After one round...

(At least my final four are all still in...)

Nevada, I touted you to people as the best mid-major all year, as that's what you go off showing people. Other than Kemp and Fazekas, the rest of the team might as well have not shown up. Everyone might as well have not shown up on defense.

You can't help but be happy for Northwestern St. I thought they got jobbed by the committee being a 14, and would subsequently lose. They proved me and the country wrong...I did know, however, how good they could be (as if that counts).

Speaking of the committee, I'm going to bitch about them some more and blame them for giving me bad karma after messing up the selections *cough Air Force cough* so profusely. Yeah, that's it...

Hopefully, I wont be this bitter after the next round.

This...is Life

Watching Milwaukee-Oklahoma and Wichita St.-Seton Hall at the same time.

Here is my bracket, so at least I'm accountable for something.

This UWM-OU game looks like it will be very well-played and close.

The Hall are acting like brick-layers early on against the Shox.

Much more later.

The Final Bracket Projection

Atlanta Region
Greensboro
1. Duke (1) v. 16. Southern/Hampton
8. Wisconsin v. 9. UNC Wilmington

Jacksonville
5. Washington v. 12. Seton Hall
4. Florida v. 13. South Alabama

Detroit
6. Syracuse v. 11. San Diego St.
3. Illinois v. 14. Montana

San Diego
7. Nevada v. 10. Northern Iowa
2. UCLA v. 15. Pacific

Oakland Region
Jacksonville
1. Memphis (4) v. 16. Belmont
8. Indiana v. 9. Arizona

Dallas
5. West Virginia v. 12. George Mason
4. LSU v. 13. Northwestern St.

Dayton
6. George Washington v. 11. Bucknell
3. Pittsburgh v. 14. Murray St.

Dayton
7. Wichita St. v. 10. Alabama
2. Ohio St. v. 15. Penn

Washington Region
Philadelphia
1. UConn v. 16. Monmouth
8. Southern Illinois v. 9. UAB

San Diego
5. Kansas v. 12. Kent St.
4. Tennessee v. 13. Milwaukee

Greensboro
6. Michigan St. v. 11. Cincinnati
3. North Carolina v. 14. Winthrop

Dallas
7. Marquette v. 10. Bradley
2. Texas v. 15. Oral Roberts

Minneapolis Region
Philadelphia
1. Villanova (3) v. 16. Albany
8. Kentucky v. 9. California

Salt Lake City
5. Oklahoma v. 12. Missouri St.
4. Boston College v. 13. Xavier

Detroit
6. Georgetown v. 11. Texas A&M
3. Iowa v. 14. Iona

Salt Lake City
7. NC State v. 10. Arkansas
2. Gonzaga v. 15. Davidson

Seeds after Saturday

The final bracket prediction will be released after the SEC, ACC and Southland games are complete.

1: UConn, Duke, Villanova, Memphis
2: Ohio St., Gonzaga, Texas, UCLA
3: Illinois, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Iowa
4: LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Boston College
5: Washington, Kansas, West Virginia, Oklahoma
6: Georgetown, George Washington, Michigan St., Syracuse
7: Marquette, Nevada, Indiana, Wichita St.
8: NC State, Wisconsin, Southern Illinois, Kentucky
9: Arizona, UNC Wilmington, Arkansas, UAB
10: California, Alabama, Bradley, Northern Iowa
11: Texas A&M, Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Bucknell
12: George Mason, San Diego St., Missouri St., Kent St.
13: Xavier, Milwaukee, Northwestern St., South Alabama
14: Iona, Winthrop, Montana, Murray St.
15: Penn, Pacific, Oral Roberts, Davidson
16: Albany, Belmont, Monmouth, (Southern, Hampton)

Brackets after 3-9

Washington Region
Philadelphia
1. Villanova (1) v. 16. Delaware St.
8. Arizona v. 9. Kentucky

Detroit
5. Boston College v. 12. St. Joseph's
4. Iowa v. 13. Milwaukee

Dallas
6. George Washington v. 11. Seton Hall
3. Texas v. 14. Montana

Greensboro
2. North Carolina v. 15. Davidson
7. Wisconsin v. 10. Northern Iowa

Oakland Region
Dayton
1. Ohio St. (4) v. 16. Monmouth/Southern
8. Arkansas v. 9. Southern Illinois

Dayton
5. Oklahoma v. 12. George Mason
4. Pittsburgh v. 13. Kent St.

San Diego
6. Marquette v. 11. Bucknell
3. UCLA v. 14. Iona

Jacksonville
2. Memphis v. 15. Oral Roberts
7. NC State v. 10. Bradley

Minneapolis Region
Philadelphia
1. UConn (2) v. 16. Albany
8. Indiana v. 9. UNC Wilmington

San Diego
5. Kansas v. 12. Missouri St.
4. Florida v. 13. South Alabama

Dallas
6. West Virginia v. 11. Texas A&M
3. LSU v. 14. Murray St.

Detroit
2. Illinois v. 15. Penn
7. Nevada v. 10. Syracuse

Atlanta Region
Greensboro
1. Duke (3) v. 16. Belmont
8. Alabama v. 9. UAB

Salt Lake City
5. Georgetown v. 12. San Diego St.
4. Washington v. 13. Northwestern St.

Jacksonville
6. Michigan St. v. 11. Cincinnati
3. Tennessee v. 14. Winthrop

Salt Lake City
2. Gonzaga v. 15. Pacific
7. Wichita St. v. 10. California

So, I had a bracket made...

but Syracuse, Temple and Wake Forest all busted it in the highest degree, however.

What do these games mean?

Well, first of all, the Big East is going to have nine in, creating the surreal sight of teams from the same conference in the same half of a region.

Either Villanova or Duke is getting the No. 1 overall seed.

I can't see the Valley getting more than four (I know, great way to backtrack from a week ago, right).

Was anyone else reminded of Xavier-St. Joe's from two years ago when you found out that GW was knocked off today? Of course, an undefeated A10 record and an A10 quarterfinal loss are about the only similarities you can make between those two teams.

As for the rest of the A10 tournament, I will be rooting for La Salle. If you could see Steven Smith play, you would want him in the dance as well.

I'm going to put back together my busted bracket tonight during the Washington-Oregon game.

CAA Talk, New Bracket

Last week, I proclaimed that Hofstra needed to get to the CAA final to truly have a shot at an at-large.

Now that they did, and beat George Mason for the second time in a couple weeks the CAA might get three bids.

The best thing that could happen tonight for the league is for Hofstra to win. George Mason is a lock, and UNC Wilmington is likely in barring an embarrassment. The Patriots did probably kill off any chance that they would have had of a single-digit seed.

With Hofstra's win, they improve to 3-1 against the Top 50 and take the last spot in my bracket (for now, and I stress for now) over Florida St.

Yes, I am leaving a 9-7 ACC team out. Let's look at the facts though.

Against the Top 100, Hofstra is 7-4, with Florida St. at 6-7.

FSU has the 317th best non-con schedule, Hofstra is at 278 (both awful, but Hofstra less so). Meanwhile the Seminoles' best win outside of the ACC is Nebraska (RPI 111) in a game played in south Florida, while Hofstra's is a road win at LaSalle (RPI 92).

Even with a loss tonight, Hofstra's RPI in the 20s means that it would make no sense to leave them out, even you don't like RPI.

However, if Florida St. wins in a potential ACC quaterfinal against NC State, then you can book 'em.

The next team out in that case: Missouri St. Of course, everything can and will change before Sunday rolls along.

Watch out for St. Peter's and Keydren Clark tonight against Iona. Iona is heavily favored, but Clark is the active career points leader in the NCAA (yes JJ, I am correct), and sixth all-time. The Peacocks also pulled off a shocker last night in beating regular-season champ Manhattan.

Thanks to Davidson for making me look like a genius for my pick in the SoCon tournament.

Without any further ado, here are the brackets:

Washington Region
Philadelphia
1. UConn (1) v. 16. Albany
8. Alabama v. 9. Michigan

Salt Lake City
5. Kansas v. 12. Hofstra
4. Washington v. 13. Milwaukee

Dallas
6. Nevada v. 11. California
3. Texas v. 14. Penn

Greensboro
2. North Carolina v. 15. Davidson
7. Wisconsin v. 10. Northern Iowa

Oakland Region
Dayton
1. Ohio St. (4) v. 16. Fairleigh Dickinson/Southern
8. Seton Hall v. 9. Kentucky

Dayton
5. Boston College v. 12. Missouri St.
4. West Virginia v. 13. Western Kentucky

San Diego
6. Marquette v. 11. Texas A&M
3. UCLA v. 14. Pacific

Jacksonville
2. Memphis v. 15. Oral Roberts
7. Arkansas v. 10. George Mason

Minneapolis Region
Philadelphia
1. Villanova (2) v. 16. Delaware St.
8. Indiana v. 9. Arizona

San Diego
5. Florida v. 12. Bucknell
4. George Washington v. 13. Northwestern St.

Dallas
6. Oklahoma v. 11. Bradley
3. LSU v. 14. Iona

Detroit
2. Illinois v. 15. Murray St.
7. NC State v. 10. Cincinnati

Atlanta Region
Greensboro
1. Duke (3) v. 16. Belmont
8. Wichita St. v. 9. UAB

Detroit
5. Pittsburgh v. 12. San Diego St.
4. Iowa v. 13. Kent St.

Jacksonville
6. Michigan St. v. 11. UNC Wilmington
3. Tennessee v. 14. Winthrop

Salt Lake City
2. Gonzaga v. 15. Northern Arizona
7. Georgetown v. 10. Southern Illinois

Quick Hits

It looks like someone forgot to tell Georgetown that South Florida's only Big East wins were supposed to be in football.

Hilton Armstrong, you sir, are the best defensive player in the country (I'm looking right at you Shelden). Without Armstrong getting 9 blocks against Louisville, UConn loses at home today.

The 2006 Missouri Valley season will forever be known as the benchmark for any other mid-major conference in any other year.

George Washington had absolutely no business winning today. Let's forget about Leemire Goldwire's idiot play in OT, and focus on the front end of the 1 and 1 he missed with :39 to go. He makes those two, and the game is pretty much iced, with GW shooting very poorly from 3 at the time.

Seeding Update after a truly mad Saturday

1: UConn, Villanova, Duke, Ohio St.
2: North Carolina, Illinois, Gonzaga, Memphis
3: Texas, LSU, Tennessee, UCLA
4: West Virginia, Washington, George Washington, Iowa
5: Pittsburgh, Kansas, Florida, Boston College
6: Georgetown, Marquette, Michigan St., Oklahoma
7: Wisconsin, Nevada, Arkansas, NC State
8: Kentucky, Alabama, Wichita St., George Mason
9: UAB, Arizona, Indiana, Michigan
10: Cincinnati, Seton Hall, UNC Wilmington, Bradley
11: California, Southern Illinois, Missouri St., Texas A&M
12: San Diego St., Florida St., Northern Iowa, Bucknell
13: Western Kentucky, Kent St., Milwaukee, Northwestern St.
14: Winthrop, Penn, Pacific, Manhattan
15: Murray St., Oral Roberts, Davidson, Northern Arizona
16: (Fairleigh Dickinson, Southern), Belmont, Delaware St., Albany

Peoria in Bliss

Bradley is in as in can get after beating the Shockers. To deny seven Top 50 wins at this point would be theft of the highest order. This also probably clinches a four-bid Valley. Five might be cinched up with an SIU win later this afternoon. Of course, five could happen regardless.

Bracket Update 3-3

Washington Region
1. UConn (1) v. 16. Fairleigh Dickinson/Southern
8. Kentucky v. 9. Michigan

5. Boston College v. 12. Bucknell
4. George Washington v. 13. Milwaukee

6. Oklahoma v. 11. Cincinnati
3. LSU v. 14. Manhattan

2. Illinois v. 15. Murray St.
7. NC State v. 10. Bradley

Minneapolis Region
1. Ohio St. (4) v. 16. Albany
8. Arkansas v. 9. Missouri St.

5. Kansas v. 12. San Diego St.
4. North Carolina v. Northwestern St.

6. Florida v. 11. Texas A&M
3. West Virginia v. 14. Penn

2. Memphis v. 15. Georgia Southern
7. Wichita St. v. 10. UNC Wilmington

Atlanta Region
1. Duke (2) v. 16. Lipscomb
8. Arizona v. 9. George Mason

5. Michigan St. v. 12. Southern Illinois
4. Pittsburgh v. 13. Kent St.

6. Georgetown v. 11. Creighton
3. UCLA v. 14. Pacific

2. Texas v. 15. Oral Roberts
7. Alabama v. 10. Indiana

Oakland Region
1. Villanova (3) v. 16. Delaware St.
8. Nevada v. 9. UAB

5. Washington v. 12. Florida St.
4. Iowa v. 13. Western Kentucky

6. Wisconsin v. 11. California
3. Tennessee v. 14. Winthrop

2. Gonzaga v. 15. Northern Arizona
7. Marquette v. 10. Northern Iowa

Teams blowing bubbles: Syracuse, Seton Hall, Air Force, Colorado, Hofstra