Bracket Watch '11 - Six Days to Selection Sunday

And DOWN the stretch they come! Michigan State starting to fade...Here comes VCU on the rail! Colorado on the outside! Missouri State's out of it! Virginia Tech and Alabama neck and neck! Here's the finish...AND IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CALL!! THEY WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE PHOTO TO DETERMINE WHO'S IN AND WHO'S OUT! MY WHAT A FINISH.

That's the kind of call Dave Johnson would have if he were to handicap the bubble picture. And this year, that call would be very close to the truth. And around the NIT bubble, it's even worse, as conference champions have taken up five(and potentially six) spots so far.

There's also a change at the top of the bracket, as Duke's 81-67 loss to North Carolina dropped the Blue Devils to a 2 seed. Who's replacing them, Notre Dame; after a 70-67 win over UConn. The other three top seeds are safe(for now at least).

Starting with this bracket, teams that have already qualified for the dance of all dances will be in all CAPS.

Projection done as if the season has ended:

Final Four pairings:
East(1) vs. West(4)
Southwest(2) vs. Southeast(3)

The First Four:
Tuesday: Colorado vs. Alabama; Northern Colorado(Big Sky) vs. McNeese State(Southland
Wednesday: Michigan State vs. Clemson; Texas Southern(Southwestern) vs. UNC ASHEVILLE

East region

@ Cleveland
1-Ohio State(Big Ten) vs. 16-Texas Southern/UNC ASHEVILLE
8-Villanova vs. 9-George Mason
@ Tampa
4-Louisville vs. 13-Harvard or Princeton(Ivy)
5-Xavier(Atlantic 10) vs. 12-BELMONT
@ Tucson
2-San Diego State vs. 15-MOREHEAD STATE
7-Vanderbilt vs. 10-Butler*
@ Washington, D.C.
3-St. John's vs. 14-Bucknell(Patriot)
6-Arizona vs. 11-Boston College*

West region

@ Chicago
1-Notre Dame vs. 16-Northern Colorado/McNeese State
8-Utah State(Western Athletic) vs. 9-Illinois
@ Tucson
4-Kentucky vs. 13-Milwaukee(Horizon)
5-Kansas State vs. 12-Richmond
@ Charlotte
2-Duke vs. 15-Iona(Metro Atlantic)
7-Georgetown vs. 10-Washington
@ Tulsa
3-Texas vs. 14-INDIANA STATE
6-Cincinnati vs. 11-Gonzaga*

Southwest region

@ Tulsa
1-Kansas(Big 12) vs. 16-Bethune Cookman(Mid-Eastern)
8-Unlv vs. 9-Tennessee
@ Denver
4-Wisconsin vs. 13-College of Charleston(Southern)
5-West Virginia vs. 12-Colorado*/Alabama*
@ Washington, D.C.
2-Syracuse vs. 15-Boston University(America East)
7-Temple vs. 10-Michigan*
@ Charlotte
3-North Carolina(Atlantic Coast) vs. 14-Kent State(Mid-American)
6-Texas A&M vs. 11-Uab(Conference USA)*

Southeast region

@ Cleveland
1-Pittsburgh(Big East) vs. 16-Middle Tennessee(Sun Belt)
8-Old Dominion(Colonial) vs. 9-Florida State
@ Tampa
4-Florida(Southeastern) vs. 13-Oakland(Summit)
5-Missouri vs. 12-Michigan State/Clemson
@ Denver
2-Brigham Young(Mountain West) vs. 15-Long Island(Northeast)
7-Ucla vs. 10-Marquette
@ Chicago
3-Purdue vs. 14-Long Beach State(Big West)
6-Connecticut vs. 11-St. Mary's(West Coast)

New to the field: Clemson, UNC ASHEVILLE, Colorado, Iona, INDIANA STATE, MOREHEAD STATE, Alabama, Middle Tennessee
Leaving the field: Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Fairfield, Missouri State, Wichita State, Murray State, Georgia, Florida Atlantic

Last four in the field(by seed list): Michigan State, Alabama, Clemson, Colorado
First four left out: Virginia Tech, Southern California, Georgia, Missouri State
Next four left out: Memphis, Virginia Commonwealth, Oklahoma State, Nebraska
The under-consideration board: Penn State, UTEP, Wichita State

Seeding range for tonight's finalists not in the field:
St. Peter's(15-16)
Virginia Commonwealth(11-13)
Wofford(13-14)