Bracket Watch - Friday Seeding Update

Since we're now entering the last three weeks of the season this weekend, it makes sense to start some Friday updates of the seed list(no brackets on Friday until Championship Week). Here's my view as of the end of play last night.

Note: *Indicates current leader; ^Indicates bubble team.

1-Kentucky(South)*, Syracuse(East)*, Missouri(Midwest)*, Ohio State(West)
2-Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State*
3-Georgetown, Marquette, Indiana, Baylor
4-Michigan, Wichita State*, Louisville, Florida State*
5-Wisconsin, Florida, Nevada-Las Vegas, Gonzaga
6-Murray State*, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, San Diego State
7-Creighton, Connecticut, Temple*, St. Mary's*
8-Mississippi State, Southern Mississippi*, Purdue, Memphis
9-West Virginia^, California*^, New Mexico*, Harvard*^
10-Saint Louis^, Texas^, Iowa State^, Arizona^
11-Virginia^, Brigham Young^, Long Beach State*^, Alabama^
12-Kansas State^, Seton Hall^, Middle Tennessee State*^, North Carolina State^
13-Oral Roberts*^, Illinois^(First Four), Miami(FL)^(First Four), Washington^(First Four), Belmont*^, Xavier^(First Four)
14-Davidson*, Nevada*, Iona*, Akron*
15-Valparaiso*, Drexel*, Bucknell*, Vermont*
16-UNC Asheville*, Weber State*, Texas-Arlington*(First Four), Long Island*(First Four), Savannah State*(First Four), Mississippi Valley State*(First Four)

Last four in the field: Illinois, Miami(FL), Washington, Xavier
First four left out: Minnesota, Cincinnati, Northwestern, Central Florida
Next four left out: Colorado State, South Florida, Oregon, George Mason
Also under consideration: Clemson, Massachusetts, Dayton, LaSalle, Oklahoma, Marshall, Cleveland State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Wyoming, Colorado, Arkansas, Tennessee, Loyola Marymount.

Open Court - And A Rant

I give up. Seriously.

With 13 months until the 2013 tourney, there is STILL no word on where the East regional will be held, and, more importantly, no word on when the announcement will be made. Therefore you will get no more speculation from me on where it will be held. Personally, I blame Madison Square Garden for this, but I won't divulge details. As for tonight, I'll leave this open for you to rant.

Open Court - Valentine's Night

Tomorrow, I'll post my way too early predictions for the 2014 and 2015 sites. Until then, talk about tonight's games here.

An NCAA tell?

As we all wait for the NCAA to announce the site for the Men's East Regional in 2013, the women now know the 16 sites that will host 1st/2nd round action next year. One of the sites announced is a New York City venue, Carnesecca Arena. St. John's University will serve as host. Now St. John's is also slated to serve as host school for a prospective East Regional at Madison Square Garden(along with the Big East Conference). But does the announcement that St. John's is getting part of the Women's tournament signify that the Garden is out of play? Stay tuned.

To Big To Succeed?

The following post could have been titled like an old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon, except there is no voice over guy to read them out:

AOLTimeWarner, Mountain West Conference USA. Mountain West Conference USA, AOLTimeWarner

OR

The Frequent Flier Conference

OR

Anyone want to televise this piece of cowpie?

The fact that both Conference USA and the Mountain West are planning a shotgun wedding after both leagues were picked apart of their most visible members is puzzling to me, and to others as well. Not that I disapprove of the merger, it's just the fact that UNLV and East Carolina will now share a conference home doesn't make the new association look good in the eyes of two discriminating judges, television(namely, the Worldwide Monopolizer) and the BCS(aka those determined to rip apart said leagues). So once the new league is announced, those who hate both current leagues will immediately denounce it as a failure. In fact some have already done so preemptively.

Bracket Watch '12 - At the far turn of the season.

Less than four weeks remain for teams jockeying for NCAA tournament position. And after another heartstopping weekend, here's how the projected field plays out. As is the case, all projections are done as if the season had ended after the last game of the previous night. All conference leaders are per accseeds.info

Final Four Pairings:
South(1) vs. West(4)
East(2) vs. Midwest(3)

First Four Pairings:
Tuesday: Stony Brook(America East) vs. Mississippi Valley State(Southwestern); Miami(FL) vs. Washington
Wednesday: Texas-Arlington(Southland) vs. Long Island(Northeast); Seton Hall vs. Purdue

SOUTH Region

Louisville
1-Kentucky(Southeastern) vs. 16-Stony Brook/MVSU
8-Connecticut vs. 9-Memphis
Albuquerque
4-Wichita State(Missouri Valley) vs. 13-Oral Roberts(Summit)
5-San Diego State vs. 12-Minnesota
Pittsburgh
2-Georgetown vs. 15-Loyola(MD)(Metro Atlantic)
7-Murray State(Ohio Valley) vs. 10-Texas
Greensboro
3-North Carolina vs. 14-Drexel(Colonial)
6-Wisconsin vs. 11-Alabama

WEST Region

Greensboro
1-Duke vs. 16-UTA/Long Island
8-Iowa State vs. 9-Harvard(Ivy)
Portland
4-St. Mary's(West Coast) vs. 13-Davidson(Southern)
5-Louisville vs. 12-Arizona
Omaha
2-Kansas vs. 15-Weber State(Big Sky)
7-Notre Dame vs. 10-Saint Louis
Columbus
3-Michigan vs. 14-Bucknell(Patriot)
6-Florida vs. 11-Middle Tennessee(Sun Belt)

EAST Region

Pittsburgh
1-Syracuse(Big East) vs. 16-UNC Asheville(Big South)
8-Creighton vs. 9-New Mexico
Nashville
4-Florida State(Atlantic Coast) vs. 13-Seton Hall/Purdue
5-Vanderbilt vs. 12-North Carolina State
Louisville
2-Ohio State vs. 15-Mercer(Atlantic Sun)
7-Southern Mississippi(Conference USA) vs. 10-California(Pacific-12)
Albuquerque
3-Baylor vs. 14-Nevada(Western Athletic)
6-Temple(Atlantic 10) vs. 11-Brigham Young

MIDWEST Region

Omaha
1-Missouri(Big 12) vs. 16-Norfolk State(Mid-Eastern)
8-Mississippi State vs. 9-West Virginia
Portland
4-UNLV(Mountain West) vs. 13-Miami(FL)/Washington
5-Indiana vs. 12-Long Beach State(Big West)
Columbus
2-Michigan State(Big Ten) vs. 15-Valparaiso(Horizon)
7-Gonzaga vs. 10-Kansas State
Nashville
3-Marquette vs. 14-Akron(Mid-American)
6-Virginia vs. 11-Illinois

Note: Seton Hall and NC State swapped seed lines to avoid conference conflicts in the 2nd round.

Last four in the field(by seed list number): Miami(FL)-49; Purdue-50; NC State-52; Washington-53
First four left out: Cincinnati, Belmont, Xavier, Wyoming
Next four left out: Mississippi, Northwestern, Oregon, Northern Iowa
Under Consideration: Central Florida, Colorado State, St. Joseph's, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Maryland, Colorado, South Dakota State, Iona, Ohio

Please note that the next projection will be made out on Friday.