uBracket projection,
College basketball tips off Friday. It’s never too early to project the NCAA tournament field.
Yet it’s always a crapshoot trying to put together a bracket before any games are played.
We know Duke will be good, but how good?
The same can be said for Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova and several others.
Will the freshmen live up to expectations? Will the veterans help lead and integrate well with those freshmen?
Which teams are overhyped? Underhyped?
We will learn much of this in November as the trek toward March begins. Early predictions: uNo. 1 seeds: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova
uLast four in: Colorado, Clemson, Alabama, Southern Methodist
uFirst four out: Georgia, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Michigan
uOthers considered for at-large bids (no particular order): Georgia Tech, Houston, Temple, Tulsa, George Washington, Richmond, Saint Bonaventure, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Georgetown, Providence, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, TCU, Middle Tennessee State, Evansville, Illinois State, Arkansas, UNLV, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arizona State, Stanford, Washington, Brigham Young, Nebraska, Colorado State, Northern Iowa, Boise State, Memphis, Saint Joseph’s, Old Dominion, Kansas State, Davidson, Utah, Ohio State, Auburn, Iowa, Oregon State, Nevada, New Mexico
uMultibid conferences: Atlantic Coast (10), Big 12 (6), Pac-12 (6), Big Ten (5), Big East (5), Southeastern (5), Atlantic 10 (3), American Athletic (3), West Coast (2)
uLeaders or highest rating percentage index (RPI) from projected one-bid conferences (23 total): Vermont (America East), Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun), Montana (Big Sky), Winthrop (Big South), UC-Irvine (Big West), North Carolina-Wilmington (Colonial Athletic Association), Alabama at Birmingham (Conference USA), Valparaiso (Horizon), Princeton (Ivy), Monmouth (Metro Atlantic Conference), Akron (Mid-American), Hampton (Mid-Eastern), Wichita State (Missouri Valley), San Diego State (Mountain West), Wagner (Northeast), Belmont (Ohio Valley), Bucknell (Patriot), Chattanooga (Southern), Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Texas Southern (Southwestern Athletic), North Dakota State (Summit), Texas-Arlington (Sun Belt), New Mexico State (Western Athletic)
uBanned ing: Hawaii, Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State, Savannah State, Northern Colorado
uTransition schools, ineligible for the tournament: Abilene Christian (Southland), Grand Canyon (WAC), Incarnate Word (Southland), Massachusetts- Lowell (American East)
Note: RPI and statistical data used is from WarrenNolan.com.
Mast has projected the field since 2005 and has been one of the top five national bracketologists for his website, Bracket W.A.G. He has predicted for The Indianapolis Star and CollegeInsider.com and is an inaugural member of the Super 10 Selection Committee.