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.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently

You know, I had an idea to put out a preseason bracket this year on November 9th, but then something funny happened....Gardner-Webb upset Kentucky the night before I was to put out my picks. After this incident, I have vowed never to put out another preseason bracket ever again.

Don't worry though, I will resume putting out weekly brackets every Thursday starting on January 10th, Monday brackets on February 25th and daily updates starting March 10th. I also hope to make weekly critiques of other people's fieldson occasion.

'Til then, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Coming soon....the College Basketball Invitational?

Yep, those pesky folks at the Gazelle Group are at again creating the College Basketball Invitational a planned 16 team event that will start this season. The thing is it won't last beyond 2010. WHY? The NCAA has plenty of reasons to fear it, not for the Main Event of course, but the NIT instead. The CBI will compete with the NIT for those teams that don't make the big dance. And believe me, it will be intense. More on this tournament as info becomes available

Bracket coming....soon

I should have my preseason projections up on Wednesday. I have the projected champions already chosen, but haven't selected any of the at-large teams.

Also, I will have a weekly Top 30 list each week, but will have no bearing on the bracket. (Think of it as a hot list). Without more ado, here it is:

1. UCLA
2. Memphis
3. North Carolina
4. Kansas
5. Georgetown
6. Tennessee
7. Michigan State(loss to Grand Valley State not withstanding)
8. Louisville
9. Indiana
10. Washington State
11. Alabama
12. Southern Illinois
13. Gonzaga
14. Duke
15. North Carolina State
16. Texas A&M
17. Ohio State
18. Butler
19. Southern California
20. Villanova
21. Oregon
22. Davidson
23. Clemson
24. Arizona
25. Virginia Commonwealth
26. Kentucky
27. Kansas State
28. Arkansas
29. Xavier
30. Pittsburgh

close: Florida, Mississippi State, Washington, Syracuse, Bradley, Utah

Conference-to-Conference: Independents

Offered only as a prediction, and the fact that none of these teams will be even close to an NCAA bid:

1. Utah Valley State
2. Chicago State
3. Texas-Pan American
4. Longwood
5. Winston-Salem State
6. New Jersey Institute Of Technology
7. Savannah State
8. Cal State-Bakersfield
9. North Carolina Central

Also en Route to Division I: Houston Baptist, Bryant, SIU-Edwardsville, North Dakota, South Dakota, Seattle(Thankfully these will be the last of the D-I newbies for at least the next 4 years, as Division I has instituted a moratorium on move-ups).

Next up tomorrow, The SWAC.