Projections for 2/27/09

Last Four In: Michigan, Virginia Tech, UNLV, Dayton

Last Four Out: Texas A&M, Providence, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame

Next Four Out: Maryland, Miami (FL), St. Mary's, Kansas State


East (#1 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Robert Morris

8 Ohio State
9 Tennessee

5 Xavier
12 Virginia Tech

4 Washington
13 North Dakota State

6 Butler
11 Cincinnati

3 Wake Forest
14 American

7 Texas
10 Utah State

2 Michigan State
15 Belmont


West (#4 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Radford

8 West Virginia
9 Minnesota

5 Gonzaga
12 Dayton

4 Clemson
13 Davidson

6 Florida State
11 Michigan

3 Villanova
14 Buffalo

7 California
10 Brigham Young

2 Memphis
15 Tennessee-Martin


Midwest (#2 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Morgan State

8 South Carolina
9 Arizona

5 Purdue
12 UNLV

4 Marquette
13 Western Kentucky

6 Utah
11 Kentucky

3 Kansas
14 Weber State

7 UCLA
10 Wisconsin

2 Louisville
15 Binghamton


South (#3 Overall)

1 Pittsburgh
16 Long Beach State vs. Alabama State

8 Boston College
9 Florida

5 Arizona State
12 Creighton

4 Illinois
13 Virginia Commonwealth

6 LSU
11 Penn State

3 Missouri
14 Stephen F. Austin

7 Syracuse
10 Siena

2 Duke
15 Cornell

Projections for 2/23/09

Last Four In: Maryland, Cincinnati, Kansas State, UNLV

Last Four Out: Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Michigan, St. Mary's

Next Four Out: Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Southern Cal, Miami (FL)


East (#1 Overall)

1 Pittsburgh
16 Long Beach State vs. Alabama State

8 Florida
9 Ohio State

5 Florida State
12 UNLV

4 Kansas
13 Western Kentucky

6 Xavier
11 Tennessee

3 Villanova
14 Buffalo

7 California
10 Brigham Young

2 Duke
15 Tennessee-Martin


West (#4 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Jacksonville

8 Arizona
9 Boston College

5 Gonzaga
12 Cincinnati

4 Purdue
13 Virginia Commonwealth

6 LSU
11 Maryland

3 Marquette
14 Vermont

7 UCLA
10 Wisconsin

2 Memphis
15 Weber State


Midwest (#2 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Morgan State

8 Minnesota
9 South Carolina

5 Washington
12 Creighton

4 Missouri
13 Davidson

6 West Virginia
11 Siena

3 Wake Forest
14 American

7 Utah
10 Kentucky

2 Michigan State
15 Cornell


South (#3 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Radford

8 Syracuse
9 Dayton

5 Illinois
12 Kansas State

4 Arizona State
13 North Dakota State

6 Texas
11 Utah State

3 Clemson
14 Stephen F. Austin

7 Butler
10 Penn State

2 Louisville
15 Robert Morris

Projections for 2/20/09

Last Four In: Michigan, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Kentucky

Last Four Out: Virginia Tech, Southern Cal, Providence, UNLV

Next Four Out: Texas A&M, UAB, Miami (FL), Georgetown


South (#1 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Radford

8 Boston College
9 Florida

5 UCLA
12 Cincinnati

4 Purdue
13 Buffalo

6 Xavier
11 Siena

3 Villanova
14 Cornell

7 Butler
10 Minnesota

2 Wake Forest
15 Belmont


West (#4 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Robert Morris

8 Ohio State
9 Texas

5 Gonzaga
12 Kentucky

4 Clemson
13 Virginia Commonwealth

6 Washington
11 San Diego State

3 Marquette
14 North Dakota State

7 LSU
10 Utah State

2 Memphis
15 Tennessee-Martin


Midwest (#2 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Morgan State

8 Wisconsin
9 Dayton

5 West Virginia
12 Kansas State

4 Arizona State
13 Creighton

6 Florida State
11 Michigan

3 Missouri
14 Stephen F. Austin

7 Utah
10 Tennessee

2 Louisville
15 Weber State


East (#3 Overall)

1 Pittsburgh
16 Long Beach State vs. Alabama State

8 Arizona
9 Brigham Young

5 Illinois
12 Davidson

4 Kansas
13 Western Kentucky

6 Syracuse
11 Penn State

3 Duke
14 American

7 California
10 South Carolina

2 Michigan State
15 Vermont

Breaking Down the Conferences: ACC

This will be the first in a series of posts made with the intention of forecasting each team's tournament prospects.


Locks


North Carolina- as expected, the Tar Heels are looking like a national title contender and are in the running for the #1 overall seed. The remainder of their schedule is relatively soft (@Maryland, GTech, @Va Tech, Duke), and it's difficult to see UNC losing more than one of those games.

Seed Range: 1


Wake Forest- after a few inexplicable losses, the Demon Deacons appear to be back on track, with consecutive blowout victories over FSU and GTech. The remaining games @Duke, @Maryland, and home vs Clemson will go a long way toward deciding their final seed.

Seed Range: 2-4


Clemson- in addition to the home blowout against Duke, the Tigers have shown they can win on the road, with wins at Illinois, Miami, South Carolina, Boston College, and Virginia Tech. Add to that a managable remaining schedule (@GTech, Va Tech, @FSU, Virginia, @Wake Forest), and Clemson is likely looking at a high seed come Selection Sunday.

Seed Range: 2-5


Duke- the Blue Devils have lost 4 of 6 after starting the year 18-1. While they aren't in any danger of falling out of the tournament, Duke has a tough final stretch (Wake Forest, @Maryland, @Va Tech, FSU, @UNC) and could suffer a major hit in seeding if they don't win at least 3 of their last 5.

Seed Range: 3-7


Should Be In

Florida State- it looks like Leonard Hamilton is finally going to get the Seminoles into the Big Dance this year. They aren't a lock yet because of a tough last five games (@Va Tech, @Boston College, Clemson, @Duke, Va Tech), but they should make it barring a complete collapse.

Seed Range: 6-10


Boston College- the Eagles appear to be closing in on a bid, with 4 winnable games left on the schedule (@Miami, FSU, @NC State, GTech). The bad OOC losses to Harvard and St. Louis may hurt their seeding, but the wins against Duke and North Carolina make it unlikely they'll miss the tournament.

Seed Range: 7-11


Bubble


Virginia Tech- the recent losses @Maryland and @Virginia could come back to haunt the Hokies. A brutal last five games (FSU, @Clemson, Duke, UNC, @FSU) will make or break their season.

Prediction: NIT


Miami- the 'Canes let two major opportunities slip away against Duke and UNC, and are now 4-8 in the ACC. Miami's remaining schedule is soft (Boston College, @Virginia, @GTech, NC State), but 1 more regular season loss likely sends them to the NIT.

Prediction: NCAA


Maryland- the remaining schedule keeps the Terps' hopes alive (home games against UNC, Duke, and Wake Forest, road games @NC State and Virginia), but an NCAA bid seems unlikely at this point.

Prediction: NIT

Projections for 2/16/09

Last Four In: San Diego State, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Brigham Young

Last Four Out: Southern Cal, Penn State, Providence, Miami (FL)

Next Four Out: Michigan, UAB, Maryland, Creighton


East (#1 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Radford vs. Alabama State

8 Tennessee
9 Dayton

5 Arizona State
12 San Diego State

4 Clemson
13 Arkansas-Little Rock

6 Florida State
11 Davidson

3 Missouri
14 Weber State

7 Syracuse
10 Kentucky

2 Michigan State
15 Vermont


West (#4 Overall)

1 Pittsburgh
16 Morgan State

8 Minnesota
9 Boston College

5 Washington
12 Brigham Young

4 Kansas
13 Northern Iowa

6 West Virginia
11 Siena

3 Duke
14 American

7 LSU
10 Arizona

2 Memphis
15 Sam Houston State


South (#2 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Cal State-Northridge

8 Butler
9 South Carolina

5 Purdue
12 Cincinnati

4 Xavier
13 Buffalo

6 Ohio State
11 UNLV

3 Wake Forest
14 Cornell

7 California
10 Utah State

2 Marquette
15 Robert Morris


Midwest (#3 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Jacksonville

8 Utah
9 Wisconsin

5 Gonzaga
12 Kansas State

4 Villanova
13 Northeastern

6 UCLA
11 Virginia Tech

3 Illinois
14 North Dakota State

7 Texas
10 Florida

2 Louisville
15 Tennessee-Martin

Projections for 2/13/09

Last Four In: Southern Cal, Wisconsin, Kansas State, Miami (FL)

Last Four Out: UNLV, Brigham Young, Providence, Georgetown

Next Four Out: Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan, UAB


East (#1 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Alabama State vs Princeton

8 Florida
9 Virginia Tech

5 Xavier
12 Siena

4 Kansas
13 Western Kentucky

6 Syracuse
11 Kentucky

3 Duke
14 Virginia Military

7 California
10 San Diego State

2 Michigan State
15 Weber State


West (#4 Overall)

1 Pittsburgh
16 Morgan State

8 Texas
9 Dayton

5 Ohio State
12 Southern Cal

4 Wake Forest
13 Northeastern

6 Washington
11 Wisconsin

3 Marquette
14 North Dakota State

7 Florida State
10 South Carolina

2 Memphis
15 Tennessee-Martin


South (#2 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Cal State-Northridge

8 West Virginia
9 Utah

5 Gonzaga
12 Miami (FL)

4 UCLA
13 Northern Iowa

6 Purdue
11 Kansas State

3 Louisville
14 Vermont

7 LSU
10 Arizona

2 Clemson
15 American


Midwest (#3 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

8 Utah State
9 Tennessee

5 Butler
12 Cincinnati

4 Illinois
13 Buffalo

6 Arizona State
11 Boston College

3 Missouri
14 East Tennessee State

7 Minnesota
10 Davidson

2 Villanova
15 Robert Morris

Projections for 2/9/09

Last Four In: Wisconsin, Kansas State, Cincinnati, Miami (FL)

Last Four Out: UNLV, Michigan, Georgetown, Texas A&M

Next Four Out: Penn State, Brigham Young, Mississippi State, Nebraska


East (#1 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Alabama State vs Princeton

8 Texas
9 Tennessee

5 Gonzaga
12 Miami (FL)

4 Xavier
13 Northeastern

6 Missouri
11 Cincinnati

3 Clemson
14 Virginia Military

7 California
10 Utah

2 Michigan State
15 Weber State


West (#4 Overall)

1 Pittsburgh
16 Boston University

8 Florida
9 Boston College

5 Illinois
12 Arizona

4 Kansas
13 Western Kentucky

6 Minnesota
11 San Diego State

3 UCLA
14 Tennessee-Martin

7 West Virginia
10 South Carolina

2 Duke
15 Sam Houston State


South (#2 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Long Beach State

8 Utah State
9 Virginia Tech

5 Syracuse
12 Siena

4 Butler
13 Northern Iowa

6 Purdue
11 Kentucky

3 Marquette
14 North Dakota State

7 Arizona State
10 Davidson

2 Wake Forest
15 American


Midwest (#3 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Morgan State

8 LSU
9 Southern Cal

5 Ohio State
12 Kansas State

4 Villanova
13 Buffalo

6 Washington
11 Wisconsin

3 Memphis
14 East Tennessee State

7 Florida State
10 Dayton

2 Louisville
15 Robert Morris

Projections for 2/6/09

Last Four In: Utah, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Miami (FL)

Last Four Out: Kentucky, Arizona, St. Mary's, Baylor

Next Four Out: Brigham Young, Northwestern, Providence, Cincinnati


East (#1 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Boston University

8 Florida
9 Boston College

5 Minnesota
12 San Diego State

4 Gonzaga
13 Northern Iowa

6 Ohio State
11 Texas A&M

3 Memphis
14 East Tennessee State

7 Washington
10 Georgetown

2 Clemson
15 Robert Morris


West (#4 Overall)

1 Pittsburgh
16 Morgan State

8 Davidson
9 UNLV

5 Kansas
12 Miami (FL)

4 UCLA
13 Western Kentucky

6 West Virginia
11 Southern Cal

3 Michigan State
14 Cornell

7 Texas
10 South Carolina

2 Duke
15 American


South (#2 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Long Beach State

8 Florida State
9 California

5 Purdue
12 Siena

4 Villanova
13 Northeastern

6 Missouri
11 Utah

3 Wake Forest
14 Virginia Military

7 Tennessee
10 Penn State

2 Marquette
15 Weber State


Midwest (#3 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Morehead State vs Alabama State

8 LSU
9 Utah State

5 Syracuse
12 Michigan

4 Butler
13 Buffalo

6 Illinois
11 Virginia Tech

3 Xavier
14 North Dakota State

7 Arizona State
10 Dayton

2 Louisville
15 Sam Houston State

Projections for 2/2/09

Starting this week, I will be doing bracket projections every Monday and Friday.

Last Four In: Baylor, Michigan, Utah, St. Mary's

Last Four Out: Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Arizona, Providence

Next Four Out: Brigham Young, Miami (FL), Washington State, Oklahoma State


East (#1 Overall)

1 Connecticut
16 Robert Morris

8 Florida
9 Utah State

5 Kansas
12 St. Mary's

4 Minnesota
13 Northern Iowa

6 Syracuse
11 Texas A&M

3 Butler
14 Northeastern

7 Penn State
10 Southern Cal

2 Wake Forest
15 American


West (#4 Overall)

1 North Carolina
16 Morgan State

8 LSU
9 Georgetown

5 Texas
12 Utah

4 Michigan State
13 Buffalo

6 Washington
11 Kentucky

3 Xavier
14 Cornell

7 Ohio State
10 Boston College

2 Louisville
15 Weber State


South (#2 Overall)

1 Oklahoma
16 Morehead State vs. Alabama State

8 West Virginia
9 Florida State

5 UCLA
12 Siena

4 Gonzaga
13 Western Kentucky

6 Illinois
11 California

3 Clemson
14 Stephen F. Austin

7 UNLV
10 South Carolina

2 Pittsburgh
15 North Dakota State


Midwest (#3 Overall)

1 Duke
16 Jacksonville

8 Missouri
9 Tennessee

5 Villanova
12 Michigan

4 Memphis
13 Virginia Military

6 Davidson
11 Baylor

3 Purdue
14 Vermont

7 Arizona State
10 Dayton

2 Marquette
15 Long Beach State