3/8/12 Bracket

Selection Sunday is less than 1 week away.
We will be updating the bracket daily during this stretch.
Here is the latest projection of what the field will be on March 11.
* Indicates the team has won their conference tournament.

Be sure to check out all the brackets in the Bracket Matrix: http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm

1 seeds: Syracuse, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina

Both Syracuse & Kentucky finished their seasons 30-1. Syracuse is a lock for the East Regional in Boston. Kentucky a lock for the South Regional in Atlanta.  Kansas continues to play their best basketball of the season and has won 8 straight.  North Carolina picked up a dominating road victory over Duke on Saturday.

2 seeds: Ohio St, Michigan St, Missouri, Duke

Ohio St. picked up two hard fought road wins this week.  Beating both Northwestern & Michigan State in the final seconds.  Their win over Michigan State dramatically helps their resume, which also includes a November win over Duke.  Michigan St. dominated the first half against the Buckeyes but fell in the final moments 72-70.  The Spartans were also beaten at Indiana on Tuesday, but their RPI ranking of 3 will keep them in the mix for a #1 seed next Sunday if they can win the Big 10 tournament.  Missouri took care of business this week and beat Iowa St. at home 78-72.  The Tigers are the #2 seed in the Big 12 tournament and would like nothing more than a rubber match with rival Kansas.  Duke's very solid, but very unsual season continued Saturday night in another home loss, this time to North Carolina.  While Duke was 8-0 on the road in the ACC, they were only 5-3 at home. The Blue Devils must get more consistent play inside from the Plumlee brothers & Ryan Kelly, as they have become reliant on the three-point shot.

3 seeds: Marquette, Georgetown, Michigan, Indiana

Marquette had their five game winning streak snapped at Cincinnati on Tuesday, but bounced back with a solid 83-69 win over #12 Georgetown.  They enter the Big East tournament as the #2 seed, and receive a double-bye into the quarterfinals.  Georgetown handled #19 Notre Dame at home, but lost at Marquette Saturday. They enter the Big East tournament as the #5 seed, but if they capture at least two wins - they should be safe for a #3 seed in the NCAA tournament.  Ironically, Ohio St's win over Michigan St. gave Michigan a share of the Big 10 regular season title.  A #2 seed in the NCAA tournament is not out of the question if the Wolverines beat Ohio St. & Michigan St. on their way to a Big 10 tournament title.  Same goes for Indiana who beat Michigan St. & Purdue last week. They enter the Big 10 tournament as the #5 seed, but if they run the table, a #2 seed for the NCAA tourney is a possibility.

4 seeds: Wisconsin, Baylor, Florida St, Vanderbilt

5 seeds: Temple, Murray St.*, St. Mary's*, Florida

6 seeds: Notre Dame, UNLV, Wichita St, Iowa St.

7 seeds: Creighton*, New Mexico, Louisville, Kansas St.

8 seeds: Gonzaga, Purdue, Memphis, San Diego St.

9 seeds: Cincinnati, St. Louis, Alabama, West Virginia

10 seeds: Long Beach St, Virginia, VCU*, S. Miss.

11 seeds: UConn, BYU, Texas, Washington

12 seeds: California, South Florida, Colorado St, Northwestern/Drexel

13 seeds: Oral Roberts/Seton Hall, Davidson*, Harvard*, Nevada

14 seeds: South Dakota St*, Detroit*, Belmont*, Akron

15 seeds: Loyola (Md.)*, Montana*, LIU-Brooklyn* Texas Arlington

16 seeds: Lehigh*, Vermont, Miss Valley St/UNC Asheville*, W. Kentucky*/Norfolk St.

Last Four In:     Northwestern, Drexel, Oral Roberts, Seton Hall
First Four Out:  Miami (FL), Iona, Xavier, Tennessee
Next Six Out:    Miss. St, Oregon, NC State, Dayton, Arizona, St. Joseph's