Monday, December 28, 2009

Projections for 12/28/09

Last Four In:  Miami (FL), Vanderbilt, Southern Cal, Wichita State

Last Four Out:  Missouri State, VCU, Maryland, Xavier

Next Four Out:  St. John's, Old Dominion, Rhode Island, Baylor


Midwest (#1 Overall)

1 Kansas
16 Belmont

8 Northern Iowa
9 Cincinnati

5 Tennessee
12 Miami (FL)

4 Ohio State
13 Western Kentucky

6 New Mexico
11 Vanderbilt

3 North Carolina
14 Murray State

7 Northwestern
10 Richmond

2 Villanova
15 Morgan State


West (#4 Overall)

1 Syracuse
16 Army

8 UAB
9 Minnesota

5 Ole Miss
12 Cornell

4 Washington
13 Utah State

6 Clemson
11 Memphis

3 Kansas State
14 Long Beach State

7 Brigham Young
10 Florida

2 Purdue
15 Oral Roberts


South (#2 Overall)

1 Texas
16 Vermont

8 UNLV
9 Wake Forest

5 Wisconsin
12 Wichita State

4 Temple
13 Western Carolina

6 Gonzaga
11 California

3 Georgetown
14 Akron

7 Texas Tech
10 Mississippi State

2 Duke
15 Weber State


East (#3 Overall)

1 Kentucky
16 Sacred Heart vs Jackson State

8 Georgia Tech
9 Oklahoma State

5 Dayton
12 Southern Cal

4 Connecticut
13 Siena

6 Texas A&M
11 Florida State

3 Michigan State
14 Sam Houston State

7 Butler
10 William & Mary

2 West Virginia
15 Coastal Carolina

Monday, December 21, 2009

Projections for 12/21/09

Last Four In:  Richmond, Memphis, Miami (FL), Vanderbilt

Last Four Out:  UAB, St. Mary's, Maryland, Illinois

Next Four Out:  VCU, Charlotte, Wichita State, Arizona State


Midwest (#1 Overall)

1 Kansas
16 Belmont

8 Northern Iowa
9 Cincinnati

5 Washington
12 Miami (FL)

4 Ohio State
13 Western Carolina

6 Florida
11 Memphis

3 North Carolina
14 Murray State

7 Dayton
10 Minnesota

2 Villanova
15 Vermont


West (#4 Overall)

1 Syracuse
16 Army

8 Tulsa
9 Wake Forest

5 Texas A&M
12 Vanderbilt

4 New Mexico
13 Utah State

6 Clemson
11 St. John's

3 Ole Miss
14 Sam Houston State

7 California
10 Oklahoma State

2 Purdue
15 Oral Roberts


South (#2 Overall)

1 Texas
16 Radford

8 Georgia Tech
9 Brigham Young

5 Tennessee
12 William & Mary

4 Connecticut
13 Western Kentucky

6 Temple
11 Mississippi State

3 Michigan State
14 Akron

7 Gonzaga
10 Florida State

2 West Virginia
15 Weber State


East (#3 Overall)

1 Kentucky
16 Robert Morris vs Jackson State

8 Northwestern
9 Texas Tech

5 Butler
12 Cornell

4 Georgetown
13 Siena

6 Wisconsin
11 Richmond

3 Kansas State
14 Long Beach State

7 UNLV
10 Missouri State

2 Duke
15 Morgan State

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Projections for 12/14/09

Last Four In:  Missouri State, Oklahoma State, Miami (FL), Xavier

Last Four Out:  St. John's, Charlotte, VCU, Richmond

Next Four Out:  Pittsburgh, NC State, St. Mary's, Seton Hall


Midwest (#1 Overall)

1 Kansas
16 Belmont

8 Clemson
9 Tulsa

5 Illinois
12 Xavier

4 Connecticut
13 Siena

6 Wisconsin
11 Oklahoma State

3 Villanova
14 Akron

7 UNLV
10 Florida State

2 Tennessee
15 Weber State


West (#4 Overall)

1 Syracuse
16 Robert Morris

8 California
9 Texas Tech

5 Ole Miss
12 Miami (FL)

4 Gonzaga
13 Western Kentucky

6 Cincinnati
11 Missouri State

3 North Carolina
14 Murray State

7 Dayton
10 Brigham Young

2 Purdue
15 Morgan State


South (#2 Overall)

1 Texas
16 Radford

8 Memphis
9 Maryland

5 Ohio State
12 William & Mary

4 Florida
13 Cornell

6 Washington
11 Minnesota

3 Georgetown
14 Oral Roberts

7 Temple
10 Northern Iowa

2 Duke
15 Sam Houston State


East (#3 Overall)

1 Kentucky
16 Army vs Jackson State

8 Georgia Tech
9 Northwestern

5 New Mexico
12 Utah State

4 Kansas State
13 Western Carolina

6 Texas A&M
11 Vanderbilt

3 Michigan State
14 Long Beach State

7 Butler
10 Wake Forest

2 West Virginia
15 Vermont



Also Considered:  Boston College, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Marquette, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri, Arizona State, Arizona, Washington State, South Carolina, Alabama, San Diego State, Rhode Island, La Salle, UTEP, Houston, UAB, Illinois State, Wichita State, Bradley, Portland, Harvard

Monday, December 7, 2009

Projections for 12/7/09

Last Four In:  Miami (FL), Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Charlotte

Last Four Out:  Temple, Minnesota, St. John's, Missouri State

Next Four Out:  Florida State, St. Mary's, Notre Dame, William & Mary


Midwest (#1 Overall)

1 Kansas
16 Belmont

8 California
9 Northern Iowa

5 Connecticut
12 Wake Forest

4 Wisconsin
13 Cornell

6 Vanderbilt
11 Oklahoma State

3 North Carolina
14 Akron

7 Dayton
10 New Mexico

2 West Virginia
15 Morgan State


West (#4 Overall)

1 Kentucky
16 Robert Morris

8 Illinois
9 Maryland

5 Cincinnati
12 Charlotte

4 Texas A&M
13 Western Kentucky

6 Ole Miss
11 Miami (FL)

3 Ohio State
14 Long Beach State

7 Memphis
10 Brigham Young

2 Villanova
15 Vermont


South (#2 Overall)

1 Texas
16 Radford

8 Pittsburgh
9 Tulsa

5 UNLV
12 Utah State

4 Michigan State
13 Murray State

6 Georgia Tech
11 Northwestern

3 Florida
14 Charleston

7 Kansas State
10 Xavier

2 Syracuse
15 Oral Roberts


East (#3 Overall)

1 Purdue
16 Army vs. Jackson State

8 Clemson
9 Texas Tech

5 Washington
12 Siena

4 Georgetown
13 Old Dominion

6 Gonzaga
11 Richmond

3 Tennessee
14 Sam Houston State

7 Butler
10 Louisville

2 Duke
15 Weber State

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Big 10/ACC Challenge Recap Part II

Virginia Tech 70, Iowa 64
Not much to say about this one.  It's possible Malcolm Delaney and Virginia Tech could be a middle-of-the-pack ACC team, but doesn't appear likely at this point.  Iowa will be lucky not to finish last in the Big 10 the way they're playing right now.

Illinois 76, Clemson 74
One of the two real surprise outcomes of the challenge.  Illinois showed alot of toughness and poise to make that incredible comeback in the 2nd half, and it will serve them well for the rest of the season.  Clemson looks like they still aren't ready to get over the hump, and will likely yet again be a first week casualty in the NCAA tournament.

Boston College 62, Michigan 58
This is the other big surprise.  Michigan has been a huge disappointment so far, with 3 straight losses to teams not projected to make the NCAA field at the start of the year.  BC has road wins over Providence and Michigan, but they also have losses to St. Joseph's and Northern Iowa.  Just like last year, their fate will be decided in ACC play.

Miami 63, Minnesota 58
Miami has been one of the surprises of the early season, defeating South Carolina and Minnesota en route to an 8-0 start.  The Hurricanes will likely enter ACC play undefeated, as the rest of the non-conference schedule is cupcake city.  The difficult part of Minnesota's non-conference schedule is over, but they only managed a 1-3 record against potential tournament teams.  They'll have to get the job done in Big 10 play if they want to make the big dance.

Wisconsin 73, Duke 69
The Badgers picked up the biggest win of anyone in this challenge.  The Badgers already have victories over Duke, Maryland, and Arizona, and that takes alot of pressure off of them entering Big 10 play.  Duke is still one of the frontrunners in the ACC, but they have a long way to go if they want to get past the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004.

Ohio State 77, Florida State 64
The Buckeyes are establishing themselves as the 3rd best team in the Big 10, and should compete for a top 4 seed.  Florida State has been a head-scratching team so far.  They've looked terrible in road losses to Florida and Ohio State, yet they managed to win the Old Spice Classic in Orlando.  They'll be a team to watch in conference play, as they could realistically finish anywhere from 3rd to 9th in the ACC.

Big 10/ACC Challenge Recap Part I

Penn State 69, Virginia 66
Neither of these teams are likely to compete for an at-large bid, but I guess you can't count out Penn State while Talor Battle's still on the team.  The Nittany Lions likely picked up a top 100 road win, which never hurts, but they probably need to win the rest of their non-conference games to be on the at-large radar when Big 10 play starts.

Purdue 69, Wake Forest 58
Another solid win for Purdue.  Right now they look like the team to beat in the Big 10 and a legitimate contender for the Final Four.  Wake Forest has the pieces to be an NCAA team, but that loss to William & Mary could come back to bite them if they do happen to end up on the bubble in March.

Northwestern 65, NC State 53
This is Northwestern's third straight road/neutral win against a power conference opponent.  With Stanford being the lone non-cupcake left on their non-conference schedule, the Wildcats could easily be 10-1 entering Big 10 play.  NC State, meanwhile, blew a great chance at a quality non-conference win.  Upcoming road games against Marquette and Arizona later this month will tell whether or not NC State can compete for an at-large bid this year.

Maryland 80, Indiana 68
This game was back-and-forth until Maryland pulled away in the final minutes and avoided a damaging loss.  The Terps have been underwhelming so far this year, but will likely still make the NCAA tournament.  Indiana, on the other hand, is still a year or two away from seriously competing for a bid. 

North Carolina 89, Michigan State 82
A very nice win for the Tar Heels, who still have all the pieces in place for another deep run in March.  The Spartans are yet again off to a disappointing start after having a Top 10 preseason ranking.  Given the way the game played out and the fact that it was played in Chapel Hill, Michigan State is probably the better team and would win most of the time if the game was on a neutral court.  Whether or not that's still the case at the end of the year is anyone's guess.