Brackettown Breakdown

As we approach Championship Week and we continue to look at the bracket it appropriate to put teams in three categories: The "Hamptons" (the high end teams, locked into the touranment), the "Town Square" teams (the middle of the bracket where everybody gathers) and separately the "One Bid Wonders" (leagues that have ZERO teams with at-large profiles). Currently, we have 78 teams on the board and we'll drop and add as teams get hot or cold.

The Breakdown

The Hamptons (16): Tennessee, Memphis, North Carolina, Texas, UCLA, Duke, Kansas, Xavier, Georgetown, Stanford, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisville and Butler.

One Bid Wonders (15, current conference leader listed): Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Oral Roberts (Summit), Cornell (Ivy), Siena (Metro-Atlantic), Maryland-Baltimore County (Am. East), Belmont (Atlantic Sun), Boise State (WAC), American (Patriot), Austin Peay (Ohio Valley), Cal State-Northridge (Big West), Portland State (Big Sky), Winthrop (Big South), Robert Morris (Northeast), Morgan State (Mid-Eastern), Alabama State (SWAC).

Town Square Teams (47 teams for 34 spots, teams in parenthesis are current conference leaders): Michigan State, Notre Dame, Marquette, Purdue, Washington State, Drake (Missouri Valley), Kent State (Mid-American), St. Mary's (West Coast), Gonzaga, BYU (Mountain West), Arizona, Clemson, South Alabama (Sun Belt), Miami (FL), Pittsburgh, Oklahoma, UNLV, Baylor, West Virginia, Arkansas, Umass, Kansas State, Southern California, Mississippi State, Saint Joseph's, Texas A&M, Syracuse, Rhode Island, Maryland, Arizona State, Va. Commonwealth (Colonial), Davidson (Southern), Florida, UAB, Illinois State, Southern Illinois, New Mexico, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Houston, Kentucky, Villanova, Oregon, Creighton, California, Mississippi, George Mason.

Additions to the Watch Board

I've added New Mexico and Southern Illinois to the Watch Board. The Lobos and new coach Steve Alford will make their case this week when they host BYU and UNLV. With no current top-50 wins (but a 22-6 mark) a decision will likely be made on the Lobos by Sunday.

The Salukis are rounding into form and I wouldn't want to be playing them in St. Louis. The question remains, though, if they win their last two and two more in the Valley tournament would 20-13 get them in if they lost in the finals. I don't know?

Commentary on the Bracket

In the few years I've been doing this, I've always had to eliminate teams that I thought should be in the tournament. This year it's the opposite: I'm putting in the least bad teams.

The last four in today -- Villanova, Ohio State, Rhode Island and Syracuse -- have done little to make themselves a lock for anything. But, look at the next four -- Florida, Illinois State, UAB and Wake Forest. You can make a small case for Illinois State (#2 team in the #8 RPI league -- the same case for an AWFUL Air Force team a few years ago) and UAB (no real bad losses and they beat Kentucky). Ugh.

It will be interesting to see who the committee likes this season and their reasons for having teams in and out.

BracketBuster Winners
1. The Missouri Valley was a big winner in the annual Busters with their top five teams all getting big wins: Drake @ Butler, Illinois State v. Wright State, SIU v. Nevada, Creighton @ Oral Roberts and Bradley v. UWM. The Valley tournament should be top notch again this year.

2. Kent State. The Golden Flash made some noise for the first time since Stan Heath led them to within a game of the Final Four in the 2002 NCAA Tournament when the won at St. Mary's (the first team to do so this year). Kent State would be an "at-large IN" in today's bracket if needed. It also didn't hurt that conference mate Ohio game from way back to beat George Mason.

BubbleBusters?
After enduring four games that came down to the last possession in Big 12 losses, the Huskers are now ruining the Big 12 bubble having topped Kansas State and Texas A&M in back-to-back games. Both the Wildcats and the Aggies appear safe, but NU's next opponent -- Oklahoma -- comes to town on Wednesday for another big bubble game. A win in that game for Nebraska would give both teams 6-7 league records. But, remember, the Sooners are playing for their tournament lives.

NOTE: The Huskers beat consecutive ranked opponents for the first time since 1999 with the wins last week.

Teams we are watching
1. Kentucky -- Can Billy Gillespie's team come back from the dead? If the Wildcats are 18-11 going to the SEC Tournament and advance to the SEC semifinals can you really leave them out?

2. Ohio State -- They couldn't beat Wisconsin at home today and now the travel to Bloomington. If they lose to the Hoosiers, I'd think they need to win out: @ Minnesota, v. Michigan State and v. Purdue.

3. Syracuse -- The Orange are really good at home where they have a chance to beat Marquette and Pittsburgh before the Big East tournament. It's the game @ Seton Hall I'm more interested in.

4. The middle of the Atlantic 10 -- Will anyone give Xavier a fight in the league tournament? St. Joseph's, UMass and Rhode Island should have the best chance. If those teams advance to the final four of the touranment at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City they might all make the Big Dance.

5. Maryland @ Wake Forest -- The winner is likely in next week's bracket and the loser is likely out. What has happened to the Terps -- the loss at home to Va. Tech is unexcusable.

February 25th Bracket

2008 NCAA Tournament
National Semifinals: April 5
National Finals: April 7
Site: The Alamodome
Final Four pairings: South v. Midwest, West v. East

Charlotte
1 Tennessee (SEC) v. 16 Robert Morris (Northeast) /Alabama St. (SWAC)
8 Pittsburgh v. 9 Oklahoma
Pod site: Birmingham
5 Butler (Horizon League) v. 12 Rhode Island
4 Indiana v. 13 VCU (Colonial)
Pod site: Denver
3 Louisville v. 14 Cornell (Ivy League)
6 Vanderbilt v. 11 Kent State (Mid-American)
Pod site: Birmingham
7 Arizona v. 10 West Virginia
2 Xavier v. 15 Austin Peay (Ohio Valley)
Washington, DC

Phoenix
1 Duke (ACC) v. 16 Winthrop (Big South)
8 Kansas State v. 9 Arkansas
Pod site: Raleigh
5 Washington State v. 12 Syracuse
4 Wisconsin v. 13 S.F.Austin (Southland)
Pod site: Omaha
3 Georgetown (Big East) v. 14 Md.-Balt. Cty (Am. East)
6 Clemson v. 11 South Alabama (Sun Belt)
Pod site: Tampa
7 St. Mary’s (West Coast) v. 10 BYU (Mountain West)
2 UCLA (Pacific 10) v. 15 CS-Northridge (Big West)
Pod site: Anaheim

Detroit
1 North Carolina v. 16 Morgan State (MEAC)
8 Mississippi State v. 9 Baylor
Pod site: Raleigh
5 Michigan State v. 12 Villanova
4 Drake (Missouri Valley) v. 13 Oral Roberts (Summit)
Pod site: Denver
3 Stanford v. 14 Boise State (WAC)
6 Marquette v. 11 Massachusetts
Pod site: Anaheim
7 Gonzaga v. 10 Maryland
2 Kansas v. 15 American (Patriot)
Pod site: Omaha

Houston
1 Memphis (Conf. USA) v. 16 Portland State (Big Sky)
8 Texas A&M v. 9 Arizona State
Pod site: Little Rock
5 Notre Dame v. 12 St. Joseph’s
4 Purdue v. 13 Davidson (Big South)
Pod site: Tampa
3 Connecticut v. 14 Siena (MAAC)
6 Southern California v. 11 Ohio State
Pod site: Washington, DC
7 Miami (FL) v. 10 UNLV
2 Texas v. 15 Belmont (Atlantic Sun)
Pod site: Little Rock

Last four in: Villanova, Ohio State, Rhode Island, Syracuse
First four out: Florida, Illinois State, UAB, Wake Forest
Next four out: Va. Tech, Houston, Kentucky, Oregon
Still on the board: Creighton, California, Mississippi, George Mason
Left for dead: Dayton, NC State

February 18th Bracket

First, I apologize for no brackets the past couple of weeks but they have been on the mothership at www.huskerhoopscentral.com. Without further ado:

Houston (South) v. Charlotte (East)
Phoenix (West) v. Detroit (Midwest)

Houston
1 Memphis (Conf. USA) v. 16 Wagner (Northeast)/Alabama State (SWAC)
8 Rhode Island v. 9 Ohio State
Pod site: Little Rock
5 Michigan State v. 12 Baylor
4 Drake (Missouri Valley) v. 13 Davidson (Southern)
Pod site: Omaha
3 Butler (Horizon) v. 14 Cornell (Ivy)
6 Louisville v. 11 Kent State (Mid-American)
Pod site: Birmingham
7 Arizona v. 10 Florida
2 Texas v. 15 Winthrop (Big South)
Pod site: Little Rock

Charlotte
1 Duke (ACC) v. 16 American (Patriot)
8 Pittsburgh v. 9 Oklahoma
Pod site: Raleigh
5 Vanderbilt v. 12 Oral Roberts (Summit)
4 Wisconsin v. 13 Stephen F. Austin (Southland)
Pod site: Denver
3 Stanford v. 14 Utah State (WAC)
6 St. Mary's (West Coast) v. 11 UNLV
Pod site: Anaheim
7 Clemson v. 10 Arkansas
2 Georgetown v. 15 MD-Balt. County (Am. East)
Pod site: Tampa

Phoenix
1 Tennessee (SEC) v. 16 Morgan State (MEAC)
8 Marquette v. 9 Maryland
Pod site: Birmingham
5 Kansas State v. 12 Arizona State
4 Purdue v. 13 Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)
Pod site: Denver
3 Xavier (Atlantic 10) v. 14 Siena (Metro Atlantic)
6 Notre Dame v. 11 Wake Forest
Pod site: Washington, DC
7 Gonzaga v. 10 BYU (Mountain West)
2 UCLA (Pacific 10) v. 15 CS-Northridge (Big West)
Pod site: Anaheim

Detroit
1 Kansas (Big 12) v. 16 Portland State (Big West)
8 Mississippi State v. 9 Syracuse
Pod site: Omaha
5 Washington State v. 12 South Alabama
4 Indiana v. 13 Va. Commonwealth (Colonial)
Pod site: Tampa
3 Connecticut v. 14 Belmont (Atlantic Sun)
6 Texas A&M v. 11 St. Joseph’s
Pod site: Washington, DC
7 Southern California v. 10 West Virginia
2 North Carolina v. 15 Austin Peay (Ohio Valley)
Pod site: Raleigh

Last four in: St. Joseph’s, South Alabama, Wake Forest, Arizona State
First four out: Dayton, Mississippi, Illinois State, UMass
Next four out: Oregon, Miami (FL), California, NC State
Still on the board: Villanova, Kentucky, George Mason, Creighton

Pod sites for the 20th and 22nd: Washington, DC, Omaha, Anaheim, Denver
Pod sites for the 21st and 23rd: Raleigh, Little Rock, Tampa, Birmingham