It’s a busy day, so not much of a preface to this field of 68. That said, sifting through the last few resumes was extremely difficult.
Not because teams are overwhelmingly qualified to be part of the NCAA tournament, but because there’s something disqualifying in most years about all of them.
SEE RELATED:
Marshall is under .500 against the top 200. Drexel’s strength of schedule is poor. Mississippi State is a prototypical mediocre high-major team, with not a ton of accomplishments despite its share of opportunities to build a resume. And it was those three teams for the last at-large bid.
Of course, that spot might not matter if St. Bonaventure wins the Atlantic 10, thus placing Xavier in the at-large pool and snatching up a spot. Another update will come after the three 1 p.m. games.
For now, here’s a best guess …
MIDWEST REGION
Louisville
(1) SOUTHEASTERN/Kentucky vs. (16) AMERICA EAST/Vermont-SOUTHWESTERN/Mississippi Valley
(8) Kansas State vs. (9) Connecticut
Nashville
(4) Wisconsin vs. (13) SUMMIT/South Dakota State
(5) Temple vs. (12) Colorado State
Columbus
(3) Michigan vs. (14) BIG SKY/Montana
(6) San Diego State vs. (11) Virginia
Omaha
(2) BIG 12/Missouri vs. (15) METRO ATLANTIC/Loyola
(7) CONFERENCE USA/Memphis vs. (10) West Virginia
EAST REGION
Pittsburgh
(1) Syracuse vs. (16) MID-EASTERN/Norfolk State
(8) Iowa State vs. (9) Alabama
Portland
(4) Indiana vs. (13) BIG WEST/Long Beach State
(5) MOUNTAIN WEST/New Mexico vs. Seton Hall/N.C. State
Albuquerque
(3) Baylor vs. (14) ATLANTIC SUN/Belmont
(6) Cincinnati vs. (11) California
Greensboro
(2) Duke vs. (15) NORTHEAST/Long Island
(7) WEST COAST/Saint Mary’s vs. (10) Southern Mississippi
SOUTH REGION
Greensboro
(1) ATLANTIC COAST/North Carolina vs. (16) SOUTHLAND/Lamar-SUN BELT/Western Kentucky
(8) Notre Dame vs. (9) Purdue
Albuquerque
(4) Georgetown vs. (13) PAC-12/Colorado
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Texas
Nashville
(3) BIG EAST/Louisville vs. (14) WESTERN ATHLETIC/New Mexico State
(6) Wichita State vs. (11) COLONIAL/Virginia Commonwealth
Pittsburgh
(2) Ohio State vs. (15) PATRIOT/Lehigh
(7) Gonzaga vs. (10) ATLANTIC 10/Xavier
WEST REGION
Columbus
(1) BIG TEN/Michigan State vs. (16) BIG SOUTH/UNC Asheville
(8) Florida vs. (9) Saint Louis
Portland
(4) Florida State vs. (13) MID-AMERICAN/Ohio
(5) MISSOURI VALLEY/Creighton vs. (12) South Florida/Mississippi State
Louisville
(3) Marquette vs. (14) SOUTHERN/Davidson
(6) OHIO VALLEY/Murray State vs. (11) Brigham Young
Omaha
(2) Kansas vs. (15) HORIZON/Detroit
(7) UNLV vs. (10) IVY/Harvard
Last four in: Mississippi State, South Florida, N.C. State, Seton Hall
On the doorstep: Marshall, Drexel, Mississippi, Iona
Next four out: Dayton, Washington, Miami, Northwestern
Conference call: Big East (10), Big Ten (6), Big 12 (6), Atlantic Coast (5), Southeastern (5), Mountain West (4), Atlantic 10 (3), West Coast (3), Conference USA (2), Missouri Valley (2), Pac-12 (2)
