BracketWatch for January 14th

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

EAST Region

@Raleigh
(1)North Carolina(ACC) vs. (16)Opening Round Winner
Opening Round: Dartmouth(Ivy) vs. Jackson State(SWAC)
(8)Oregon vs. (9)Syracuse
@Birmingham
(4)Butler vs. (13)UNC Asheville(Big South)
(5)Vanderbilt vs. (12)St. Joseph's
@Tampa
(2)Georgetown(Big East) vs. (15)Austin Peay(Ohio Valley)
(7)Arizona vs. (10)Boston College
@Omaha
(3)Indiana(Big Ten) vs. (14)IUPUI(Summit)
(6)Rhode Island vs. (11)Utah State(WAC)

WEST Region

@Anaheim
(1)UCLA(Pac-10) vs. (16)Hartford(America East)
(8)Oklahoma vs. (9)Nevada-Las Vegas
@Tampa
(4)Xavier vs. (13)Chattanooga(Southern)
(5)Mississippi vs. (12)South Alabama(Sun Belt)
@North Little Rock
(2)Texas vs. (15)Hampton(MEAC)
(7)Drake(Missouri Valley) vs. (10)Arkansas
@Denver
(3)Marquette vs. (14)Cleveland State(Horizon)
(6)Gonzaga vs. (11)Florida State

SOUTH Region

@North Little Rock
(1)Memphis(CUSA) vs. (16)Northwestern State(Southland)
(8)Miami(FL) vs. (9)Pittsburgh
@Denver
(4)Wisconsin vs. (13)Cal State-Northridge(Big West)
(5)Texas A&M vs. (12)San Diego State(Mountain West
@Raleigh
(2)Tennessee(SEC) vs. (15)Jacksonville(Atlantic Sun)
(7)West Virginia vs. (10)Clemson
@Anaheim
(3)Washington State vs. (14)Northern Arizona(Big Sky)
(6)St. Mary's(West Coast) vs. (11)Kansas State

MIDWEST Region

@Omaha
(1)Kansas(Big 12) vs. (16)Delaware(CAA)
(8)Louisville vs. (9)Ohio State
@Washington
(4)Dayton(A-10) vs. (13)Siena(MAAC)
(5)Stanford vs. (12)Illinois State
(2)Michigan State vs. (15)Wagner(Northeast)
(7)Notre Dame vs. (10)Kent State(MAC)
@Birmingham
(3)Duke vs. (14)Lafayette(Patriot)
(6)Arizona State vs. (11)Florida

Gone This Week: UMBC, Virginia, Massachusetts, Villanova, Montana State, Winthrop, Baylor, Harvard, Niagara, New Mexico, Southeast Missouri State, Holy Cross, Southern, Oral Roberts, Boise State
New This Week: Hartford, St. Joseph's, Northern Arizona, UNC Asheville, Kansas State, Dartmouth, Siena, Illinois State, Austin Peay, Lafayette, Arkansas, Florida, Jackson State, IUPUI, Utah State

Teams that moved up to fit bracket: Chattanooga(14), Syracuse(10)Teams that moved down to fit bracket: Kent State(9), Northern Arizona(13)

Next four from the bubble: Clemson, Boston College, Arkansas, Florida State
Last four in the field: Florida, Kansas State, Illinois State, St. Joseph's
First four outside: Baylor, Connecticut, Brigham Young, Minnesota
Next four outside: Nebraska, California, New Mexico, Villanova
Next four after that: Creighton, Providence, Duquesne, Southern California

Next update: January 21st

BracketWatch debut projection

OK, OK, I know what you're thinking: Wasn't he going to do his first bracket on Thursday? Well I was going to until....Joe Lunardi put out his field this morning. Thus the first projection of this season(and of the history of this blog). But before I reveal the field, a few reminders of how the field is put together.

*1: All projections reflect what already has happened in the season to date, not wild predictions of the future.
*2: The whole field is seeded and placed in the bracket according to the NCAA's own rules.
*3: Conference leaders are those who hold the best record in that particular conference. Should there be a tie at the top, the tie will be broken by these rules:
A: Head-to head matchups
B: if no meeting thus far; Best Division I Won-Loss record
C: if still unbroken: Better RPI rank(http://www.kenpom.com/rpi.php will serve as the source for all RPI information)

And now the first field of the season:

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

EAST Region
Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Charlotte, NC
3-27/29

Raleigh, NC(RBC Center)
(1)North Carolina(ACC) vs. (16)Opening Round winner
Opening Round: Northwestern State(Southland) vs. Southern(SWAC)
(8)Oklahoma vs. (9)Notre Dame
Tampa, FL(St. Pete Times Forum)
(4)Butler vs. (13)Holy Cross(Patriot)
(5)Xavier vs. (12)Winthrop(Big South)
Denver, CO(Pepsi Center)
(2)Washington State vs. (15)Montana State(Big Sky)
(7)Drake(Missouri Valley) vs. (10)Nevada-Las Vegas
Birmingham, AL(BJCC Arena)
(3)Indiana vs. (14)Jacksonville(Atlantic Sun)
(6)Pittsburgh vs. (11)Arizona State

WEST Region
USAirways Center
Phoenix, AZ
3-27/29

Anaheim, CA(Honda Center)
(1)UCLA(Pac-10) vs. (16)Wagner(Northeast)
(8)Ohio State(Big Ten) vs. (9)Virginia
Denver
(4)Georgetown vs. (13)Oral Roberts(Summit League)
(5)St. Mary's(West Coast) vs. (12)Baylor
North Little Rock, AR(Alltel Arena)
(2)Texas vs. (15)Southeast Missouri State(Ohio Valley)
(7)Stanford vs. (10)Villanova
Birmingham
(3)Vanderbilt(SEC) vs. (14)Boise State(WAC)
(6)Wisconsin vs. (11)Boston College

SOUTH Region
Reliant Stadium
Houston, TX
3-28/30

North Little Rock
(1)Memphis(CUSA) vs. (16)Delaware(Colonial)
(8)Kent State(MAC) vs. (9)Florida State
Anaheim
(4)Texas A&M vs. (13)Chattanooga(Southern)
(5)West Virginia vs. (12)Niagara(MAAC)
Raleigh
(2)Tennessee vs. (15)Maryland-Baltimore County(America East)
(7)Arizona vs. (10)Syracuse(Big East)
Washington, DC(Verizon Center)
(3)Duke vs. (14) Hampton(MEAC)
(6)Rhode Island vs. (11)San Diego State

MIDWEST Region
Ford Field
Detroit, MI
3-28/30

Omaha, NE(Qwest Center Omaha)
(1)Kansas(Big 12) vs. (16)Harvard(Ivy)
(8)Gonzaga vs. (9)Miami(FL)
Tampa
(4)Marquette vs. (13)South Alabama(Sun Belt)
(5)Mississippi vs. (12)Massachusetts)
Washington
(2)Michigan State vs. (15)Cleveland State(Horizon)
(7)Clemson vs. (10)Louisville
Omaha
(3)Dayton(Atlantic 10) vs. (14)California State-Northridge(Big West)
(6)Oregon vs. (11)New Mexico

Switches to make bracket fit(and the seeds that they are in truth):
Moved Up: Arizona(8), Miami(FL)(9), Mississippi(6), Nevada-Las Vegas(11), New Mexico(12), Pittsburgh(7), Virginia(10)
Moved Down: Arizona State(10), Clemson(6), Gonzaga(7), Louisville(9), Massachusetts(11), Villanova(9), Wisconsin(6)

Next four from the bubble: Villanova, Virginia, Arizona State, Boston College
Last four in the field: Nevada-Las Vegas, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Baylor
First four left out: California, Connecticut, Florida, Arkansas
Next four left out: Illinois State, Southern California, Providence, Penn State
Next four out after that: Houston, North Carolina State, Minnesota, Kansas State

Just to let you know, I will not be doing any bids-by-conference lists this year.

Next field: January 14th(Yes this means I'm back to doing Monday brackets through February.