Bracket Watch for January 28th

Crazy week last week, huh? First, Drake toppled Creighton to establish who is really the boss of the Missouri Valley. Then Baylor and Texas A&M go five overtimes with the Bears finally prevailing. And lastly, Duke comes back from 13 down in the second half to beat Maryland after the Terps had already topped North Carolina.

How did it reflect out in the projections? Let's find out:

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

SOUTH Region

North Little Rock
(1)Memphis(CUSA) vs. (16)Opening Round Winner
Opening Round: Lamar(Southland) vs. Alabama State(SWAC)
(8)Rhode Island vs. (9)Purdue
Denver
(4)Washington State vs. (13)California State-Northridge(Big West)
(5)Marquette vs. (12)Arkansas
North Little Rock
(2)Texas vs. (15)Cornell(Ivy)
(7)Vanderbilt vs. (10)Villanova
Omaha
(3)Drake(Missouri Valley) vs. (14)Austin Peay(Ohio Valley)
(6)Gonzaga vs. (11)Ohio State

WEST Region

Raleigh
(1)North Carolina vs. (16)Binghamton(America East)
(8)West Virginia vs. (9)Dayton
Anaheim
(4)St. Mary's(West Coast) vs. (13)Uah State(WAC)
(5)Arizona vs. (12)Brigham Young
(2)UCLA(Pac-10) vs. (15)Northern Arizona(Big Sky)
(7)Clemson vs. (10)Louisville
Denver
(3)Indiana(Big Ten) vs. (14)Davidson(Southern)
(6)Oklahoma vs. (11)Mississippi State(SEC)

MIDWEST Region

Omaha
(1)Kansas(Big 12) vs. (16)Lafayette(Patriot)
(8)Florida vs. (9)Connecticut
Birmingham
(4)Butler(Horizon) vs. (13)Oral Roberts(Summit)
(5)Stanford vs. (12)St. Joseph's
Tampa
(2)Georgetown(Big East) vs. (15)Wagner(Northeast)
(7)Baylor vs. (10)South Alabama(Sun Belt)
Washington
(3)Michigan State vs. (14)Hampton(MEAC)
(6)Mississippi vs. (11)Seton Hall

EAST Region

Raleigh
(1)Duke(ACC) vs. (16)Jacksonville(Atlantic Sun)
(8)Texas A&M vs. (9)Southern California
Tampa
(4)Pittsburgh vs. (13)Nevada-Las Vegas(Mountain West)
(5)Wisconsin vs. (12)Virginia Commonwealth(Colonial)
Birmingham
(2)Tennessee vs. (15)UNC Asheville(Big South)
(7)Notre Dame vs. (10)Miami(FL)
Washington
(3)Xavier(A-10) vs. (14)Siena(Metro Atlantic)
(6)Kansas State vs. (11)Kent State(Mid-American)

New This Week: St.Joseph's, Seton Hall, Oklahoma, Brigham Young, Nevada-Las Vegas, Wagner, Southern California, Arkansas, Lamar

Teams Moved Up To Fit The Bracket: KentState(12), South Alabama(11)
Teams Moved Down To Fit The Bracket: Arkansas(11), Ohio State(10)

Last Four In The Field: Arkansas, Seton Hall, Brigham Young, St. Joseph's
First Four Left Out: Massachusetts, Oregon, Maryland, Illinois State
Next Four Left Out: Syracuse, Providence, Houston, George Mason
Next Four Out After That: Cleveland State, Boston College, Missouri, Florida State

Oh, one more thing, here's my prediction for Super Bowl XLII:

New York Football Giants 30
New England Patriots 29

See y'all next week.

Bracket Watch for January 21st

A lot of movement this week as upsets throughout the nation shook up, not only the seed list, but also the at-large pool. As a result, there a few new teams in the projected field for the first time this year. So sit back and enjoy the field.

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

SOUTH Region

North Little Rock
(1)Memphis(CUSA) vs. (16)Opening Round Winner
Opening Round: Quinnipiac(Northeast) vs. Alabama State(SWAC)
(8)West Virginia vs. (9)Rhode Island
Anaheim
(4)Stanford vs. (13)Virginia Commonwealth(Colonial)
(5)St. Mary's vs. (12)Connecticut
Tampa
(2)Georgetown(Big East) vs. (15)Austin Peay(Ohio Valley)
(7)Mississippi vs. (10)Illinois State
North Little Rock
(3)Texas vs. (14)Stephen F. Austin(Southland)
(6)Clemson vs. (11)California

WEST Region

Raleigh
(1)North Carolina vs. (16)Lafayette(Patriot)
(8)Oregon vs. (9)Providence
Birmingham
(4)Dayton vs. (13)Siena(Metro Atlantic)
(5)Vanderbilt vs. (12)Akron(Mid-American)
Anaheim
(2)UCLA(Pac-10) vs. (15)Northern Arizona(Big Sky)
(7)Texas A&M vs. (10)Villanova
Denver
(3)Wisconsin(Big Ten) vs. (14)Cal State-Northridge(Big West)
(6)Gonzaga(West Coast) vs. (11)South Alabama(Sun Belt)

MIDWEST Region

Omaha
(1)Kansas(Big 12) vs. (16)Jacksonville(Atlantic Sun)
(8)Louisville vs. (9)Mississippi State(SEC)
Denver
(4)Washington State vs. (13)Utah State(WAC)
(5)Drake(Missouri Valley) vs. (12)San Diego State(Mountain West)
Birmingham
(2)Indiana vs. (15)Hampton(MEAC)
(7)Florida vs. (10)Miami(FL)
Washington
(3)Pittsburgh vs. (14)Davidson(Southern)
(6)Butler vs. (11)Massachusetts

EAST Region

Raleigh
(1)Tennessee vs. (16)Cornell(Ivy)
(8)Kansas State vs. (9)Arizona State
Tampa
(4)Michigan State vs. (13)UNC Asheville(Big South)
(5)Notre Dame vs. (12)Kent State
Washington
(2)Duke(ACC) vs. (15)Binghamton(America East)
(7)Marquette vs. (10)Baylor
Omaha
(3)Xavier(A-10) vs. (14)Oral Roberts(Summit)
(6)Arizona vs. (11)Cleveland State(Horizon)

Teams moved up to fit the field: Clemson(7), Kansas State(9), St. Mary's(6)
Teams moved down to fit the field: Arizona(5), Providence(8), Texas A&M(6)

New to the field: Binghamton, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Providence, Villanova, Baylor, Virginia Commonwealth, Cornell, Akron, Quinnipiac, California, Mississippi State, Davidson, Stephen F. Austin, Alabama State, Oral Roberts

Out of the field: Hartford, Boston College, Florida State, St. Joseph's, Ohio State, Delaware, Dartmouth, Nevada-Las Vegas, Wagner, Arkansas, Chattanooga, Northwestern State, Jackson State, IUPUI

Next four from the cut line: Villanova, Baylor, Miami(FL), Illinois State
Last four in the field: Massachusetts, California, Kent State, Connecticut
First four left out: Creighton, Boston College, Southern California, Brigham Young
Next four left out: Nevada-Las Vegas, Maryland, Ohio State, George Mason
Next four out after that: Syracuse, Purdue, Oklahoma, Arkansas
Also on board: Florida State, Charlotte, Duquesne, St. Joseph's, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Houston, Tulane, Valparaiso, Ohio, Indiana State, New Mexico, Texas Christian, Auburn, Sam Houston State

Next field: January 28th

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.

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!!!!