Projecting the Sites - Men's Tournament

A few years ago, on an earlier incarnation of this blog, I made predictions on what the NCAA would pick for sites to the men's and women's basketball. Reviewing those selections a few days ago, my record was mixed. I hit some, but missed badly on others. With the sites for the 2011-13 tourneys to be awarded by the end of the month, I feel it's time to put on my best prognostication cap and see what I come up with. Not all combinations will be chosen(in fact some of the picks are just outright guesses, some may have elected to stay out of the bidding process entirely).

2011-13 Opening Round site:
Dayton, OH
University of Dayton Arena
University of Dayton

2011
1st/2nd Rounds
3-17/19
Albuquerque, NM The Pit University of New Mexico
Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena Iowa State University
Hartford, CT XL Center University of Connecticut/Big East Conference
Oakland Oracle Arena University of San Francisco
3-18/20
Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena Kent State University
Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena University of Arkansas, Little Rock
Nashville Sommet Center Ohio Valley Conferernce
Philadelphia Wachovia Center LaSalle University
Regionals
3-24/26
Los Angeles Staples Center University of Southern California/Pacific-10 Conference
Raleigh RBC Center North Carolina State University
3-25/27
Chicago United Center Big Ten Conference
New Orleans Louisiana Superdome Tulane University

2012
1st/2nd Rounds
3-15/17
Fresno, CA SaveMart Center Fresno State University
Louisville Waterfront Arena University of Louisville
Orlando Amway Center Stetson University
Salt Lake City Huntsman Events Center University of Utah
3-16/18
Albany, NY Times-Union Arena Siena College/Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium Butler University/IUPUI/Horizon League
San Antonio AT&T Center University of Texas, San Antonio
Tulsa, OK BOK Center University of Tulsa/Conference USA
Regionals
3-22/24
Atlanta Georgia Dome Georgia Institute of Technology
Glendale, AZ University of Phoenix Stadium Arizona State University
3-23/25
New York City Madison Square Garden St. John's University/Big East Conference
St. Louis Edward Jones Dome Missouri Valley Conference


2013
1st/2nd Rounds
3-21/23
Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena Boise State University
Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones University of Virginia
Denver Pepsi Center Colorado State University/Mountain West Conference
Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center Duquesne University
3-22/24
Detroit Ford Field Mid-American Conference
Memphis FedExForum University of Memphis
Miami AmericanAirlinesArena Florida International University
Omaha, NE Qwest Center Omaha Creighton University/Missouri Valley Conference
Regionals
3-28/30
Portland, OR Rose Garden University of Oregon
Washington, DC Verizon Center Georgetown University
3-29/31
Arlington, TX Cowboys Stadium Big 12 Conference
St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center University of Minnesota, Twin Cities


I'll have my women's choices up sometime this week as though will be awarded in November.

The last 12 games don't matter....

....as much as the 1st 20. That's the determination of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee after meetings earlier this month.

More on this from The NCAA News(click above).

Potential NCAA Tournament Venues: 2011-13(Updated 8-20)

Here's a list of cities that are bidding to host NCAA 1st/2nd round and/or regionals from 2011 to 2013(This list will be updated throughout the months ahead). The NCAA will announce the venues in September, during the Championships/Sports Management Cabinet meeting. The venues themselves will be chosen by the Division I Men's Basketball Committee. According to this article in the Birmingham News today: http://www.al.com/sec/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1244708141315750.xml&coll=2 , 60 cities have put in bids to the NCAA.

City(Prospective Host and Venue)
Albuquerque, NM(University of New Mexico; University Arena)
Arlington, TX(Big 12 Conference; Cowboys Stadium)*
Atlanta(Georgia Institute of Technology; Georgia Dome)*
Austin, TX(University of Texas at Austin; Erwin Events Center)
Birmingham, AL(Southeastern Conference; BJCC Arena)
East Rutherford, NJ(Rutgers University; Izod Center)
Grand Rapids, MI(Western Michigan University; Van Andel Arena)
Jacksonville, FL(Jacksonville University; Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
Knoxville, TN(University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Thompson-Bolling Arena)
Lexington, KY(University of Kentucky; Rupp Arena)
Little Rock, AR(University of Arkansas, Little Rock; Verizon Arena)
Louisville, KY(University of Louisville; Riverfront Arena)
Memphis(University of Memphis; FedEx Forum)
Newark, NJ(Seton Hall University; Prudential Center)
New Orleans(Tulane University; Louisiana Superdome)*
New York City(Big East Conference and St. John's University(NY); Madison Square Garden
Orlando(University of Central Florida or Stetson University; New Orlando Arena)
Tampa(University of South Florida; St. Pete Times Forum)
Wichita, KS(Wichita State University; InTrust Bank Center)

*Denotes the city will be guaranteed a regional in this cycle, owing to their status as a Final Four host.

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Predicting the NCAA's

Sweet 16 picks
Midwest: Ohio State, Wake Forest, Kansas, Michigan State
West: Connecticut, Washington, Missouri, Memphis
East: Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, Villanova, Duke
South: North Carolina, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Oklahoma

National Semis
Memphis over Wake Forest
Pittsburgh over Oklahoma

National Championship
Pittsburgh 79, Memphis 71