Bracket Projection – March 5

We’re going to try something a little different and have a little fun.  Since earlier in the week I provided my picks for the Conference Tournaments, the bracket today will include my projected tournament winners.  Of note, I picked Iona in the MAAC, Oakland in the Horizon and BYU in the WCC, which means that Monmouth, Valpo and St. Mary’s would make very intriguing bubble candidates.

Here’s a list of the teams I am projecting to win the conference tournaments:

ACC – Virginia
American – Cincinnati
American East – Stony Brook
Atlantic Sun – N. Florida (nope)
Atlantic 10 – VCU
Big East – Xavier
Big Sky – Weber State
Big West – Hawaii
Big Ten – Michigan State
Big South – Coastal Carolina (nope, again)
Big 12 – Oklahoma
Colonial – Hofstra
Conf USA – Louisiana Tech
Horizon – Oakland
MAAC – Iona
Ivy – Yale
MEAC – Hampton
MAC – Akron
MVC – Wichita State
MWC – San Diego State
Northeast – Wagner
OVC – Belmont (wow, I’m bad…LET’S GO PEAY!)
Pac 12 – California
Patriot – Lehigh
SEC – Kentucky
Southern – Chattanooga
Summit – S. Dakota State
Southland – “Stone Cold” SF Austin
Sun Belt – UALR
SWAC – Texas Southern
WAC – New Mexico State (still hate that Grand Canyon is ineligible)
WCC – BYU

And now the bracket:

Last Four In:  Monmouth, St. Mary’s, St. Bonaventure, Temple
Outside Looking In: Valparaiso, Connecticut, Michigan, Tulsa, Alabama, Florida

MIDWEST
1 Kansas vs 16 Wagner/Texas Southern – Des Moines
8 Wichita St vs 9 USC
5 Texas A&M vs 12 UALR
4 Duke vs 13 Hofstra – Oklahoma City
3 Indiana vs 14 Oakland – St. Louis
6 California vs 11 Monmouth/St. Bonaventure
7 Seton Hall vs 10 VCU
2 Miami vs 15 Akron – Brooklyn

WEST
1 Xavier vs 16 Weber St – St. Louis
8 Pittsburgh vs 9 Oregon St
5 Purdue vs 12 BYU
4 Baylor vs 13 Hawaii – Spokane
3 Oregon vs 14 SF Austin – Spokane
6 Iowa vs. 11 San Diego St
7 Notre Dame vs 10 Vanderbilt
2 Oklahoma vs 15 New Mexico St – Oklahoma City

SOUTH

1 Michigan St vs 16 Hampton/Austin Peay – St. Louis
8 Syracuse vs 9 Providence
5 Iowa State vs 12 Stony Brook
4 Kentucky vs 13 Yale – Des Moines
3 Utah vs 14 Louisiana Tech – Denver
6 Wisconsin vs 11 Cincinnati
7 Texas Tech vs 10 Butler
2 UNC vs 15 Winthrop – Raleigh

EAST

1 Virginia vs 16 FGCU – Raleigh
8 Colorado vs 9 St. Joseph’s
5 Texas vs 12 So. Dakota St.
4 Maryland vs 13 Chattanooga – Denver
3 W. Virginia vs 14 Iona – Providence
6 Arizona vs 11 St. Mary’s/Temple
7 Dayton vs 10 S. Carolina
2 Villanova vs 15 Lehigh – Brooklyn