Thursday, February 27, 2020

Bracketing from the NFL Scouting Combine

Pulling some double duty here as I post an updated bracket from Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine and where the Big Ten will soon hold their conference tournament and Midwest Regionals will take place in the NCAA Tournament. A lot happening here in Indianapolis over the next month.


Last Four Byes: Oklahoma, Wichita State, USC, Stanford
Last Four In: North Carolina State, Richmond, Memphis, Providence
First Four Out: Arkansas, Xavier, UCLA, Cincinnati
Next Four Out: Mississippi State, Rhode Island, Georgetown, Alabama

Conference Breakdown

Big Ten - 10

Big East - 6

Pac-12 - 6

ACC - 5

Big 12 - 5

SEC - 4

AAC - 3

West Coast - 3

Atlantic 10 - 2

Mountain West - 2

One-bid leagues - 22

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Top line stays intact, Utah State moves in, Memphis sliding


Valentine's Day is over and that means we're inching closer and closer to Selection Sunday. We stand just four weeks away from the bracket unveiling.

The top half of the bracket is really beginning to take shape. The top line of Baylor, Kansas, Gonzaga and San Diego State is holding firm. The two-line saw a change from the initial committee rankings last week. Maryland moves up in place of West Virginia after their loss at Kansas State. The Terrapins join Duke, Dayton and Louisville.

As for the bubble, San Diego State, at least for now, is not the only Mountain West team in the field. Utah State has moved into the last four in group. Their wins over LSU and Florida could end up looming large among the bubble teams. The downside for the Aggies is they have already been swept in the regular season by the Aztecs. While we can say they could use a win over San Diego State in the Mountain West, that would likely lock up their spot, regardless, as that meeting would likely come in the tournament final and a win would give Utah State the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Memphis has taken a tumble and recently suffered a bad home loss to South Florida. The Tigers are now in danger of missing the tournament in what has been quite the roller-coaster season, which included the suspension and eventual departure from the school of James Wiseman.

Richmond and VCU meet Saturday in a huge bubble contest. Both teams are currently on the outside looking in. VCU suffered an ugly loss Wednesday against George Mason. This game might be more important for the Rams but that certainly doesn't mean this isn't important for the Spiders. The loser will have a bigger hole to climb out of. VCU easily took the first meeting back on January 28, winning at home by 19.

So now let's take a look at the latest bracket before an important weekend of games.



Last Four Byes: Stanford, Cincinnati, Wichita State, Purdue
Last Four In: Memphis, Arizona State, Utah State, Florida
First Four Out: Richmond, Rhode Island, North Carolina State, Xavier
Next Four Out: Mississippi State, VCU, UNC Greensboro, Georgetown

Conference Breakdown

Big Ten - 11

Pac-12 - 6

Big 12 - 5

Big East - 5

SEC - 5

American Athletic - 4

ACC - 4

West Coast - 3

Mountain West - 2

One-bid leagues - 23


Friday, February 7, 2020

Finally back for 2020

It's been a good while coming, but we're finally ready with the first bracket of 2020. I wanted to at least the first bracket ready before Saturday's top-16 reveal by the committee, which is always an interesting exercise to see how the committee values the top teams, especially a season like this one, which has featured so many upsets and craziness across the nation.

We have a strong consensus as to who the top four teams in the country are and who would currently headline each region as of today. The top seeds right now are Baylor, Gonzaga, San Diego State and Kansas. Among that group, it will be interesting to see where the committee slots San Diego State, the last remaining unbeaten team this season at 23-0. Did they show the committee enough to slot them No. 1 overall, ahead of Baylor, who sits atop the AP Poll?

If not, how will they compare to Gonzaga, who has just one loss against Michigan? This is an interesting case. Both teams have four quadrant one victories, but the committee might look at Gonzaga's top wins as a better group than those of San Diego State. The Bulldogs own wins away from home against Arizona and Oregon, along with a home win over BYU. The Aztecs have beaten Creighton, Iowa and BYU away from home. Gonzaga's win over Oregon, who is in play for a No. 2 seed, may be currently enough to push them to the overall No. 2 seed and the West region, sending the Aztecs to the Midwest.

It's not often we see two teams battling for the West region on the top line and not as the final No. 1 seed. But we've got it this season and it's an exciting race to watch.

As for the other side of the bracket, we've got a pair of West Coast teams (Saint Mary's and BYU) and an Atlantic 10 team (Rhode Island) among the last four byes and an Atlantic 10 team (Richmond) among the last four in, helping out the non-power six. Also in that group is defending national champion Virginia, which shows how crazy this season has been. Even last season's runner-up, Texas Tech, currently sits as a No. 9 seed.

You also get a sense of how weak the ACC has been this season. As of now, only four teams from the league are dancing, but three of them all sit on the two-line. You know it's a down year when North Carolina is sitting near the basement of the league.

The last four in are Texas, Richmond, Purdue and Florida. Purdue is helped by their top-30 NET ranking and the fact the Big Ten has been so strong this season. This bracket features 11 teams from the league, which would tie the all-time record for most teams from a single conference in the NCAA Tournament. The Big East sent 11 of their 16 teams back in 2011, the first year the tournament fielded 68 teams.

Just on the outside are Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, North Carolina State and VCU, with Tulsa, UNC Greensboro, Utah State and Minnesota behind them.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the full bracket heading into the weekend and tomorrow's top-16 reveal.



Last Four Byes: Rhode Island, Saint Mary's, BYU, Virginia

Last Four In: Texas, Richmond, Purdue, Florida

First Four Out: Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, VCU

Next Four Out: Tulsa, UNC Greensboro, Utah State, Minnesota

Also considered: Alabama, Arizona State, Georgetown, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Providence, SMU, Syracuse, Tennessee, Xavier

Conference Breakdown:

Big Ten - 11

Big 12 - 6

Big East - 5

Pac-12 - 5

SEC - 5

ACC - 4

American Athletic - 3

Atlantic 10 - 3

West Coast - 3

One-bid leagues - 23