The First Bracket

1/22/2012

As March approaches, it's time to reveal my first bracket projection.
Note: This is a projection of how the teams will finish.
Each week I will also provide a breakdown of the top 12 teams in the bracket.

1 seeds: Syracuse, Kentucky, Ohio State, Kansas

Syracuse suffered their first loss at Notre Dame Saturday but their top 5 strength of schedule (SOS) still makes them the overall 1 seed. Kentucky held serve at home this week beating Arkansas and a pesky Alabama team. Ohio St finally found some rythm on the road beating Nebraska. Kansas had a big week dominating Baylor at home then holding off Texas in Austin.

2 seeds: Duke, Missouri, North Carolina, Michigan St.

Duke suffered its first home loss since 2009, but its strong SOS and RPI will keep it no lower than a 2 seed come tournament time. Missouri pulled off one of the nation's most impressive wins of the year by beating Baylor on the road. UNC rebounded from their blow-out loss at Florida St, with a win over the always on the bubble Virgina Tech Hokies. Michigan St lost a hard fought game at Michigan, but handly beat Purdue at home on Saturday.

3 seeds: Georgetown, Florida, Baylor, West Virginia

Georgetown shot only 29% from the field against Rutgers but still got the win. Florida is beginning to look like the second best team in the SEC with its balanced scoring. Baylor played two top 8 teams this week and lost both. West Virginia's big overtime win over Cincinnati and favorable schedule down the stretch gives them the last 3 seed.

4 seeds: Michigan, Vanderbilt, UNLV, UCONN

5 seeds: St. Marys, Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Marquette

6 seeds: Creighton, Kansas St, San Diego St, Indiana

7 seeds: Alabama, Illinois, Louisville, Florida St

8 seeds: Purdue, Temple, Seton Hall, New Mexico

9 seeds: Texas, Cincinnati, Xavier, Stanford

10 seeds: Harvard, Virginia, Dayton, Davidson

11 seeds: Wichita St, Cleveland St, Iowa St, Miss. St

12 seeds: Minnesota, Oral Roberts, Marshall, California,

13 seeds: BYU, VCU, Oregon/Southern Miss, Northern Iowa/St. Louis

14 seeds: Nevada, Long Beach St, Ohio, Iona

15 seeds: Weber St, Belmont, Wagner, Bucknell

16 seeds: Texas Southern, Norfolk St, Stony Brook, Lamar, Denver, Coastal Carolina


Last Four IN: Oregon, Southern Miss, Northern Iowa, St. Louis

Last Four OUT: Notre Dame, NC State, Arkansas, Memphis


Be sure to check out my blog for updates and analysis later this week!