Bracketogoly 165 – March 13th Edition

March 13^th, 2008 (Click to Enlarge):

 

Next Bracket: Friday March 14th.I told you in Yesterday’s update that my debate with myself over whether Ohio State or Syracuse should get the last bid would be rendered useless following yesterday’s Villanova/Syracuse showdown. The Orange went ahead and settled that debate by blowing a double digit first half lead, allowing Villanova to pull away for a 82-63 win. Villanova is now the first team out, and could greatly improve their stock with an upset over Georgetown today. Depending on how things shake out, a highly competitive loss could be enough to get the Wildcats into the field.The other news out of Madison Square Garden on Wednesday was West Virginia, who shut up any doubters (namely ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb) by avoiding an upset to Providence.

Congrats to Mt. Saint Mary’s for punching their ticket to the dance, beating Sacred Heart for the Northeast Championship. The Mount, as they love to call themselves, looks to be destined for the play-in game with no wins over the top 100 and 11 losses to sub-100 teams (including 2 sub-200 losses). A side note, in Yesterday’s update, I mixed Mount Saint Mary’s up with Mount Union, calling MSM a D3 football power, when I was really thinking of Mount Union. Turns out The Mount doesn’t even have a football program, proving once again, I’m an idiot.

Congratulations are also due for Portland State, who punched their first ticket to the dance by beating Northern Arizona for the Big Sky crown. The Vikings have won 14 of their last 15, and look bound for a 15 seed on Sunday.

Many believed if Arizona fell to PAC 10 doormat Oregon State yesterday, the Wildcats would be left on the outside looking in. So, Kevin O’Niel’s squad left no doubt, building a 60-21 halftime lead in route to an 87-56 win. Now safe from the bubble picture, the Wildcats play Stanford tonight in an effort to improve their seed.

On a local note, Florida A&M advanced out of the MEAC’s Opening Round. FAMU now faces Norfolk State, who knocked off the Rattlers 77-66 in Tallahassee earlier this year, in round two MEAC title defense.

Today’s Big Games:

Miami (FL) vs. NC State – The Hurricanes should be safe, but ending the season with losses to Florida State and the ‘Pack wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing.

Dayton vs. Xavier- It’s a play in game for Dayton, while a first round exit by Xavier could send the Musketeers from a 2 to a 4 seed in only a week and a half.

Umass vs. Charlotte- A must win for the Minutemen, who took the regugular season matchup 86-79.

Arizona State vs. USC- Simply put, it’s a play-in game for the Sun Devils, while the Trojans are hoping a deep run could move them up to the 5^th line.

Florida vs. Alabama – Here’s a bit of useless trivia for ya: The 1950 Kentucky Wildcats were the last team to win back-to-back championships and not qualify to defend their title. Then again, only 8 teams made the field back then. If the Gators don’t get this one, they won’t even be in the Committee’s conversation. Even if they do, they’ll need to upset a good Mississippi State team to state their case. So, yeah, this is kind of a big game.

Oregon vs. Washington State – The Ducks need to ride the momentum of their weekend sweep of the Arizona schools to another upset here. A loss and the Ducks might end up on the outside looking in.

Iowa State vs. Texas A&M – A loss here and the Aggies will be sweating bullets all the way to Sunday.

New Mexico vs. Utah – Step 1 of 2 for the Lobos to secure their bid.

Maryland vs. Boston College – The Terps need this one bad, and then some. It’s no gimmie either, as the two squads split the regular season, each winning on the other’s floor.

Toledo vs. Kent State- UT took the regular season march-up. If they can pull off the upset once again, someone’s bubble (namely Ohio State) might be burst.

Some Guidelines to know when reviewing the bracket:

-I operate on a “if the season ended today” scenario.

-I do my damndest to abide by the Offficial NCAA Bracketing Procedures.

-For all conferences yet to complete their tournaments, the highest remaining seed is given the automatic bid. 

-I learned yesterday -thanks to the reader who pointed it out via email - BYU cannot play in a Friday-Sunday region due to religious beliefs.  I have found nothing stating that Catholic Schools are prohibited however. 

tHe BrEaKdOwN:

LAST FOUR IN: South Alabama, Illinois State, Oregon, Ohio State

FIRST FOUR OUT: Villanova, Arizona State, VCU, Temple

NEXT FOUR OUT: UAB, Ole Miss, Florida, Virginia Tech

(They’re saying) Moooooooovers:

New to the show: Mount Saint Mary’s

Show’s over: Sacred Heart

Conference-by-Conference (*Current Conference Leaders/Highest Remaining Seed, all teams are placed where they would be without the protection of an automatic bid )

Conference Champions, Bids Locked: Cornell (Ivy), Belmont (A-Sun), Winthrop (Big South), Drake (MVC), Austin Peay (OVC), Davidson (SoCon), George Mason (Colonial), Siena (MAAC), San Diego (WCC), Oral Roberts (Summit), Butler (Horizon), Western Kentucky (Sun Belt), Portland State (Big Sky), Mount Saint Mary’s (Northeast)

Big East (7 Bids)

Locked In: *Georgetown, Louisville, UConn, Marquette, Notre Dame

Nearly Locked In: Pitt, West Virginia

Solidly In:

On the Bubble, but in:

On the Bubble, but out: Villanova

Big 12 (6 Bids)

Locked In: *Texas, Kansas

Nearly Locked In:

Solidly In: Kansas State, Oklahoma, Baylor

On the Bubble, but in: Texas A&M

On the Bubble, but out:

Pac-10 (6 Bids)