So I've decided to try something new this year and include pods as well as regions. I'm pretty sure it'll blow up in my face, but since when I have I ever turned down a bad idea? I also want to say that I think this might be the most uninspiring tournament field I've ever seen. Practically every team seeded from 9 on down is indistinguishible from any other; this also includes the supposed "snubs". So basically the bubble is as fluid as I've ever seen it and I really wouldn't be surprised if we see some big surprises later today on the selection show.
First the number one seeds (which are ranked from 1 to 4 overall):
1: THE Ohio State University (Midwest Regional)
2: North Carolina (East Regional)
3: UCLA (West Regional)
4: Kansas (South Regional)
which means the Midwest champ meets the south champ in one semifinal and the west champ meets the east champ in the other. Um...so this could get completely screwed up if texas wins the Big 12 tourney and Wisconsin (God forbid) wins the big ten tourney, but I'm on a limited time frame here.
Here are the matchups in the each region. The full bracket is posted below.
Midwest (St. Louis):
Lexington
1: THE Ohio State University
16: North Texas
8: Arizona
9: Xavier
Winston-Salem
5: Notre Dame
12: New Mexico State
4: Virginia Tech
13: Holy Cross
Columbus
6: Boston College
11: Air Force
3: Texas A&M
14: Miami OH
New Orleans
7: Butler
10: Syracuse
2: Memphis
15: Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi
South (San Antonio):
Chicago
1: Kansas
16: Play in winner (Florida A&M/Jackson State)
8: Vanderbilt
9: Michigan St
Lexington
5: Maryland
12: Stanford
4: Louisville
13: Pennsylvania
Spokane
6: UNLV
11: VCU
3: Oregon
14: Long Beach
New Orleans:
7: Creighton
10: Georgia Tech
2: Florida
15: Niagara
East (East Rutherford):
Winston-Salem
1: North Carolina
16: Central Connecticut
8: Villanova
9: Texas Tech
Sacramento
5: Nevada
12: Davidson
4: Washington State
13: George Washington
Columbus
6: Tennessee
11: Illinois
3: Southern Illinois
14: Oral Roberts
Buffalo
7: USC
10: Indiana
2: Georgetown
15: Eastern Kentucky
West (San Jose):
Sacramento
1: UCLA
16: Weber State
8: BYU
9: Kentucky
Spokane
5: Marquette
12: Gonzaga
4: Texas
13: Wright State
Buffalo
6: Virginia
11: Old Dominion
3: Pittsburgh
14: Albany
Chicago
7: Duke
10: Winthrop
2: Wisconsin
15: Belmont
Last four in:
Air Force
Illinois
Old Dominion
Stanford
Last four out:
Drexel
Kansas State
Purdue
West Virginia