Who's bidding for March Madness in 2014-2016

With anticipation that the NCAA will award early-round hosting duties for 2014-2016 as early as this fall, here are the cities that have thus far made their intentions known(* Indicates that venue is guaranteed a regional the year before it hosts Final Four):

Buffalo at HSBC Arena(Canisius College, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Niagara University)
Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena(Drake University)
Houston at Reliant Stadium(Big 12 Conference)*
Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium(Butler University, IUPUI and Horizon League)*
Jacksonville, FL at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena(Jacksonville University)
Milwaukee at Bradley Center(Marquette University)
St. Louis at either Edward Jones Dome or Scottrade Center(Missouri Valley Conference)
San Jose at HP Pavillion(Unknown host school and/or conference)
Wichita at InTrustBank Arena(Wichita State University)

School planning to bid, but unknown location:
University of Minnesota(Metrodome, Target Center, Xcel Energy Center or proposed Minnesota Vikings Stadium)

Not bidding:
Madison, WI at Kohl Center(scheduling conflicts with state high school tournaments)

This list will grow over the next several months, so if you have information as to who will bid, please post it in the comments section.

Bracket Watch - NIT Style

You thought I was done posting brackets? You're wrong! Yes, it's the NIT projection you've all been waiting for.

"Blacksburg" region

1-Virginia Tech vs. 8-QUINNIPIAC
4-Northwestern vs. 5-Saint Louis
2-Seton Hall vs. 7-Marshall
3-William & Mary vs. 6-Charlotte

"Oxford" region

1-Mississippi vs. 8-JACKSON STATE
4-Connecticut vs. 5-Fairfield
2-Arizona State vs. 7-WEBER STATE
3-Uab vs. 6-North Carolina

"Champaign-Urbana" region

1-Illinois vs. 8-JACKSONVILLE
4-KENT STATE vs. 5-Tulsa
2-Rhode Island vs. 7-STONY BROOK
3-Cincinnati vs. 6-Virginia Commonwealth

"Starkville" region
1-Mississippi State vs. 8-TROY
4-Miami(FL) vs. 5-Dayton
2-Memphis vs. 7-COASTAL CAROLINA
3-South Florida vs. 6-Wichita State

Pairings: Blacksburg(1) vs. Oxford(2); Champaign-Urbana(2) vs. Starkville(3)

Last four in the field: North Carolina, VCU, Charlotte, Marshall
First four left out: Texas Tech, Oregon, St. John's, Wright State

Analyzing the finished product

To all those who decried Minnesota's inclusion into the field at 5:17 PM this afternoon, I have only one thing to say to you....SHUT THE HELL UP!!! Thank you. Now on to the real deal.

Top 4 seeds overall
This was exactly as I predicted as Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Syracuse went as planned to the Midwest, East, South, and West regions (and all sub-regional sites too). The only other team who could have snuck on to the top line was West Virginia, who were hurt by the non-appearance in the Big East semifinals of Villanova and Pittsburgh, the Mountaineers fellow 2nd place BE teams. Syracuse was really hurt by being swept by Louisville, thus falling to the 4th seed. Kentucky's placement in New Orleans was not as easy a no-brainer as it seemed, there was a good chance they would've been sent to Jacksonville(which is actually closer to the Lexington than the Big Easy), but there was no way the Wildcats would go to Milwaukee, not with credible Big Ten and Big East teams available.

The Last In and the First ones blocked out
For the zillionth time, I missed a team in the field. Florida, rather than Virginia Tech, got in the field(with the Gators getting a surprisingly high 10th seed). The Hokies were hurt by UTEP and Utah State losing in their respective conference finals as well as Minnesota's hot finish in the Big Ten tournament(today's 2nd half after the 14 minute mark not withstanding). Both the Miners and Aggies, however, were included in the field as the last at-large teams, both of them were 12th seeds. Of course the Hokies shot their own foot by losing big to Miami(FL) in the ACC tourney. Besides the Hokies, among those on the outside are Mississippi State, Illinois, Seton Hall, Rhode Island, UAB, Mississippi and William & Mary.

Bracket of Death: Midwest
Kansas could face an angry Northern Iowa squad(angry in the sense that they were seeded two seed lines too low), followed by either Maryland or Michigan State. The bottom half is brutal with Ohio State possibly facing either Georgetown or Tennessee in the sweet 16 and the Hoyas and Vols could potentially face each other in round 2.

Bracket of Cake: South
Duke should have an easy time in the 1st 2 rounds, then for it's sweet 16 matchup, it could face either Siena or Utah State as both could upset Purdue and Texas A&M, respectively. Villanova and Baylor have the potential to meet in the sweet 16, or both could lose in the 2nd round.

Personal Stats
Teams correctly picked: 64/65
Missed on: Florida(in), Virginia Tech(out)
Exactas: 30
+/- 1 seed: 51
Biggest misses: 13 teams at +/- 2(Wake Forest was a true 11 but moved because of placement problems)
Biggest Headscratcher: Marquette in West Virginia's half of the bracket in the East.

Coming up, predicting the NIT.

The Absolute FINAL Bracket Watch projection this season

Since the Big Ten championship turned into an Ohio State runaway(and I still have Minnesota in the field since they had a 7-3 finish), it's high time to put out the final projection of the season. Please note that after the selection show, I'll analyze the actual field as well as my performance, and I'll project the NIT field again.

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

Midwest region

@ Oklahoma City
1-KANSAS vs. 16-LEHIGH
8-Marquette vs. 9-Georgia Tech
@ Jacksonville
4-Tennessee vs. 13-HOUSTON
5-BUTLER vs. 12-SIENA
@ Milwaukee
2-OHIO STATE vs. 15-NORTH TEXAS
7-Xavier vs. 10-Nevada-Las Vegas
@ Providence
3-Villanova vs. 14-OHIO
6-Maryland vs. 11-Utah State

West region

@ Buffalo
1-Syracuse vs. 16-Opening Round winner
Opening Round: WINTHROP vs. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
8-Oklahoma State vs. 9-OLD DOMINION
@ San Jose
4-New Mexico vs. 13-MURRAY STATE
5-Michigan State vs. 12-Virginia Tech
@ Oklahoma City
2-Kansas State vs. 15-UC SANTA BARBARA
7-NORTHERN IOWA vs. 10-Louisville
@ San Jose
3-TEMPLE vs. 14-NEW MEXICO STATE
6-Gonzaga vs. 11-WASHINGTON

East Region

@ New Orleans
1-KENTUCKY vs. 16-ROBERT MORRIS
8-Notre Dame vs. 9-California
@ Spokane
4-Wisconsin vs. 13-WOFFORD
5-Texas A&M vs. 12-Wake Forest
@ Buffalo
2-WEST VIRGINIA vs. 15-VERMONT
7-Florida State vs. 10-SAINT MARY'S
@ New Orleans
3-Baylor vs. 14-SAM HOUSTON STATE
6-Brigham Young vs. 11-CORNELL

South region

@ Jacksonville
1-DUKE vs. 16-EAST TENNESSEE STATE
8-Texas vs. 9-SAN DIEGO STATE
@ Spokane
4-Pittsburgh vs. 13-OAKLAND
5-Vanderbilt vs. 12-Minnesota
@ Providence
2-Georgetown vs. 15-MORGAN STATE
7-Clemson vs. 10-Missouri
@ Milwaukee
3-Purdue vs. 14-MONTANA
6-Richmond vs. 11-Texas-El Paso

Last four teams to make it: Utah State, Utep, Minnesota, Virginia Tech
Left to wonder what might have been: Mississippi State, Florida, Illinois

2nd draft of the final bracket

Please note, the absolute final one will be posted after the Big Ten championship.

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

Midwest region

@ Oklahoma City
1-KANSAS vs. 16-LEHIGH
8-Marquette vs. 9-Georgia Tech
@ Jacksonville
4-Tennessee vs. 13-HOUSTON
5-BUTLER vs. 12-SIENA
@ Milwaukee
2-Ohio State(Big Ten) vs. 15-NORTH TEXAS
7-Xavier vs. 10-SAN DIEGO STATE
@ Providence
3-Villanova vs. 14-OHIO
6-Maryland vs. 11-Utah State

West region

@ Buffalo
1-Syracuse vs. 16-Opening Round winner
Opening Round: WINTHROP vs. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
8-Oklahoma State vs. 9-OLD DOMINION
@ San Jose
4-New Mexico vs. 13-MURRAY STATE
5-Michigan State vs. 12-Virginia Tech
@ Oklahoma City
2-Kansas State vs. 15-UC SANTA BARBARA
7-NORTHERN IOWA vs. 10-Louisville
@ San Jose
3-TEMPLE vs. 14-NEW MEXICO STATE
6-Gonzaga vs. 11-WASHINGTON

East Region

@ New Orleans
1-KENTUCKY vs. 16-ROBERT MORRIS
8-Notre Dame vs. 9-California
@ Spokane
4-Wisconsin vs. 13-WOFFORD
5-Texas A&M vs. 12-Wake Forest
@ Buffalo
2-WEST VIRGINIA vs. 15-VERMONT
7-Florida State vs. 10-SAINT MARY'S
@ New Orleans
3-Baylor vs. 14-SAM HOUSTON STATE
6-Brigham Young vs. 11-CORNELL

South region

@ Jacksonville
1-DUKE vs. 16-EAST TENNESSEE STATE
8-Texas vs. 9-Nevada-Las Vegas
@ Spokane
4-Pittsburgh vs. 13-OAKLAND
5-Vanderbilt vs. 12-Minnesota
@ Providence
2-Georgetown vs. 15-MORGAN STATE
7-Clemson vs. 10-Missouri
@ Milwaukee
3-Purdue vs. 14-MONTANA
6-Richmond vs. 11-Texas-El Paso

Last four teams to make it: Utah State, Utep, Minnesota, Virginia Tech
Left to wonder what might have been: Mississippi State, Florida, Illinois