The plot continues to thicken as we get closer and closer to Selection Sunday.
NC State managed to nip Clemson at the wire today in what was likely an elimination game. I’m not completely convinced the Tigers would have made it even with a win, but they’re definitely done with a loss. You heard it here.
Gonzaga’s loss in the final to St. Mary’s is interesting as well. Could the Zags fall to a #2 seed? I think they SHOULD, but somehow they seem to be bulletproof in the eyes of the talking heads. Don’t get me wrong, I think Gonzaga is really good, good enough to win it all, but they have one really good win this year. That’s it. That should not be enough to get a #1 seed ahead of the SEC champ or Big 10 champ.
So far we’ve only had one definite bid stealer, and that was St. Mary’s. Belmont losing the OVC is a possible bid stealer; Belmont is right on the cut line.
Back to the Wolfpack. Lunardi and Palm are still thinking they are right on the cut line. I don’t buy it. I think with today’s win they are looking at a 10 seed or an 11 at worst. And I swear that’s not bias talking – that’s what my spreadsheet tells me.
Here’s my current bracket. For the most part, it is through yesterday’s games, although I am factoring in the NC State win today (assumed automatic bids in bold; tickets already punched in bold italics):
#1 seeds: Virginia, UNC, Gonzaga, Kentucky
#2 seeds: Duke, Michigan State, Tennessee, LSU
#3 seeds: Michigan, Texas Tech, Houston, Purdue
#4 seeds: Kansas, Wisconsin, Kansas St, Florida St
#5 seeds: Virginia Tech, Mississippi St, Marquette, Maryland
#6 seeds: Auburn, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Villanova
#7 seeds: Wofford, Iowa St, Nevada, Louisville
#8 seeds: Oklahoma, Washington, UCF, Iowa
#9 seeds: Baylor, Ole Miss, Temple, Seton Hall
#10 seeds: VCU, Minnesota, Arizona St, St. John’s
#11 seeds: NC State, Indiana, Syracuse, St. Mary’s
#12 seeds: Florida, TCU, Utah St, Ohio St, New Mexico St, UC Irvine
#13 seeds: Liberty, Murray St, Old Dominion, Northeastern
#14 seeds: Vermont, Georgia State, Yale, Northern Kentucky
#15 seeds: Montana, Colgate, Gardner Webb, Bradley
#16 seeds: Sam Houston State, Prairie View A&M, Fairleigh Dickinson, Iona, North Dakota St, Norfolk St
Last Four Byes: St. John’s, NC State, Indiana, Syracuse
Last Four In: Florida, TCU, Utah St, Ohio St
First Four Out: Texas, Georgetown, Belmont, UNC Greensboro
Next Four Out: Creighton, Clemson, Alabama, Toledo
A Little Learning 