It's been an interesting year in college basketball. About 75 teams have valid arguments for being included in the field of 68, and no one can even agree who the four No. 1 seeds are (well, people agree on Kansas and Villanova, but not the other two). All I know is that we're in for a great NCAA Tournament. There are going to be plenty of upsets, and I don't even know who'll be considered the "favorite." I am pretty sure, though, that Kansas will be the No. 1 overall seed should they win the Big 12 Championship Game.
There are still a couple days to go, so bubble teams in the BCS conferences can still play their way in or out, while Monmouth and Saint Mary's have to just sit there and wait. Louisville and SMU being ineligible for the tournament certainly helps their cause, though. Both of them would've been in, so that's two spots now available that otherwise wouldn't have been.
Regarding Monmouth, Jay Bilas made a great point during the MAAC Championship Game. Yes, they have some "bad" losses, but those came in conference road games. But they also have a bunch of good wins over high-profile opponents, virtually all of which came on the road (because nobody wanted to play them at their arena). They've done everything the Committee tells a mid-major they need to do in order to get an at-large bid. If they don't get in, what kind of a message does that send?
So, yes, Monmouth is in my field. So is UConn after that phenomenal four-overtime win over Cincinnati. So is Michigan, which wasn't even on anybody's radar, but has played its way in. As for my remaining two 1-seeds. North Carolina is better than Virginia. They'll prove it in the ACC Championship Game. And I don't know why nobody has Michigan State on the 1-line. They're the second-best team in the country behind Kansas.
Now that the stage is set, it's time for me to reveal my bracket. My 1-seeds, in order, are Kansas (Midwest), North Carolina (South), Villanova (East) and Michigan State (West), which means my Final Four matchups are Midwest vs. West and South vs. East. (I took a guess on who I think will win the conference tournaments that are still going on in one-bid leagues.)
MIDWEST (Chicago)
Des Moines: (1) Kansas vs. (16) Austin Peay/Holy Cross; (8) Colorado vs. (9) Wichita State
Oklahoma City: (4) Texas A&M vs. (13) Stephen F. Austin; (5) Purdue vs. (12) Arkansas-Little Rock
Brooklyn: (3) Miami vs. (14) Old Dominion; (6) Baylor vs. (11) Oregon State
St. Louis: (7) Wisconsin vs. (10) Saint Joseph's; (2) Xavier vs. (15) Stony Brook
WEST (Anaheim)
St. Louis: (1) Michigan State vs. (16) Hampton; (8) Providence vs. (9) Texas Tech
Denver: (4) Duke vs. (13) Green Bay; (5) Arizona vs. (12) San Diego State
Providence: (3) West Virginia vs. (14) Iona; (6) Dayton vs. (11) Pittsburgh/Michigan
Spokane: (7) Texas vs. (10) Butler; (2) Oregon vs. (15) New Mexico State
SOUTH (Louisville)
Raleigh: (1) North Carolina vs. (16) Florida Gulf Coast; (8) VCU vs. (9) Cincinnati
Providence: (4) Maryland vs. (13) Yale; (5) California vs. (12) South Dakota State
Des Moines: (3) Kentucky vs. (14) UNC Wilmington; (6) Notre Dame vs. (11) Monmouth/Saint Mary's
Oklahoma City: (7) Seton Hall vs. (10) Connecticut; (2) Oklahoma vs. (15) Montana
EAST (Philadelphia)
Brooklyn: (1) Villanova vs. (16) Jackson State/Fairleigh Dickinson; (8) South Carolina vs. (9) USC
Spokane: (4) Iowa State vs. (13) Chattanooga; (5) Indiana vs. (12) Akron
Denver: (3) Utah vs. (14) Hawaii; (6) Iowa vs. (11) Northern Iowa
Raleigh: (7) Temple vs. (10) Gonzaga; (2) Virginia vs. (15) UNC Asheville
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