The Bracket Project: 2014

Friday, November 14, 2014

Welcome to another edition of The Bracket Project. My first bracket projection won't be released until January 2015 but you can see the Bracket Matrix later today.

If you want to contribute to the matrix, please read this:

1. You need to set up a web site to place your bracket that will be consistent throughout the season. A blog will do. A web site will most definitely do. A bracket posted on a message board will not do. The link will change frequently and will get lost in various discussions, making it difficult for the average reader to find it. (Exception: A message board devoted exclusively to bracketology.) Also, you can't post it on Facebook or some other social networking site because not everyone can access it. However, in order to promote discussion, an email address or some comment platform must be provided so that readers can praise or criticize your bracket.

2. You have to tell me where your site is. I don't have a sixth sense when it comes to finding these things. I rely on you and readers like you to tell me what kind of sites to add to this page.

3. The NCAA sets up procedures and principles for building a bracket. Read them! A seriously flawed bracket won't be posted. However, if your seedings are out of the norm, I'll still most likely post it provided that the principles are followed and you have an explanation as to why you've built the bracket like you did. I reserve the right to not post a bracket with something like a winless team as a #1 seed.

4. Please date-stamp your bracket. Brackets of a certain age will be removed from the list, and if there's no date-stamp, obviously I can't tell when your bracket was updated.

5. To make it easier on me, please format your bracket so that at least half of it can be seen on the screen at any one time. You can make it even easier for me by publishing a seed list of your 68 teams. Brackets must have at least 48 seeded teams to be listed in the matrix. Sites that merely list teams with no seeding can be linked to the page but will not be added to the matrix. To be listed in the final matrix of the season, you must have all 68 seeded teams.

6. No new sites will be added to the 2014 page after March 1, 2015 unless you appear in the rankings page (linked to the side), in which case, you will be grandfathered in. In addition, no bracket will be accepted to the final matrix of the season after the beginning of the Selection Sunday show.

7. Link to my site! I've linked to yours!

8. I'm only one guy. If this could pay me what I get at my regular job, I'd update this site 24/7. That simply is not the case. If someone else can do this better, I'll gladly step aside, but from the looks of it, I'm the only (crazy) one. So if you don't see your site on here, an update hasn't been done for a while or I don't respond to you, I hope you'll understand why.

Monday, April 14, 2014

2015 Preseason Bracketology Links

Here's a list of sites which have gotten an early start on next season by creating a preseason bracket. Also, read my 2015 primer with dates, sites, etc. for next season's tourney.

This list is now closed. Sites updated in November will appear in the Bracket Matrix starting November 14.

October 27 - The Catch and Shoot

October 25 - Bracketball

October 22 - Basketball Predictions

October 20 - Patrick Stevens - Syracuse.com (Countdown)

October 18 - Bracket WAG

October 17 - Bracketville Fan Bracket (Twitter Updates)

October 16 - Busting Bracketology

October 3 - Big Apple Buckets NIT

September 3 - Bracket Odds

September 2 - The Bracket Bracketology

August 11 - Dudes on Sports

July 22 - Bleacher Report - Kerry Miller

June 21 - Kyle's Bracket Projections

June 19 - College Sports Madness (Countdown)

April 28 - Jason Wells' Bracketology

April 9 - ESPN Bracketology with Joe Lunardi

April 9 - Bracket Briefer

April 8 - The Sports Bank

Monday, April 7, 2014

2015 NCAA Tournament Primer

Here is a 2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament Primer featuring tournament dates as well as teams changing conferences or not participating.

Tournament Sites

First Four (March 17 and 18)
University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton)

Rounds of 64 and 32 (March 19 and 21)
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida (Host: Jacksonville University)
KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky (Host: University of Louisville)
Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Host: Duquesne University)
Moda Center in Portland, Oregon (Host: University of Oregon)

Rounds of 64 and 32 (March 20 and 22)
Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina (Host: University of North Carolina at Charlotte)
Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio (Host: Ohio State University)
CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska (Host: Creighton University)
KeyArena in Seattle, Washington (Host: University of Washington)

Regional Semifinals and Finals (March 26 and 28)
Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio (Host: Mid-American Conference)
Staples Center in Los Angeles, California (Host: Pepperdine University)

Regional Semifinals and Finals (March 27 and 29)
Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York (Host: Syracuse University)
NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas (Hosts: Rice University and University of Houston)

Final Four and the National Championship (April 4 and 6)
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana (Hosts: Butler University, IUPUI, and the Horizon League)

Conference Changes
Appalachian State - Southern to Sun Belt
Davidson - Southern to Atlantic 10
East Carolina - CUSA to American
East Tennessee State - Atlantic Sun to Southern
Elon - Southern to Colonial
Georgia Southern - Southern to Sun Belt
Idaho - WAC to Big Sky
Louisville - American to ACC
Maryland - ACC to Big Ten
Mercer - Atlantic Sun to Southern
Oral Roberts - Southland to Summit
Rutgers - American to Big Ten
Tulane - CUSA to American
Tulsa - CUSA to American
VMI - Big South to Southern
Western Kentucky - Sun Belt to CUSA

Ineligible Teams

Alabama State, Appalachian State, Florida A&M, Houston Baptist, Lamar, San Jose State, Southern, Central Arkansas, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee due to APR issues

Abilene Christian, Grand Canyon, Incarnate Word, Massachusetts-Lowell, Omaha, and Northern Kentucky due to D-1 Transition

Bracket Principles

So here are some things to keep in mind when the NCAA basketball committee starts placing teams in the bracket (I wrote these as they came to me so it's not in any order of importance):

The top 4 teams on the NCAA seed list of 68 are the number one seeds and placed in the region closest to them. If two or more teams claim a particular region to be closest, the team ranked higher on the seed list gets to stay. In the Final Four, the "#1" region will be paired with the "#4" region while #2 is paired with #3.
Teams 5-16 on the seed list are then assigned to the closest region available in "true seed" order. At this point, you can calculate each region's relative strength by adding up the true seeds of the top 4 teams in each region. Generally, the difference between the highest ranked region and lowest should be 5 or less but in 2012, the difference was 8, which tells us geography is playing a much larger role in the bracketing process.
At this point, teams 1-16 on the seed list are assigned in "true seed" order to the closest pod (round of 64/32) site as possible. After that, everybody else is placed in the bracket.
Teams in the top 4 seed lines cannot be placed into a home crowd disadvantage in the round of 64 (it used to be the top 5 seed lines, but the NCAA changed it).
Host schools can't be placed in the sites where they're hosting. So this season, Jacksonville, Louisville, Duquesne, Oregon, Charlotte, Ohio State, Creighton, Washington, Pepperdine, Syracuse, Rice, and Houston won't be placed at their home sites if they make the tourney. The exception is Dayton if they participate in the First Four. Schools in a pod or regional that's hosted by its own conference can be placed there.
Schools who played more than 3 times in a host facility (excluding postseason conference tournaments) also can't play there in the tournament.
BYU doesn't play on Sunday so if they make the tournament, they will not be placed in Charlotte, Columbus, Omaha, Seattle, Syracuse, or Houston.
First Four winners playing on Tuesday will funnel into a Thursday pod. If they play on Wednesday, the winners will go to a Friday pod. The committee will try to place these teams in a pod as close to Dayton as possible to minimize travel.
If possible, the committee will look back at the last two tournaments and make sure schools haven't been placed out of their geographic area an "inordinate number of times." What's an inordinate number of times? I don't know. Can't be more than 4.

Among the non-geography considerations:

The top 4 teams from each conference in the top 4 seed lines can't be placed in the same region.
No rematches between two conference teams until:

the round of 32 if the two conference teams met once in the regular season.
the round of 16 if the two conference teams met twice in the regular season.
the round of 8 if the two conference teams met three or more times in the regular season.

If possible, regular season rematches should be avoided in the First Four and the round of 64. In addition, rematches from the previous two tournaments should be avoided in the round of 64.

In order to work through all the principles, the committee has the option of moving a team up or down one seed line (even two under extraordinary circumstances) from its true seed line.

Everybody got that?

For more on how the NCAA committee builds the bracket, read the principles and procedures.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

2014 Bracket Project Prediction

Here are my picks for this year. I really didn't spend too much time on it.

PREDICTION (pdf)

Sunday, March 16, 2014

2014 FINAL SEED LIST PROJECTION

Read em and weep.

1 - Florida, Arizona, Wichita State, Michigan
2 - Kansas, Villanova, Wisconsin, Virginia
3 - Iowa State, Creighton, Duke, Louisville
4 - Syracuse, UCLA, Michigan State, San Diego State
5 - VCU, Kentucky, Ohio State, Cincinnati
6 - Connecticut, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Carolina
7 - Gonzaga, Massachusetts, Texas, Baylor
8 - Pittsburgh, George Washington, Oregon, Saint Louis
9 - Oklahoma State, Stanford, Memphis, Colorado
10 - Iowa, St. Joseph's, Kansas State, Providence
11 - Tennessee, Arizona State, Xavier, BYU/Dayton
12 - Nebraska/SMU, Harvard, North Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin
13 - Manhattan, Tulsa, New Mexico State, Delaware
14 - Louisiana-Lafayette, Western Michigan, NC-Central, Mercer
15 - Eastern Kentucky, American, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Weber State
16 - Albany, Wofford, Cal Poly/Mount St. Mary's, Coastal Carolina/Texas Southern

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Bracket - March 15

Here's my bracket for games played thru March 14. As always, this is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

Bracket

1 - Arizona, Florida, Wichita State, Michigan
2 - Wisconsin, Kansas, Creighton, Villanova
3 - Iowa State, Syracuse, Duke, Virginia
4 - Louisville, Michigan State, San Diego State, UCLA
5 - Ohio State, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Cincinnati
6 - Baylor, VCU, North Carolina, Kentucky
7 - New Mexico, Oregon, St. Louis, Texas
8 - George Washington, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, Gonzaga
9 - Memphis, Kansas State, Colorado, Oklahoma State
10 - Arizona State, Iowa, Tennessee, Stanford
11 - BYU, Xavier, St. Joseph's, Providence/SMU
12 - Dayton, Nebraska, Harvard, North Dakota State, Louisiana Tech
13 - Manhattan, Stephen F. Austin, Georgia State, New Mexico State
14 - Western Michigan, North Carolina Central, Mercer, Delaware
15 - Eastern Kentucky, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, American, Stony Brook
16 - Weber State, Wofford, Mount St. Mary's/Coastal Carolina, CS-Northridge/Texas Southern

The NIT Bracket Project

Friday, March 14, 2014

Bracket - March 14

Here's my bracket for games played thru March 13. As usual, this is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

Bracket

1 - Arizona, Florida, Wichita State, Michigan
2 - Villanova, Kansas, Wisconsin, Syracuse
3 - Creighton, Iowa State, Duke, Virginia
4 - Cincinnati, Louisville, Michigan State, San Diego State
5 - Ohio State, UCLA, North Carolina, Oklahoma
6 - Kentucky, VCU, St. Louis, Connecticut
7 - Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, Baylor
8 - Memphis, Oklahoma State, New Mexico, Gonzaga
9 - George Washington, Stanford, Kansas State, Colorado
10 - Iowa, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Arizona State
11 - Dayton, Xaiver, Nebraska, St. Joseph's/SMU
12 - BYU/Providence, Louisiana Tech, Harvard, North Dakota State
13 - Manhattan, Stephen F. Austin, Georgia State, Delaware
14 - North Carolina Central, Western Michigan, UC Irvine, Mercer
15 - Eastern Kentucky, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, American, Stony Brook
16 - Weber State, Utah Valley, Wofford/Mount St. Mary's, Coastal Carolina/Texas Southern

The NIT Bracket Project

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Bracket - March 11

Here's my bracket thru games of March 10. As always, this and the NIT bracket are my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

Bracket

BYU moved up to a 10 seed in order to avoid any Sunday games. All my 11 seeds are in a Friday-Sunday pod.

1 - Arizona, Florida, Villanova, Wichita State
2 - Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Syracuse
3 - Crieghton, Duke, Iowa State, Virginia
4 - Louisville, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Michigan State
5 - Ohio State, Virginia Commonwealth, San Diego State, North Carolina
6 - St. Louis, UCLA, Kentucky, Oregon
7 - New Mexico, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Texas
8 - Memphis, Baylor, Gonzaga, Oklahoma State
9 - George Washington, Arizona State, Colorado, Iowa
10 - BYU, Stanford, Kansas State, Pittsburgh
11 - Dayton, SMU, Tennessee, Nebraska/Xavier
12 - St. Joseph's/Cal, Harvard, North Dakota State, Louisiana Tech
13 - Manhattan, Stephen F. Austin, Georgia State, Delaware
14 - Mercer, Boston University, UC Irvine, North Carolina Central
15 - Western Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Robert Morris, Wright State
16 - Utah Valley, Stony Brook, Wofford/Weber State, Coastal Carolina/Texas Southern

The NIT Bracket Project

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Bracket - March 8

Here is my bracket thru games of March 7. As always, this is my opinion and not based on The Bracket Matrix.

Bracket

1 - Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Wichita State
2 - Villanova, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia
3 - Creighton, Syracuse, Duke, Iowa State
4 - Cincinnati, Louisville, Michigan State, Oklahoma
5 - UCLA, North Carolina, San Diego State, Ohio State
6 - Kentucky, Texas, Connecticut, Virginia Commonwealth
7 - Massachusetts, Iowa, Saint Louis, Oklahoma State
8 - Oregon, New Mexico, Baylor, Gonzaga
9 - Arizona State, Kansas State, George Washington, Memphis
10 - Colorado, SMU, Stanford, Pittsburgh
11 - Arkansas, Tennessee, St. Joseph's, Dayton/Providence
12 - Xavier/BYU, Harvard, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Louisiana Tech
13 - North Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin, Iona, Georgia State
14 - Belmont, Vermont, Delaware, Mercer
15 - Boston University, UC Irvine, North Carolina Central, Western Michigan
16 - Davidson, Robert Morris, Utah Valley/Coastal Carolina, Weber State/Texas Southern

The NIT Bracket Project

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Bracket - March 5

Here's my bracket for games thru March 4. As always, this is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

Bracket

1 - Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Wichita State
2 - Wisconsin, Villanova, Duke, Michigan
3 - Virginia, Syracuse, Creighton, Iowa State
4 - Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan State, North Carolina
5 - Oklahoma, St. Louis, San Diego State, UCLA
6 - Connecticut, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio State
7 - Virginia Commonwealth, Iowa, New Mexico, Massachusetts
8 - Gonzaga, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Memphis
9 - SMU, Oregon, George Washington, Kansas State
10 - Pittsburgh, Colorado, Stanford, Baylor
11 - Tennessee, St. Joseph's, Arkansas, Providence/California
12 - Xavier/BYU, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Louisiana Tech, Harvard
13 - North Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin, Toledo, Iona
14 - Delaware, Belmont, Vermont, Georgia State
15 - Mercer, Boston University, UC Irvine, North Carolina Central
16 - Davidson, Robert Morris, Utah Valley/High Point, Weber State/Texas Southern

The NIT Bracket Project

Friday, February 28, 2014

Bracket - February 28

Here's my bracket for games thru February 27. As always, this is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

Bracket

1 - Arizona, Kansas, Florida, Wichita State
2 - Syracuse, Creighton, Villanova, Wisconsin
3 - Duke, Iowa State, Michigan, Virginia
4 - Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Kentucky
5 - Saint Louis, North Carolina, Ohio State, Texas
6 - San Diego State, UCLA, Iowa, Massachusetts
7 - Connecticut, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona State
8 - Kansas State, Virginia Commonwealth, Oregon, SMU
9 - George Washington, Stanford, Gonzaga, Colorado
10 - Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Baylor, Memphis
11 - Xavier, St. Joseph's, Arkansas/Florida State, Minnesota/California
12 - BYU, North Dakota State, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Harvard
13 - Louisiana Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Iona, Georgia State
14 - Mercer, Delaware, Belmont, Vermont
15 - UC Irvine, Boston University, North Carolina Central, Western Michigan
16 - Robert Morris, Davidson, Weber State/Utah Valley, High Point/Alabama State

BYU was shifted down to a 12 to fit bracketing principles (no Sunday games).

The NIT Bracket Project

Conference Championships Schedule - 2014

Here's my annual pdf to guide you through when you can catch all the conference tournaments happening in the next two weeks.

Download

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Bracket - February 25

Here's my updated bracket for games thru February 24. This is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/140225.pdf

1 - Kansas, Arizona, Florida, Wichita State
2 - Syracuse, Villanova, Creighton, Duke
3 - Wisconsin, Saint Louis, Michigan, Louisville
4 - Virginia, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Kentucky
5 - Michigan State, San Diego State, Ohio State, Iowa
6 - North Carolina, UCLA, Texas, Massachusetts
7 - Oklahoma, Connecticut, New Mexico, Virginia Commonwealth
8 - SMU, Memphis, George Washington, Stanford
9 - Baylor, Pittsburgh, Kansas State, Colorado
10 - Arizona State, Gonzaga, Oklahoma State, BYU
11 - Oregon, St. John's, Missouri, California/Xavier
12 - Nebraska/St. Joseph's, Harvard, Wisconsin-Green Bay, North Dakota State
13 - Stephen F. Austin, Iona, New Mexico State, Middle Tennessee
14 - Mercer, UC Santa Barbara, Delaware, Vermont
15 - Georgia State, Belmont, Western Michigan, Boston University
16 - North Carolina Central, Robert Morris, Davidson/Weber State, VMI/Alabama State

The NIT Bracket Project

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Bracket - February 22

Here's my updated bracket. This is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/140222.pdf

1 - Arizona, Syracuse, Florida, Wichita State
2 - Kansas, Creighton, Villanova, Duke
3 - Cincinnati, Wisconsin, San Diego State, St. Louis
4 - Michigan State, Iowa State, Virginia, Kentucky
5 - Iowa, Louisville, Texas, UCLA
6 - Michigan, Ohio State, Connecticut, Massachusetts
7 - North Carolina, Oklahoma, Gonzaga, Arizona State
8 - Colorado, Kansas State, Virginia Commonwealth, Memphis
9 - George Washington, Pittsburgh, New Mexico, Oregon
10 - Missouri, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Stanford
11 - SMU, Tennessee, Xavier, BYU/St. John's
12 - California/St. Joseph's, Harvard, Wisconsin-Green Bay, North Dakota State
13 - Stephen F. Austin, Mercer, Iona, UTEP
14 - Vermont, Georgia State, Belmont, Delaware
15 - UC Irvine, Boston University, Western Michigan, North Carolina Central
16 - Robert Morris, Davidson, Utah Valley/Weber State, High Point/Alabama State

NIT

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/NIT140222.pdf

1 - Minnesota, Providence, Nebraska, Dayton
2 - Florida State, Arkansas, Richmond, West Virginia
3 - Marquette, Toledo, Georgetown, Southern Miss
4 - Clemson, LSU, Maryland, Boise State
5 - St. Mary's, St. Bonaventure, North Carolina State, Louisiana Tech
6 - Mississippi, Oregon State, Indiana State, Utah
7 - Illinois, Washington, Middle Tennessee, Indiana
8 - Texas Tech, Ohio, Wyoming, Wake Forest

Also Considered (in ABC order): Eastern Michigan, Georgia, Manhattan, New Mexico State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Purdue, San Francisco, Seton Hall, UNLV, Vanderbilt

Friday, February 14, 2014

NCAA and NIT Brackets - February 14

Here's my updated bracket. This is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/140214.pdf

1 - Syracuse, Arizona, Florida, Wichita State

2 - Kansas, Villanova, Michigan State, Duke

3 - San Diego State, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kentucky

4 - Michigan, Saint Louis, Creighton, Louisville

5 - Virginia, Iowa, Wisconsin, Texas

6 - Memphis, Pittsburgh, UCLA, Ohio State

7 - Connecticut, Kansas State, Massachusetts, Gonzaga

8 - SMU, Oklahoma, Virginia Commonwealth, North Carolina

9 - Arizona State, George Washington, Oklahoma State, Colorado

10 - New Mexico, California, Xavier, Stanford

11 - Minnesota, Tennessee, Oregon, Missouri/Georgetown

12 - Richmond/Providence, Southern Miss, Toledo, Harvard

13 - Wisconsin-Green Bay, UC Santa Barbara, Delaware, North Dakota State

14 - Georgia State, Stephen F. Austin, Iona, Mercer

15 - Vermont, North Carolina Central, American, Belmont

16 - Davidson, Robert Morris, Weber State/Utah Valley, Southern/Coastal Carolina

NIT

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/NIT140214.pdf

1 - BYU, Baylor, Florida State, Dayton
2 - Arkansas, St. Joseph's, West Virginia, St. John's
3 - North Carolina State, Marquette, St. Mary's, LSU
4 - Maryland, Nebraska, Louisiana Tech, Clemson
5 - St. Bonaventure, Mississippi, Boise State, Indiana State
6 - Oregon State, Indiana, Utah, Washington
7 - Texas Tech, Ohio, Illinois, Wake Forest
8 - Wyoming, Notre Dame, Penn State, Northwestern

Also Considered (in ABC order): Akron, Manhattan, Miami (FL), Penn State, Purdue, UNLV, UTEP, Vanderbilt

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

2014 NIT Bracketology Links

Here are some sites that I've visited while updating the matrix that have started offering NIT predictions this season. Drop me a line if I've missed any. I'll update this post periodically as the season progresses.

The NIT Bracket Project

Beer's Bracket

Big Apple Buckets - John Templon

Bracketball

Brad-ketology

Building the Dam - Connor Pelton

DRatings
KPI Competition Analysis

Jason Wells' Bracketology

To learn more about the NIT, visit the NCAA page and read the principles and procedures.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Bracket - February 8

Here's my updated bracket. This is my opinion and not based on the Bracket Matrix.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/140208.pdf

1 - Syracuse, Arizona, Florida, Wichita State
2 - Kansas, Villanova, Michigan State, San Diego State
3 - Cincinnati, Duke, Michigan, Creighton
4 - Iowa State, Kentucky, Iowa, Louisville
5 - Texas, St. Louis, Virginia, Wisconsin
6 - Oklahoma, Gonzaga, Ohio State, Oklahoma State
7 - Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Massachusetts, UCLA
8 - Stanford, North Carolina, Memphis, Virginia Commonwealth
9 - George Washington, Kansas State, Colorado, Florida State
10 - New Mexico, Tennessee, Arizona State, Xavier
11 - California, Oregon, Minnesota, SMU/Providence
12 - Missouri/Baylor, Harvard, Southern Miss, Toledo
13 - Wisconsin-Green Bay, Stephen F. Austin, UC Santa Barbara, Mercer
14 - Delaware, Georgia State, Belmont, Iona
15 - American, North Carolina Central, IPFW, Stony Brook
16 - Utah Valley, Davidson, Robert Morris/Weber State, Southern/VMI

First 4 out: Richmond, BYU, Georgetown, Indiana

My NIT bracketology starts up this Friday. If I was doing a bracket today, these 40 teams (in ABC order) would be on my board and I'd have to whittle it down to a 32-team bracket.

Arkansas, Boise State, Butler, BYU, Clemson, Dayton, Eastern Michigan, Georgetown, Illinois, Indiana, Indiana State, La Salle, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Manhattan, Marquette, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina State, North Dakota State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio, Oregon State, Penn State, Purdue, Richmond, Seton Hall, St. Bonaventure, St. John's, St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, UNLV, Utah, UTEP, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Washington, and West Virginia

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Bracket - February 1

Here's my updated bracket. This is not a bracket based on the Bracket Matrix.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/140201.pdf

1 - Arizona, Syracuse, Florida, Kansas
2 - Wichita State, Michigan State, San Diego State, Villanova
3 - Oklahoma State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Cincinnati
4 - Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, Creighton
5 - Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Iowa, Massachusetts
6 - UCLA, Oklahoma, Memphis, St. Louis
7 - Texas, Virginia, Ohio State, Gonzaga
8 - George Washington, Minnesota, Connecticut, Xavier
9 - Kansas State, Virginia Commonwealth, Colorado, Florida State
10 - Tennessee, Arizona State, North Carolina, New Mexico
11 - Providence, Missouri, Oregon, Stanford/LSU
12 - California/SMU, Southern Miss, Harvard, Toledo
13 - Wisconsin-Green Bay, Mercer, Stephen F. Austin, Delaware
14 - Canisius, Georgia State, Belmont, UC Santa Barbara
15 - American, North Carolina Central, IPFW, Robert Morris
16 - Utah Valley, Stony Brook, Weber State/Southern, Chattanooga/Coastal Carolina

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Bracket - January 25

Here's my first bracket of the season. As always, this is my opinion and not a bracket based on the matrix but when you see as many brackets as I do in a day, it has an influence.

http://bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/140125.pdf

1 - Arizona, Syracuse, Michigan State, Wichita State
2 - Villanova, Florida, Kansas, San Diego State
3 - Wisconsin, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Massachusetts
4 - Louisville, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Iowa State
5 - Ohio State, Duke, Michigan, Creighton
6 - Kansas State, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis
7 - Oklahoma, Virginia, Gonzaga, Xavier
8 - UCLA, Colorado, Florida State, Baylor
9 - Connecticut, George Washington, Minnesota, Texas
10 - Southern Miss, SMU, Virginia Commonwealth, California
11 - Tennessee, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona State
12 - Stanford/Providence, Arkansas/North Carolina, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Harvard
13 - Toledo, Mercer, Stephen F. Austin, Delaware
14 - Canisius, UC Irvine, Georgia State, Belmont
15 - Stony Brook, American, Northern Colorado, Utah Valley
16 - Robert Morris, Southern, South Dakota/NC-Asheville, Morgan State/Chattanooga

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Matrix Bracket - January 18

My own bracketology, independent of the matrix, starts up next week. Over the summer, the NCAA tweaked the way it builds brackets. Those rules were summarized in an earlier blog post. So, in preparation, I created a bracket based on the January 18 matrix. Let me know if something is amiss.

http://bracketmatrix.com/PDFS/MATRIX140118.pdf