

A big night for Utah St as they travel to Fresno. I currently have Utah St in the filed, one of the last 4 in, but a loss tonight would harm their chances at an at large bid. Florida also needs a win tonight at Auburn if they want to keep their place in the field as they are also one of the last 4 in.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Duke
16 Prairie View/Norfolk St

8 Baylor
9 Ole Miss

5 Iowa
12 Florida/Arizona St

4 Louisville
13 N Kentucky

6 Maryland
11 Alabama

3 Marquette
14 N Kentucky

7 Kansas St
10 St John’s

2 Michigan
15 Princeton

West

1 Tennessee
16 Bucknell

8 Buffalo
9 Syracuse

5 Nevada
12 New Mexico St

4 Wisconsin
13 Old Dominion

6 Mississippi St
11 Indiana

3 Kansas
14 S Dakota St

7 Cincinnati
10 Lipscomb

2 Kentucky
15 Loyola Chicago

South

1 Virginia
16 Rider

8 Ohio St
9 TCU

5 Texas Tech
12 Davidson

4 Villanova
13 Hofstra

6 LSU
11 Wofford

3 Purdue
14 Radford

7 Florida St
10 Minnesota

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

Midwest

1 Michigan St
16 Sam Houston/Robert Morris

8 Oklahoma
9 NC St

5 Virginia Tech
12 Utah St/UCF

4 Iowa St
13 Vermont

6 Auburn
11 Texas

3 Houston
14 Montana

7 Washington
10 Nebraska

2 North Carolina
15 Georgia St

First 4 Out

UNCG
Temple
Creighton
Clemson

Next 4 Out

San Francisco
Arkansas
Seton Hall
Liberty

The bubble is soft, bad, horrible, complete dog poo. If you’ve won a Q1 game then you’re probably on the bubble in some sense. If you’re NET ranking is decent and don’t have a Q1 win then you’re probably on the bubble too. It’s a pillow fight to determine that last 8 or so spots in this year’s field. Hopefully, as the season progresses, teams will start separating and staking their claim.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Virginia
16 Prairie View/Robert Morris

8 Ohio St
9 TCU

5 Nevada
12 Minnesota/Temple

4 Virginia Tech
13 Belmont

6 Maryland
11 Alabama

3 Houston
14 N Kentucky

7 Florida St
10 Lipscomb

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

West

1 Tennessee
16 Princeton

8 Oklahoma
9 Syracuse

5 Texas Tech
12 Hofstra

4 Wisconsin
13 New Mexico St

6 Mississippi St
11 Indiana

3 Kansas
14 S Dakota St

7 Cincinnati
10 NC State

2 Michigan
15 Georgia St

South

1 Duke
16 Sam Houston/Norfolk St

8 Baylor
9 Ole Miss

5 Iowa
12 Florida/Texas

4 Villanova
13 Old Dominion

6 Auburn
11 Arizona St

3 Marquette
14 Radford

7 Buffalo
10 Wofford

2 Kentucky
15 Lehigh

Midwest

1 Michigan St
16 Rider

8 Kansas St
9 St John’s

5 Louisville
12 Davidson

4 Iowa St
13 Vermont

6 LSU
11 UCF

3 Purdue
14 Montana

7 Washington
10 Nebraska

2 North Carolina
15 Loyola Chicago

The Next 12

UNCG
Utah St
Creighton
Clemson
San Francisco
Liberty
Arkansas
VCU
Arizona
Butler
Northwestern
Toledo

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Virginia
16 Prairie View/Norfolk St

8 Kansas St
9 Wofford

5 Villanova
12 VCU

4 Louisville
13 Belmont

6 Maryland
11 Alabama

3 Marquette
14 N Kentucky

7 Cincinnati
10 Nebraska

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

West

1 Michigan St
16 Lehigh

8 Washington
9 Syracuse

5 Texas Tech
12 Utah St/UCF

4 Wisconsin
13 Yale

6 Mississippi St
11 Texas

3 Purdue
14 S Dakota St

7 Buffalo
10 St John’s

2 Kentucky
15 Georgia St

South

1 Duke
16 Rider

8 Baylor
9 Lipscomb

5 Iowa
12 Florida/UNC Greensboro

4 Houston
13 New Mexico St

6 LSU
11 Indiana

3 Kansas
14 Old Dominion

7 Florida St
10 TCU

2 Michigan
15 Loyola Chicago

Midwest

1 Tennessee
16 Sam Houston/Robert Morris

8 Ohio St
9 NC State

5 Nevada
12 Hofstra

4 Iowa St
13 Vermont

6 Auburn
11 Minnesota

3 Virginia Tech
14 Montana

7 Oklahoma
10 Ole Miss

2 North Carolina
15 Radford

Last 4 Out

Clemson
Temple
Arizona St
Creighton

Next 4 Out

San Francisco
Arkansas
Butler
St Mary’s

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..for the B1G.  6 B1G teams have 6 seeds or higher in my recent bracket, Minnesota and Ohio St are still solidly in but Indiana and Nebraska are in free fall mode.  They are both still in although Nebraska lost today at Illinois so that will drop them to 10-11 in tomorrow’s update while Indiana will fall completely out (finally) after Michigan St emasculates them today.  (Edit: Indiana decided they didn’t want to be emasculated) The B1G seemed like a lock for 9-10 teams this year but, unless trends reverse, 8 is the more likely number.  Then again the bubble is Charmin soft so……

Please share my blog on Twitter. Also leave any comments below with any feedback in regards to my bracket, who you feel is a dangerous team as we head towards March, or if you just want to shoot the shit.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

1 Virginia
16 Sam Houston St/Norfolk St

8 Kansas St
9 Nebraska

5 LSU
12 Davidson

4 Texas Tech
13 Vermont

6 Nevada
11 St John’s

3 Purdue
14 S Dakota St

7 Florida St
10 Lipscomb

2 Kentucky
15 Jacksonville St

West

1 Tennessee
16 Lehigh

8 TCU
9 Ohio St

5 Iowa St
12 Utah St/NC Greensboro

4 Marquette
13 Yale

6 Maryland
11 Florida

3 Kansas
14 N Kentucky

7 Buffalo
10 Wofford

2 Michigan
15 Loyola Chicago

South

1 Duke
16 Rider

8 Washington
9 Baylor

5 Villanova
12 San Francisco/Indiana

4 Virginia Tech
13 Old Dominion

6 Mississippi St
11 Texas

3 Wisconsin
14 Montana

7 Cincinnati
10 Syracuse

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

Midwest

1 Michigan St
16 Prairie View/Robert Morris

8 NC State
9 Ole Miss

5 Iowa
12 Hofstra

4 Louisville
13 New Mexico St

6 Oklahoma
11 Alabama

3 Houston
14 Texas St

7 Auburn
10 Minnesota

2 North Carolina
15 Radford

First 4 Out

UCF
Clemson
Temple
Arizona St

Next 4 Out

Creighton
VCU
Seton Hall
Belmont

Kansas has finally fallen to a 3 seed in today’s update after losing 3 out of the last 4, including a game to a pretty bad West Virginia squad.  The injury to Azubuike has derailed what was a phenomenal start to the season.  Iowa St, yes THE Iowa State Cyclones are now the team to beat in the Big 12 and will (maybe)end the Jayhawks 14 year reign of terror over the Big 12. 

Iowa St, Marquette, and Villanova are my sleeper teams to make a run at the final 4 this year.  Lipscomb would another deep sleeper pick to make a Loyola Chicago type run this year assuming they end up getting a 10-12 seed.   Drop a comment below with your sleeper teams (3 seed or lower)

Jacksonville St, coming off a dominating win over Murray St, makes their first appearance in the bracket this year.  Double double machine Jason Burnell lead the way with 21 points and 15 rebounds.  They have a tough game on Saturday against Austin Peay however, if they win, they will be the favorite to be the #1 seed in the conference tournament as their schedule is very manageable to finish out the year. 

Check out http://www.bracketmatrix.com to find out where other bracketologists have your team seeded.

East

1 Duke
16 Sam Houston St/Norfolk St

8 TCU
9 Nebraska

5 Maryland
12 Florida/San Francisco

4 Virginia Tech
13 N Kentucky

6 Oklahoma
11 Alabama

3 Marquette
14 S Dakota St

7 Cincinnati
10 Syracuse

2 Kentucky
15 Jacksonville St

West

1 Michigan
16 Lehigh

8 Kansas St
9 Ole Miss

5 Iowa St
12 Davidson

4 Wisconsin
13 Yale

6 Iowa
11 UNC Greensboro

3 Kansas
14 Old Dominion

7 Florida St
10 St John’s

2 Tennessee
15 Loyola Chicago

South

1 Virginia
16 Rider

8 Auburn
9 Ohio St

5 Villanova
12 Hofstra

4 Texas Tech
13 New Mexico St

6 Buffalo
11 Minnesota

3 Houston
14 Texas St

7 NC State
10 Lipscomb

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

Midwest

1 Michigan St
16 Prairie View/Robert Morris

8 Washington
9 Baylor

5 LSU
12 Utah St/Indiana

4 Louisville
13 Vermont

6 Nevada
11 Texas

3 Purdue
14 Montana

7 Mississippi St
10 Wofford

2 North Carolina
15 Radford

First 4 Out

UCF
Temple
Clemson
Arizona St

Next 4 Out
Seton Hall
Creighton
Belmont
VCU

I feel sick to my stomach.  I thought, after last night’s loss to Rutgers, that my bracket would be devoid of any reference to a team with a 7 game losing streak.  However, like a European backpacker who you let crash on your couch for a week, their stench remains.  Please, oh please, will one, or more, of the wretched bubble teams please rise up and take their rightful place in the field. 

Let’s congratulate the Auburn Tigers on their first Q1 win of the year thanks to a surging Washington team that cracked the top 30 in the NET rankings.  Right now there are only 5 more opportunities for Q1 wins left on the schedule.  They had better take advantage of every opportunity for quality wins or it’s likely they won’t make it past the first weekend of the tournament.  War Eagle!

I’ve received some feedback, for a lack of a better word, from Tennessee fans because they feel they’re being snubbed in my bracket.  They don’t understand how I can have Michigan St as a 1 and Tennessee as a 2 since MSU has 3 losses while the Vols have only lost once.  Here’s a dirty little secret…..Michigan is the team just ahead of you on the seed line.  MSU’s resume, 8 Q1 wins and 4 Q2 wins, is simply better than Tennessee’s resume at the moment.  Michigan has one more Q1 and Q2 win than Tennessee does.  Tennessee’s SOS is better. Folks, it’s really splitting hairs at the moment but, as of this moment, Michigan gets the nod.  Here’s some good news, maybe, I have a feeling that Michigan loses at Iowa on Friday.  That may shift the balance enough to flip the teams. 

http://www.bracketmatrix.com

East

1 Duke
16 Sam Houston/Norfolk

8 Baylor
9 Nebraska

5 LSU
12 San Francisco/Utah St

4 Texas Tech
13 New Mexico St

6 Iowa
11 Alabama

3 Marquette
14 S Dakota St

7 Florida St
10 St John’s

2 Kansas
15 Loyola Chicago

West

1 Michigan
16 Lehigh

8 Auburn
9 Washington

5 Virginia Tech
12 Hofstra

4 Houston
13 Davidson

6 Nevada
11 Wofford

3 Purdue
14 Texas St

7 NC State
10 Texas

2 Tennessee
15 Radford

South

1 Virginia
16 Rider

8 Kansas St
9 Lipscomb

5 Maryland
12 Murray St

4 Louisville
13 Vermont

6 Buffalo
11 Minnesota

3 Kentucky
14 N Kentucky

7 Cincinnati
10 Ohio St

2 North Carolina
15 Montana

Midwest

1 Michigan St
16 Prairie View/Robert Morris

8 TCU
9 Ole Miss

5 Villanova
12 Indiana/UCF

4 Iowa St
13 Yale

6 Oklahoma
11 Florida

3 Wisconsin
14 N Texas

7 Mississippi St
10 Syracuse

2 Gonzaga
15 UC Irvine

First 4 Out

UNCG
Temple
Seton Hall
Arizona St

Next 4 Out

Clemson
Creighton
Belmont
Arizona