The Maniac's Bracket

OK, time to put my money where my mouth is... this bracket is done before several impactful games; namely the SEC, Big Ten and ACC Championship games. This bracket is based on several assumptions; Tennessee doesn't allow Miss St to swipe yet another bubble bid, Duke and Purdue win, as well as Utah State and Pacific in smaller conferences.

As always, we welcome your input and dissent.

Memphis Bracket

#1 UNC
#16 Morehead/AL State
#8 BYU
#9 Michigan
#5 Arizona St.
#12 Temple
#4 Syracuse
#13 W. Kentucky
#3 Villanova
#14 E. TN St.
#6 Utah
#11 VCU
#7 Clemson
#10 Penn State
#2 Michigan St.
#15 Pacific

Phoenix Bracket

#1 UConn
#16 Akron
#8 Texas
#9 Cal
#5 Washington
#12 No. Iowa
#4 Purdue
#13 Binghamton
#3 Gonzaga
#14 N. Dakota St.
#6 Illinois
#11 St. Mary's
#7 Butler
#10 Minnesota
#2 Memphis
#15 Stephen F. Austin

Indy Bracket

#1 Louisville
#16 Chatanooga
#8 Ohio St.
#9 Boston College
#4 Florida St.
#13 American
#5 Tennessee
#12 USC
#3 Missouri
#14 Cleveland St.
#6 West Virginia
#11 Siena
#7 LSU
#10 Dayton
#2 Duke
#15 Radford


Boston Bracket

#1 Pitt
#16 Morgan State
#8 Ok. State
#9 Maryland
#4 Kansas
#13 Portland State
#5 Xavier
#12 Utah State
#3 Wake Forest
#14 Cornell
#6 UCLA
#11 Creighton
#7 Marquette
#10 San Diego State
#2 Oklahoma
#15 Robert Morris

OK -let's start with some obvious ommisions:

Auburn - sorry, too little too late. The SEC stinks, and just because Florida and Kentucky surprisingly stunk MORE doesn't mean the deserve a bid. Add in a non-conference that features losses to Mercer, Xavier, Dayton, Northern Iowa with the only decent win over UVA, the Tigers get bumped off the crowded bubble.

South Carolina - ditto.

UNLV - Wow, they just begged to be sent to the NIT with a dreaful finish capped off with a home-court opening round loss in the MWC Tourney to bubblemate San Diego State. Suffice it to say, the committe will oblige and send them kNITting.

Arizona - The fought their way back IN to the tourney, only to have it undone by a 1-5 finish. The true death nail was USC's improbable Pac-10 title, swiping an at-large bid from the hopefuls.

Wisconsin - Everyone has them as a lock; I don't see it. There is no way EIGHT Big Ten teams get in. There just isn't enough room with the conference tourney upsets. In the end, I'll take Creighton and Dayton over the mediocre Badgers. The committee could feel otherwise, but I'll stand my ground on this one.

A Couple other notes:

Would I personally give Memphis a #1 over UConn? No. But I am pretty sure they will be 4-5 on the S-curve, with the committee pussing out on giving one conference three #1's. Just a hunch. Body of work and schedule strength (and quality wins), to me, favors UConn. Name three quality wins for Memphis... can't do it, right?

Lousiville deserves a #1, and to stay HOME. This is the regular season and TOURNEY champ of the conference with a possible three #1 seeds. No brainer. I give two craps about the Minnesota and W. KY losses - that was then, this is now. This is a Top 4 team.

Purdue jumps way up with the Big Ten (assumed) championship and their strong play. Likewise for Tennessee. Don't forget their gauntlet of a schedule. The committee won't when seeding them tomorrow night. I wouldn't be surprised if they move up to a #4.

Gonzaga deserves a #3. This is another brutal schedule survivor with loads and loads of talent. They likely fall to a #4, but I'll stick with a #3.

I hate Wake at a #3, but there is a gap after the first eight. I'd have no objection if te committee flipped them and Florida State at 3/4.

Quick defense of my picks: St. Mary's & Creighton will get in. The committee has sense. Business sense. A few mid-major darlings make better business sense than adding a 8th Big Ten or 8th Big East or 6th Pac-10 team. Homestly, other than maybe Auburn and Texas A&M no one has a legitimate beef to get over them. Just a hunch, I think both get in the Big Dance.

Enjoy the brackets -
Be sure to post comments of how crappy the Maniac's Bracket looks in 8 hours...

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