Bracket Watch '11 - What you won't be seeing this year

Since I've decided to add a new project to my schedule, I will not be updating the Conference Tournament Central Blog this year. In fact, I might just delete it altogether, seeing that everyone else has Championship Week coverage. So anyway on with the brackets(done as if the season ended last night).

Final Four pairings
East(1) vs. West(4)
Southeast(2) vs. Southwest(3)

First four pairings:
Tuesday Game A: Baylor vs. Cincinnati
Tuesday Game B: McNeese State(Southland) vs. Chattanooga(Southern)
Wednesday Game A: Maine(America East) vs. Texas Southern(Southwestern)
Wednesday Game B: Butler vs. Virginia Tech

East region

@ Cleveland
1-Ohio State(Big Ten) vs. 16-McNeese State/Chattanooga
8-St. John's vs. 9-Central Florida
@ Denver
4-Texas vs. 13-Valparaiso(Horizon)
5-Washington(Pacific-10) vs. 12-Oakland(Summit)
@ Washington, DC
2-Villanova vs. 15-Iona(Metro Atlantic)
7-Florida State vs. 10-Colorado
@ Tampa
3-Kentucky(Southeastern) vs. 14-Long Island(Northeast)
6-Temple vs. 11-Utah State(Western Athletic)

West region

@ Washington, DC
1-Syracuse(Big East) vs. 16-Northern Colorado(Big Sky)
8-St. Mary's(West Coast) vs. 9-Kansas State
@ Charlotte
4-Wisconsin vs. 13-Baylor/Cincinnati
5-Florida vs. 12-Virginia Commonwealth(Colonial)
@ Tucson
2-San Diego State(Mountain West) vs. 15-Coastal Carolina(Big South)
7-Vanderbilt vs. 10-Boston College
@ Tulsa
3-Texas A&M(Big 12) vs. 14-Southern Mississippi(Conference USA)
6-West Virginia vs. 11-Tennessee

Southeast region

@ Charlotte
1-Duke(Atlantic Coast) vs. 16-Maine/Texas Southern
8-Missouri vs. 9-Gonzaga
@ Tucson
4-Michigan State vs. 13-Austin Peay(Ohio Valley)
5-Georgetown vs. 12-Belmont(Atlantic Sun)
@ Denver
2-Brigham Young vs. 15-Long Beach State(Big West)
7-Minnesota vs. 10-Oklahoma State
@ Tampa
3-Connecticut vs. 14-Ball State(Mid-American)
6-Missouri State(Missouri Valley) vs. 11-Georgia

Southwest region

@ Tulsa
1-Kansas vs. 16-Morgan State(Mid-Eastern)
8-Louisville vs. 9-Wichita State
@ Chicago
4-Notre Dame vs. 13-Harvard(Ivy)
5-Illinois vs. 12-Butler/Virginia Tech
@ Cleveland
2-Pittsburgh vs. 15-Florida Atlantic(Sun Belt)
7-UNLV vs. 10-Arizona
@ Chicago
3-Purdue vs. 14-Bucknell(Patriot)
6-North Carolina vs. 11-Xavier(Atlantic 10)

Last four in the field: Butler, Virginia Tech, Baylor, Cincinnati
First four left out: Memphis, Dayton, Richmond, Southern California
Next four left out: Old Dominion, Nebraska, Penn State, Washington State
The under-consideration board: Miami(FL), Maryland, NC State, Duquesne, Marquette, Michigan, Iowa State, Drexel, UTEP, Cleveland State, Northern Iowa, New Mexico, UCLA, Alabama, Arkansas, Boise State

EDIT: I realized that Louisville had been inadvertnently omitted from the field, so they're back in and Cleveland State is dropped.

The next projection will be Monday, 1-24.

Bracket Watch '11 - Oh, woe is Tennessee

It's hard to be a Tennessee fan. Not only do the Vols have four questionable losses this year(three were in Knoxville), they now have to play half of the SEC slate without Bruce Pearl roaming the sidelines(He will be allowed to coach vs. Connecticut on the 22nd). Normally, the NCAA does not look at a team's situation when it doesn't have it's coach, but something tells me that may be different this year. What will hurt the Vols more than anything else is that the 2nd half of the SEC slate is more difficult than the first, with Kentucky on the slate twice.

Because of this, the Vols are the last team left out of my field of 68 this week. The whole thing follows as this:

Based on all games played as of 1/9

Final Four pairings
East(1) vs. West(4)
Southeast(2) vs. Southwest(3)

First Four games
Tuesday
Game A: Baylor vs. Old Dominion
Game B: Southern California vs. Richmond
Wednesday
Game A: Wagner(Northeast) vs. Hartford(America East)
Game B: Nicholls State(Southland) vs. Jackson State(Southwestern)

East region

@ Charlotte
1-Duke(Atlantic Coast) vs. Nicholls State/Jackson State
8-West Virginia vs. 9-Missouri State(Missouri Valley)
@ Denver
4-Washington(Pacific-10) vs. 13-Oakland(Summit)
5-Missouri vs. 12-Tulane(Conference USA)
@ Chicago
2-Notre Dame vs. 15-Bucknell(Patriot)
7-Texas vs. 10-Virginia Tech
@ Cleveland
3-Purdue(Big Ten) vs. 14-Fairfield(Metro Atlantic)
6-Vanderbilt vs. 11-Cincinnati

West region

@ Washington, DC
1-Syracuse(Big East) vs. 16-Hampton(Mid-Eastern)
8-Central Florida vs. 9-Minnesota
@ Tampa
4-Illinois vs. 13-Baylor/Old Dominion
5-Temple(Atlantic 10) vs. 12-Austin Peay(Ohio Valley)
@ Tucson
2-San Diego State vs. 15-Boise State(Western Athletic)
7-Butler(Horizon) vs. 10-Georgia
@ Tulsa
3-Pittsburgh vs. 14-Northern Colorado(Big Sky)
6-Kansas State vs. 11-Washington State

Southeast region

@ Cleveland
1-Ohio State vs. 16-Wagner/Hartford
8-St. John's vs. 9-Gonzaga
@ Tampa
4-Florida(Southeastern) vs. 13-Belmont(Atlantic Sun)
5-Texas A&M(Big 12) vs. 12-College of Charleston(Southern)
@ Denver
2-Brigham Young(Mountain West) vs. 15-Long Beach State(Big West)
7-Arizona vs. 10-Oklahoma State
@ Washington DC
3-Connecticut vs. 14-Coastal Carolina(Big South)
6-Boston College vs. 11-Memphis

Southwest region

@ Tulsa
1-Kansas vs. 16-Florida Atlantic(Sun Belt)
8-St. Mary's(West Coast) vs. 9-Louisville
@ Tucson
4-Georgetown vs. 13-Harvard(Ivy)
5-Wisconsin vs. 12-Southern California/Richmond
@ Charlotte
2-Kentucky vs. 15-Ball State(Mid-American)
7-Michigan State vs. 10-Nevada-Las Vegas
@ Chicago
3-Villanova vs. 14-Hofstra(Colonial)
6-North Carolina vs. 11-Wichita State

Dropped from last week's field: Maine, Florida State, Lipscomb, Dayton, Montana, Liberty, Drexel, Cleveland State, Princeton, Iona, St. Francis(NY), Tennessee, Chattanooga, North Texas, Portland, Utah State
New to the field: Hartford, Belmont, Richmond, Northern Colorado, Coastal Carolina, Baylor, Hofstra, Tulane, Harvard, Fairfield, Missouri State, Wagner, Georgia, College of Charleston, Florida Atlantic, Boise State

Last four in the field: Southern California, Richmond, Baylor, Old Dominion
First four on the outside: Tennessee, Florida State, Marquette, Cleveland State
Next four on the outside: Maryland, Utah State, Dayton, Arkansas
The under-consideration board: North Carolina State, Xavier, Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa State, Nebraska, Southern Mississippi, Northern Iowa, New Mexico, UCLA, Stanford, Alabama

Next projection: Monday of course.

Bracket Watch '11-And so it begins anew

Welcome back to Bracket Watch for 2011. As you read last week(or should have read), this week marks the start of real conference play for everyone(but not for the Ivy League. They begin their play towards the end of this month). With the end of non-conference play, it's time for the first look at how the field would measure up if the season had already stopped.

Final Four pairings:
East(1) vs. West(4)
Southeast(2) vs. Southwest(3)

The First Four
Tuesday: Old Dominion vs. Southern California; St. Francis of NY(Northeast) vs. Liberty(Big South)
Wednesday: Tennessee vs. Gonzaga; Nicholls State(Southland) vs. Jackson State(Southwestern)

East Region

@ Charlotte
1-Duke(Atlantic Coast) vs. Nicholls State/Jackson State
8-Texas vs. 9-Louisville
@ Chicago
4-Purdue(Big Ten) vs. 13-Lipscomb(Atlantic Sun)
5-Villanova vs. 12-Portland(West Coast)
@ Charlotte
2-Georgetown vs. 15-Ball State(Mid-American)
7-Arizona vs. 10-Vanderbilt
@ Tulsa
3-Kansas State vs. 14-Iona(Metro Atlantic)
6-Wisconsin vs. 11-Cleveland State(Horizon)

West Region

@ Washington, DC
1-Syracuse(Big East) vs. 16-Hampton(Mid-Eastern)
8-Michigan State vs. 9-Florida State
@ Tucson
4-Washington(Pacific-10) vs. 13-Montana(Big Sky)
5-Texas A&M vs. 12-Oakland(Summit)
@ Tampa
2-Kentucky(Southeastern) vs. 15-Long Beach State(Big West)
7-St. Mary's vs. 10-Boston College
@ Denver
3-Brigham Young(Mountain West) vs. 14-North Texas(Sun Belt)
6-Cincinnati vs. 11-Butler

Southeast Region

@ Cleveland
1-Ohio State vs. 16-St. Francis of NY/Liberty
8-Wichita State(Missouri Valley) vs. 9-Drexel(Colonial)
@ Chicago
4-Missouri vs. 13-Princeton(Ivy)
5-St. John's vs. 12-Tennessee/Gonzaga
@ Tucson
2-San Diego State vs. 15-Maine(America East)
7-North Carolina vs. 10-Oklahoma State
@ Cleveland
3-Pittsburgh vs. 14-Austin Peay(Ohio Valley)
6-Central Florida(Conference USA) vs. 11-Dayton

Southwest Region

@ Tulsa
1-Kansas(Big 12) vs. 16-Chattanooga(Southern)
8-West Virginia vs. 9-UNLV
@ Tampa
4-Florida vs. 13-Old Dominion/Southern California
5-Illinois vs. 12-Virginia Tech
@ Washington, DC
2-Connecticut vs. 15-Bucknell(Patriot)
7-Temple vs. 10-Minnesota
@ Denver
3-Notre Dame vs. 14-Utah State(Western Athletic)
6-Memphis vs. 11-Washington State

By Conference: Big East(10!!!!), Big Ten(6), Big 12(6), Atlantic Coast(5), Pacific-10(4), Southeastern(4), Mountain West(3), West Coast(3), Atlantic 10(2), Colonial(2), Conference USA(2), Horizon(2)

Last four in the field: Tennessee, Gonzaga, Old Dominion, Southern California
First four on the outside: Baylor, Missouri State, Maryland, Northwestern
Next four on the outside: Richmond, New Mexico, George Mason, Miami(FL)
The Under Consideration Board: NC State, Marquette, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa State, VCU, Southern Mississippi, Harvard, UCLA, Georgia, Mississippi

Tomorrow, I'll answer some question you may have thought of asking.

How the brackets roll

There's no need for an APB on my whereabouts, I'm perfectly fine. I just haven't had much to talk about since my preseason bracket. But now that bracket season is upon us, let me reset on how the brackets go.

1. All brackets are done as if the season has already ended. For a typical Monday bracket, the season ends on Sunday.
2. Every team is evaluated and placed accordingly if they were evaulated by by the committee, not my personal beliefs.
3. In determining the AQ's, the team with the best record in the conference in question will represent it. If there's a tie, the bid goes to the team who:
A) Has won the head-to-head matchup, or series(includes ties of more than two teams);
B) If no meeting has taken place, or the tie cannot be reasonably broken, the team that has the better RPI* rank.

*I'll be using Rivals' RPI numbers in determining tie-breakers again this year.

Note: I will try to do a daily recap of the major stories of the night previous, but it will not be a regularly scheduled post. Also, starting in Feburary, I'll post blind resumes of selected teams and you try to guess who they are. That's all from me, good day.

Bracket Watch '11-Preseason Look At the End Result

Yes, you've heard right. I'm doing a preseason bracket this year. And to put a twist to it, I've decided to dispense with the excuses and predict who will be the lucky 68. First a primer of what happened over the past seven months.

Enter the First Four
Part of the new NCAA tournament structure is the expansion of the segment formerly known as the "Opening Round" to four games(hence the title). Rather than force the eight lowest teams playing off to get creamed by Duke, only the four lowest on the "True Seed List" make it to Dayton. And there are two conferences that won't be there, the Big South and the SWAC. Apparently whoever wins those leagues will be placed in the regular field. The other teams diverted to Southwest Ohio are the four lowest at-large teams, so yes you'll find out who just made it in by the skin of their teeth. Now, I'm not sure if the pairings will be say 47 vs. 50 and 48 vs. 49(like in this projection) or 47 vs. 49 and 50 vs. 48. That will be known at the time of the placement. These games will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, making it possible that the winners on Tuesday will play on Thursday and the Wednesday winners will play on Friday. That depends on where the placements are.

Turner the page
As I've posted earlier, Turner Broadcasting has joined CBS as a partner in NCAA coverage starting in March. The games will(besides being on CBS) be also shown on TBS, TNT and TruTV, making it very possible that every game will be available nationally. DirecTV could continue offering Mega March Madness as it's own GameMix channel(and available to everyone with DirecTV), but we haven't heard anything on that front.

The conferences they are a changin'
For a period of a day, the college conference landscape was on the verge of massive chaos. In the end, however, it may still explode. But for now, here's a scorecard:

*Nebraska will leave the Big 12 for the Big Ten(giving it 12 teams).
*Colorado will also leave the Big 12, heading for the Pac-12.
*Texas decided to stay put, keeping the Big 12 alive. But if their proposed Longhorn Network gets off the ground(and the Texas Legislature sits on their hands), look for the Horns to unhook themselves from the Big 12 and go independent.
*The Mountain West gained Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada. But they're going to lose Brigham Young(Independent in football, West Coast everywhere else) and Utah(Pac-12), and may still lose Texas Christian to the BIG East.
*The WAC missed out on BYU, and lost it's three highest profile members. Montana, UTSA, Texas State and Seattle may be fallback options.

Now that you're up to date, let's go to March 13th and see what develops.

Final Four Pairings
East(1) vs. West(4)
Southeast(2) vs. Southwest(3)

First Four Matchups(Dayton, OH/UD Arena)
Tuesday
Game A: IUPUI(Summit) vs. Texas-San Antonio(Southland)
Game B: New Mexico vs. Washington State
Wednesday
Game C: Virginia Commonwealth vs. Penn State
Game D: Robert Morris(Northeast) vs. Maine(America East)

2nd and 3rd Rounds:

EAST Region

At Charlotte(Time Warner Cable Arena)
1-Duke(Atlantic Coast) vs. 16-Lafayette(Patriot)
8-Marquette vs. 9-Wichita State
At Denver(Pepsi Center)
4-Illinois vs. 13-Fairfield(Metro Atlantic)
5-Tennessee vs. 12-New Mexico/Washington State
At Washington, DC(Verizon Center)
2-Pittsburgh(Big East) vs. 15-Cornell(Ivy League)
7-Xavier vs. 10-North Carolina State
At Tucson(McKale Center)
3-Baylor vs. 14-Weber State(Big Sky)
6-Wisconsin vs. 11-Connecticut

WEST Region

At Denver
1-Kansas State(Big 12) vs. 16-IUPUI/UTSA
8-Brigham Young vs. 9-Mississippi State
At Tucson
4-Gonzaga(West Coast) vs. 13-Utah State(Western Athletic)
5-Butler(Horizon) vs. 12-Clemson
At Washington, DC
2-Syracuse vs. 15-Belmont(Atlantic Sun)
7-Virginia Tech vs. 10-Dayton(Atlantic 10)
At Chicago(United Center)
3-Purdue vs. 14-Ohio(Mid-American)
6-Washington vs. 11-Texas

SOUTHEAST Region

At Cleveland(Quicken Loans Arena)
1-Michigan State(Big Ten) vs. 16-Jackson State(Southwestern)
8-Texas A&M vs. 9-UCLA(Pacific-10)
At Tampa(St. Pete Times Forum)
4-West Virginia vs. 13-Wofford(Southern)
5-Florida vs. 12-VCU/Penn State
At Tulsa(BOK Center)
2-Memphis(Conference USA) vs. 15-Morgan State(Mid-Eastern)
7-San Diego State(Mountain West) vs. 10-Minnesota
At Charlotte
3-North Carolina vs. 14-Winthrop(Big South)
6-Villanova vs. 11-Richmond

SOUTHWEST Region

At Cleveland
1-Kentucky(Southeastern) vs. 16-Robert Morris/Maine
8-Nevada-Las Vegas vs. 9-Northwestern
At Tampa
4-Georgetown vs. 13-William & Mary(Colonial)
5-Missouri vs. 12-Murray State(Ohio Valley)
At Chicago
2-Ohio State vs. 15-North Texas(Sun Belt)
7-Florida State vs. 10-Louisville
At Tulsa
3-Kansas vs. 14-Long Beach State(Big West)
6-Temple vs. 11-Missouri State(Missouri Valley)

First Four left out: Maryland, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia
Next Four in line: Bradley, Saint Louis, Oklahoma State, Texas-El Paso
Also under consideration: Miami, Virginia, Rhode Island, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Colorado, Central Florida, Detroit, Creighton, California, Oregon, Alabama, Fresno State.

Reminder: The first "real" bracket will debut on January 3rd.