Monday, March 06, 2006

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

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