Bracket Watch '11 - Let's go crazy

With all apologies to Prince(or the artist formerly known as thingy), this past week was the week every bracketologist(and those who just casually follow the sport) had to be clawing out their hair. Numerous teams that were in got hampered with bad losses. Cases in point:

Central Florida
To paraphrase Dennis Green, the Golden Knights are who we thought they were, a pretender to Conference USA's throne. Back-to-back HOME losses to East Carolina and Rice put UCF into the conference cellar and with a trip to Memphis looming this week, don't look for the Knights to resurface anytime soon.

Kansas State
Why, oh why did I have to put up a preseason bracket? Yes, if you recall, I had the Wildcats as a #1 seed, but now with a 1-4 record in Big 12 play, including rough road losses to Missouri and Texas A&M, they're really reeling. And of course it gets worse, they have to go to Lawrence to help Kansas start another homecourt winning streak.

Gonzaga
I fear that the Bulldogs' bloom has finally worn off. Their weekend trip to the Bay Area to face San Francisco and Santa Clara ended with two losses. Now they must face St. Mary's at home in a must win game. If the Bulldogs lose, the hill they have to climb will become a very difficult mountain.

I could go on and on with the bad losses(Butler, Georgia, Colorado, etc.), but I can't, we must move on with the projections.

Projection done as if the season ended last night.

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

The First Four:
Tuesday Game A: Lamar(Southland) vs. Texas Southern(Southwestern)
Tuesday Game B: Colorado State vs. Butler
Wednesday Game A: Long Island(Northeast) vs. Tennessee State(Ohio Valley)
Wednesday Game B: George Mason vs. UCLA

Southeast Region

@ Cleveland
1-Ohio State(Big Ten) vs. 16-Maine(America East)
8-Missouri State(Missouri Valley) vs. 9-Miami(FL)
@ Tampa
4-Missouri vs. 13-Colorado State/Butler
5-Florida(Southeastern) vs. 12-Cincinnati
@ Denver
2-Brigham Young(Mountain West) vs. 15-Northern Colorado(Big Sky)
7-St. Mary's(West Coast) vs. 10-Boston College
@ Washington, DC
3-Syracuse vs. 14-Fairfield(Metro Atlantic)
6-Arizona vs. 11-Memphis

West region

@ Tucson
1-San Diego State vs. 16-Lamar/Texas Southern
8-Tennessee vs. 9-Utah State(Western Athletic)
@ Denver
4-Washington(Pacific-10) vs. 13-Hofstra(Colonial)
5-Minnesota vs. 12-Valparaiso(Horizon)
@ Tulsa
2-Kansas vs. 15-Hampton(Mid-Eastern)
7-North Carolina vs. 10-Marquette
@ Charlotte
3-Connecticut vs. 14-Ball State(Mid-American)
6-Illinois vs. 11-Marquette

East region

@ Cleveland
1-Pittsburgh(Big East) vs. 16-Long Island/Tennessee State
8-Nevada-Las Vegas vs. 9-Temple
@ Tampa
4-Kentucky vs. 13-Oakland(Summit)
5-Wisconsin vs. 12-Virginia Tech
@ Tulsa
2-Texas(Big 12) vs. 15-Bucknell(Patriot)
7-Louisville vs. 10-Wichita State
@ Chicago
3-Purdue vs. 14-College of Charleston(Southern)
6-Notre Dame vs. 11-Cleveland State

Southwest region

@ Charlotte
1-Duke vs. 16-Florida Atlantic(Sun Belt)
8-West Virginia vs. 9-Baylor
@ Chicago
4-Michigan State vs. 13-Harvard(Ivy)
5-Vanderbilt vs. 12-George Mason/UCLA
@ Washington, DC
2-Villanova vs. 15-Coastal Carolina(Big South)
7-Florida State(Atlantic Coast) vs. 10-Xavier(Atlantic 10)
@ Tucson
3-Texas A&M vs. 14-Long Beach State(Big West)
6-Georgetown vs. 11-Belmont(Atlantic Sun)

New to the field: Miami(FL), Richmond, Marquette, George Mason, Hofstra, Memphis, Cleveland State, Fairfield, Hampton, Colorado State, Tennessee State, UCLA, College of Charleston, Lamar
Leaving the field: St. John's, Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Virginia Commonwealth, Central Florida, Southern Mississippi, Iona, Morgan State, Austin Peay, Georgia, Chattanooga, McNeese State, Gonzaga

Last four in the field: George Mason, UCLA, Colorado State, Butler
First four left out: Oklahoma State, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, Gonzaga
Next four left out: St. John's, Alabama, Indiana State, Duquesne
The rest of the under-consideration board: Maryland, Providence, Penn State, Kansas State, Nebraska, Iowa State, Colorado, UTEP, Central Florida, Princeton, Southern California, Washington State, Georgia, South Carolina

After next week's projections, I'll have my annual State of the Bubble series, thouorghly examining all 31 AQ conferences and their chances for at-large bids.

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.