Final Bracket Totals

Brian: 82 points

Zach: 77 points

Final Top 25

Brian

Rank, Team, (previous)...........Preseason Rank

1. Kansas (2).......................................... 3
2. Memphis (3)....................................... 2
3. North Carolina (1)............................. 4
4. UCLA (4)............................................. 1
5. Texas (6)............................................ 16
6. Louisville (8)...................................... 10
7. Xavier (16)......................................... NR
8. Tennessee (5).................................... 6
9. Davidson (24).................................... NR
10. Stanford (11)................................... NR
11. Wisconsin (7)................................... 22
12. Washington State (18)................... 12
13. Michigan State (17)......................... 8
14. Georgetown (9)............................... 5
15. Pittsburgh (NR).............................. 14
16. Marquette (20)............................... 24
17. Butler (15)........................................ 25
18. West Virginia (NR)......................... NR
19. Duke (10)......................................... 9
20. Purdue (12)...................................... NR
21. Notre Dame (14).............................. NR
22. Connecticut (13)............................... NR
23. Villanova (NR).................................. NR
24. Western Kentucky (NR)................. NR
25. Drake (19)......................................... NR

New additions: Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Villanova, Western Kentucky.
Dropped from rankings: #21 Vanderbilt, #22 Indiana, #23 South Alabama, #25 Clemson.
Also considered: Mississippi State, Miami.

Only about 218 days to go until the next college basketball game!

Brian's NCAA Tournament Bracket

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Zach's NCAA Tournament Bracket

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Bracket Projection Performance

I correctly picked 31 out of 34 at large teams this year. I'm slightly disappointed as I expected to get 33 or 34 correct.

Projected in but did not get in: New Mexico, Dayton, Illinois State.
Projected out but got in: Oregon, Villanova, Kentucky.

Seed and region correct:

1. North Carolina (1-East)
2. Coppin State (16-East)
3. Memphis (1-South)
4. Marquette (6-South)
5. Stanford (3-South)
6. Austin Peay (15-South)
7. Kansas (1-Midwest)
8. Clemson (5-Midwest)
9. UCLA (1-West)
10. Xavier (3-West)
11. Duke (2-West)
12. Texas A&M (9-West)

Seed correct:

1. Brigham Young (8)
2. Texas (2)
3. Mississippi Valley State (16)
4. San Diego (13)
5. Cornell (14)
6. UMBC (15)
7. Tennessee (2)
8. Pittsburgh (4)
9. West Virginia (7)
10. Mount St. Mary's (16)
11. Belmont (15)
12. Notre Dame (5)
13. Texas-Arlington (16)
14. Oral Roberts (13)
15. Cal State Fullerton (14)

Total: 27/65 (41.5%) of teams received the seed they were projected to get.

Teams within one seed: (projected/actual)

1. Connecticut (5/4)
2. Georgetown (3/2)
3. USC (7/6)
4. South Alabama (11/10)
5. St. Joe's (10/11)
6. Louisville (4/3)
7. UNLV (7/8)
8. American (16/15)
9. Boise State (13/14)
10. Temple (11/12)
11. Winthrop (14/13)
12. Baylor (10/11)
13. Wisconsin (2/3)
14. Mississippi State (9/8)
15. George Mason (11/12)
16. Siena (14/13)
17. Gonzaga (8/7)
18. Michigan State (6/5)
19. Davidson (11/10)
20. Kent State (10/9)
21. Portland State (15/16)

21/65 = 32.3%

48/65 (73.8%) of the teams received a seed exactly as or one different than they were projected to.

Teams within two seeds: (projected/actual)

1. Purdue (4/6)
2. Vanderbilt (6/4)
3. Kansas State (9/11)
4. Oklahoma (8/6)
5. Miami (9/7)
6. St. Mary's (8/10)
7. Washington State (6/4)
8. Drake (3/5)
9. Arizona (12/10)
10. Western Kentucky (10/12)
11. Arkansas (7/9)
12. Georgia (12/14)

12/65 = 18.5%

Teams three or more seeds different: (projected/actual)

1. Indiana (5/8)
2. Butler (4/7)

2/65 = 3%

Correct matchups:

North Carolina vs. play-in winner
Louisville vs. Boise State

FINAL BRACKETOLOGY

Through games of March 16.

Last four IN: New Mexico, Dayton, Arizona, Illinois State.
Last four OUT: Oregon, Massachusetts, Villanova, Ohio State.
Next four OUT: Kentucky, Arizona State, Mississippi, Virginia Commonwealth.

Conference Breakdown: Big East (7), Big 12 (6), Pac 10 (5), SEC (5), ACC (4), Big Ten (4), Atlantic 10 (4), Mountain West (3), West Coast (3), Missouri Valley (2), Sun Belt (2).

All other leagues (20): one bid.

* indicates automatic bid.

East Region (Charlotte, NC):

(1) North Carolina* vs. (16) Mississippi Valley State*/Coppin State* (play-in game)
(8) Brigham Young vs. (9) Kansas State
(5) Connecticut vs. (12) Illinois State
(4) Purdue vs. (13) San Diego*
(6) Vanderbilt vs. (11) South Alabama
(3) Georgetown vs. (14) Cornell*
(7) USC vs. (10) St. Joe’s
(2) Texas vs. (15) Maryland-Baltimore County*

South Region (Houston, TX):

(1) Memphis* vs. (16) American*
(8) Oklahoma vs. (9) Miami
(5) Indiana vs. (12) Dayton
(4) Louisville vs. (13) Boise State*
(6) Marquette vs. (11) Temple*
(3) Stanford vs. (14) Winthrop*
(7) UNLV* vs. (10) Baylor
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Austin Peay*

Midwest Region (Detroit, MI):

(1) Kansas* vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s*
(8) St. Mary’s vs. (9) Mississippi State
(5) Clemson vs. (12) Arizona
(4) Pittsburgh* vs. (13) New Mexico
(6) Washington State vs. (11) George Mason*
(3) Drake* vs. (14) Siena*
(7) West Virginia vs. (10) Western Kentucky*
(2) Wisconsin* vs. (15) Belmont*

West Region (Phoenix, AZ):

(1) UCLA* vs. (16) Texas-Arlington*
(8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Texas A&M
(5) Notre Dame vs. (12) Georgia*
(4) Butler* vs. (13) Oral Roberts*
(6) Michigan State vs. (11) Davidson*
(3) Xavier vs. (14) Cal State Fullerton*
(7) Arkansas vs. (10) Kent State*
(2) Duke vs. (15) Portland State*

Conference Tournament Brackets

Zach's conference tournament brackets: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pqPs2SxGUYQvUWSTCxT1SPA

Brian's conference tournament brackets: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pqPs2SxGUYQs6cKhlbJlPCQ

Brian wins 77 to 65.

March 12 Bracketology

Through games of March 11.
Next (final) update: March 16.

Last four IN: Oregon, Massachusetts, Syracuse, New Mexico.
Last four OUT: Ohio State, Arizona State, Virginia Commonwealth, UAB.
Next four OUT: Dayton, St. Joe’s, Villanova, Florida.

Conference Breakdown: Big East (8), Pac 10 (6), Big 12 (6), SEC (5), ACC (4), Big Ten (4), Mountain West (3), West Coast (3), Atlantic 10 (2), Missouri Valley (2), Sun Belt (2).

All other leagues (20): one bid.

* indicates automatic bid.

NOTE: Syracuse’s true seed was 12 and Kentucky’s was 11. They had to be changed for bracketing purposes.

East Region (Charlotte, NC):

(1) North Carolina* vs. (16) Sacred Heart*/Alabama State* (play-in game)
(8) Pittsburgh vs. (9) Texas A&M
(5) Drake* vs. (12) Oregon
(4) Purdue vs. (13) George Mason*
(6) Brigham Young* vs. (11) Western Kentucky*
(3) Stanford vs. (14) San Diego*
(7) Kansas State vs. (10) Arkansas
(2) Georgetown vs. (15) Winthrop*

South Region (Houston, TX):

(1) Memphis* vs. (16) UMBC*
(8) St. Mary’s vs. (9) Baylor
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) New Mexico
(4) Connecticut vs. (13) Oral Roberts*
(6) Michigan State vs. (11) Kent State*
(3) Louisville* vs. (14) UC-Santa Barbara*
(7) USC vs. (10) Davidson*
(2) Duke vs. (15) Belmont*

Midwest Region (Detroit, MI):

(1) Tennessee* vs. (16) Morgan State*
(8) UNLV vs. (9) Oklahoma
(5) Washington State vs. (12) Massachusetts
(4) Notre Dame vs. (13) Cornell*
(6) Clemson vs. (11) Syracuse
(3) Wisconsin* vs. (14) Siena*
(7) Gonzaga vs. (10) Illinois State
(2) Kansas* vs. (15) Austin Peay*

West Region (Phoenix, AZ):

(1) UCLA* vs. (16) American*
(8) West Virginia vs. (9) Miami
(5) Indiana vs. (12) Kentucky
(4) Butler* vs. (13) Stephen F. Austin*
(6) Marquette vs. (11) South Alabama
(3) Xavier* vs. (14) Boise State*
(7) Mississippi State vs. (10) Arizona
(2) Texas vs. (15) Portland State*

Zach and Brian's Top 25

Zach:

1. North Carolina (1)
2. Kansas (5)
3. Tennessee (2)
4. Memphis (3)
5. UCLA (4)
6. Texas (10)
7. Duke (6)
8. Wisconsin (8)
9. Georgetown (13)
10. Stanford (7)
11. Louisville (9)
12. Connecticut (11)
13. Notre Dame (14)
14. Drake (20)
15. Purdue (12)
16. Xavier (16)
17. Butler (22)
18. Michigan State (15)
19. Gonzaga (21)
20. Washington State (24)
21. Vanderbilt (17)
22. Indiana (18)
23. Western Kentucky (NR)
24. Brigham Young (NR)
25. Clemson (19)

New additions: #23 Western Kentucky, #24 BYU.
Also considered: Nobody.
Dropped from rankings: #23 Marquette, #25 Mississippi State.

Brian:

1. North Carolina (1)
2. Kansas (4)
3. Memphis (3)
4. UCLA (2)
5. Tennessee (5)
6. Texas (8)
7. Wisconsin (9)
8. Louisville (7)
9. Georgetown (14)
10. Duke (10)
11. Stanford (6)
12. Purdue (11)
13. Connecticut (12)
14. Notre Dame (16)
15. Butler (19)
16. Xavier (13)
17. Michigan State (15)
18. Washington State (20)
19. Drake (23)
20. Marquette (17)
21. Vanderbilt (21)
22. Indiana (18)
23. South Alabama (24)
24. Davidson (25)
25. Clemson (22)

New additions: None.
Dropped from rankings: None.
Also considered: BYU, Mississippi State, USC, Gonzaga.

Sunday's Picks

Brian's Picks: Season Record: 480-474-26

KENTUCKY (-2.5) over Florida- WIN
Michigan State (+1) over OHIO STATE- LOSS
DePaul (+11) over PITTSBURGH- LOSS
Virginia Tech (+10.5) over CLEMSON- WIN
South Carolina (+16.5) over TENNESSEE- LOSS
SETON HALL (-9) over Rutgers- LOSS
PENN STATE (+8.5) over Indiana- WIN
NEBRASKA (-10) over Colorado- WIN
TEXAS (-11.5) over Oklahoma State- LOSS
Purdue (-5) over MICHIGAN- WIN
CONNECTICUT (-12.5) over Cincinnati- WIN
AKRON (-3.5) over Kent State- LOSS
VIRGINIA (-2) over Maryland- WIN

Big East Model: Season Record: 106-38

PITTSBURGH (38.088) over DePaul (31.702)- WIN
SETON HALL (34.706) over Rutgers (29.309)- LOSS
CONNECTICUT (40.819) over Cincinnati (32.929)- WIN

Saturday's Picks

Brian's Picks: Season Record: 473-468-26

Louisville (+4) over GEORGETOWN- WIN
ST. JOHN'S (+9) over West Virginia- PUSH
FLORIDA STATE (-2) over Miami- WIN
WAKE FOREST (-6) over NC State- WIN
ILLINOIS (-4.5) over Minnesota- WIN
UAB (+14.5) over MEMPHIS- LOSS
Baylor (+1.5) over TEXAS TECH- WIN
DAYTON (-2.5) over St. Joe's- WIN
Stanford (PK) over USC- LOSS
Vanderbilt (PK) over ALABAMA- LOSS
NORTHWESTERN (+13.5) over Wisconsin- WIN
BOSTON COLLEGE (-2) over Georgia Tech- LOSS
OKLAHOMA (-7) over Missouri- WIN
UCLA (-16) over California- LOSS
GEORGIA (-1.5) over Mississippi- LOSS
MISSISSIPPI STATE (-11.5) over LSU- LOSS
UNLV (-7) over Utah- PUSH
CONNECTICUT (-13) over Cincinnati- postponed
Kansas State (-4) over IOWA STATE- PUSH
SYRACUSE (PK) over Marquette- WIN
Kansas (-5) over TEXAS A&M- WIN
Arizona State (-11) over OREGON STATE- WIN
Auburn (+13) over ARKANSAS- PUSH
Charlotte (+6.5) over RHODE ISLAND- WIN
Notre Dame (-5.5) over SOUTH FLORIDA- WIN
PROVIDENCE (-1.5) over Villanova- LOSS
WASHINGTON STATE (-9) over Washington- LOSS
North Carolina (+1.5) over DUKE- WIN
UTEP (+2) over Houston- WIN
OREGON (-1.5) over Arizona- WIN

Big East Model: Season Record: 104-37

GEORGETOWN (40.157) over Louisville (38.994)- WIN
West Virginia (35.510) over ST. JOHN'S (31.780)- WIN
Notre Dame (37.548) over SOUTH FLORIDA (31.721)- WIN
SYRACUSE (38.098) over Marquette (36.113)- WIN
CONNECTICUT (40.839) over Cincinnati (32.938)- postponed
PROVIDENCE (34.915) over Villanova (33.547)- LOSS