Seed List: February 11 (Plus Bracket)

Does not include results from Monday's games:

1: Memphis, Duke, Tennessee, UCLA
2: Kansas, North Carolina, Texas, Xavier
3: Drake, Stanford, Louisville, Connecticut
4: Georgetown, Washington St., Indiana, Notre Dame
5: Michigan St., Butler, Kansas St., Marquette
6: Wisconsin, Southern Cal, Arizona, Pittsburgh
7. St. Mary’s, Baylor, Texas A&M, Gonzaga
8: Clemson, Ohio St., Oklahoma, Arizona St.
9: Purdue, Vanderbilt, Mississippi, Florida
10: West Virginia, Rhode Island, Arkansas, BYU
11: Oregon, California, Syracuse, Seton Hall
12: South Alabama, Dayton, Maryland, Kent St.
13: Davidson, VCU, Stephen F. Austin, Oral Roberts
14: UNC-Asheville, Cornell, Nevada, Portland St.
15: Rider, CSU-Fullerton, Austin Peay, American
16: Belmont, Morgan St., Sacred Heart, UMBC, Alabama St.
Last Four Out: Villanova, Miami (FL), Creighton, Massachusetts
New Teams In: Maryland, Oregon, Nevada
Old Teams Out: UNLV, Miami (FL), Boise St.
Conference Breakdown
9: Big East
8: Pac-10
6: Big XII
5: SEC, Big 10
4: ACC
3: A-10
2: WCC
Click the link for the bracket


Texas Regional
Little Rock, Arkansas
1 - Memphis
16 – Play-in (UMBC/Alabama St.)
9 – Oklahoma
8 – Clemson
Tampa, Florida
5 – Wisconsin
12 – California
13 – Davidson
4 – Notre Dame
Anaheim, California
3 – Stanford
14 – Portland St.
11 – Dayton
6 – Marquette
Little Rock, Arkansas
7 – Gonzaga
10 – Mississippi
15 - Rider
2 – Texas
 
Arizona Regional
Anaheim, California
1 – UCLA
16 - Belmont
9 – West Virginia
8 – Vanderbilt
Denver, Colorado
5 – Kansas St.
12 – Maryland
13 – Stephen F. Austin
4 – Indiana
Washington, DC
3 – Connecticut
14 - Nevada
11 - BYU
6 – St. Mary’s
Washington, DC
7 – Texas A&M
10 – Oregon
15 – Austin Peay
2 – Xavier
 
North Carolina Regional
Raleigh, North Carolina
1 – Duke
16 – Sacred Heart
9 – Rhode Island
8 – Ohio St.
Denver, Colorado
5 - Butler
12 – Seton Hall
13 – Virginia Commonwealth
4 – Washington St.
Birmingham, Alabama
3 – Louisville
14 – UNC-Asheville
11 – South Alabama
6 – Arizona
Birmingham, Alabama
7 – Baylor
10 – Purdue
15 – CSU-Fullerton
2 – Tennessee
 
Detroit Regional
Omaha, Nebraska
1 – Kansas
16 – Morgan St.
9 - Florida
8 – Arizona St.
Tampa, Florida
5 – Michigan St.
12 – Kent St.
13 – Oral Roberts
4 – Georgetown
Omaha, Nebraska
3 - Drake
14 - Cornell
11 – Syracuse
6 – Southern Cal
Raleigh, North Carolina
7 – Pittsburgh
10 – Arkansas
15 - American
2 – North Carolina

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Big East BlogPoll - Combined

22 bloggers voted this week.
1) Georgetown (13): 339 points.
2) Louisville (6): 324 points.
3) Notre Dame (1): 306 points.
4) Connecticut (2): 302 points.
5) Pittsburgh: 256 points.
6) Marquette: 249 points.
7t) Syracuse: 208 points.
7t) West Virginia: 208 points.
9) Cincinnati: 173 points.
10) Seton Hall: 148 points.
11) Villanova: 132 points.
12) DePaul: 116 points.
13) St. John’s: 84 points.
14) Providence: 81 points.
15) Rutgers: 41 points.
16) South Florida: 25 points.

Player of the Week: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
Freshman of the Week: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse

I'm not sure about those 3 votes that didn't go to either Louisville or Georgetown. UConn and the Irish are hot, but they aren't the best teams in the conference. I'm also not sure about Marquette dropping to 6th after losing to ND and Louisville. I don't think that means they are worse than Pitt. I really can't argue with anything else, other than Syracuse and WVU being tied.


Seed List to follow soon, then Top 25, then Bracket.
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Big East BlogPoll - My Ballot

Big East Elite
1. Louisville - They beat Georgetown. They are certainly on that level with the Hoyas, and that win gives them a tie-breaker over the Hoyas.
2. Georgetown - Certainly in the top 2 in the Big East, without question.
Upper Tier
3. Marquette - Yes, they did lose to Notre Dame. But it was by 3 at one of the top 16 arenas in the nation (according to rivals.com). A 3-point loss on the road vs. a 20 point win at home means they are indeed better than my Irish.
4. Notre Dame - Arguable selection here, but as with Louisville/Georgetown, Notre Dame holds the win in the only game played against Connecticut.
5. Connecticut - Any ordering of these three is acceptable. I just think that based on results, this is how it should be.
Upper-Mids
6. Pittsburgh
7. West Virginia
Middle of the Road
8. Syracuse
9. Cincinnati
10. Villanova
11. Seton Hall
Low-Mid
12. Depaul
13. Providence
Bottom of the Barrel
14. St. Johns
15. Rutgers
16. South Florida

POW: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
FOW: Chris Chandler, Rutgers
Read more!

Top 25 Blogpoll

I've been voting in the Top 25 Blog Poll for the previous three weeks, but I finally decided to start posting my ballot, as well as the final ballot.
Here is a link to the entire blogpoll, with everyone's votes

Please note that this poll came out Tuesday afternoon, so the results of Tuesday and Wednesday are not included. My ballot, followed by blogpoll rank:

1. Memphis (1) - Simply the best. They've occupied the number 1 slot for me ever since the dominating win over the Hoyas. I just have this feeling that they'll be undefeated come tournament time, and get upset sometime in the 2nd or 3rd round. If they make it to the Final Four, they will win it all.

2. Duke (2) - They keep winning, even though analysts insist they have no reason to win. This Duke team is good, and is my choice for a national champion.

3. Tennessee (6) - Nobody has more big wins. Nobody. They'd probably be my number two if they hadn't lost at Kentucky.

4. UCLA (4) - I don't have a good reason to put them here. It just feels right.

5. Kansas (3) - They are dominant, which is why they are up in the top 5. They just have no big win to justify a top 3 ranking.

6. North Carolina (5) - The last of the truly elite teams this year (Georgetown has a claim to that, but I would not put them there yet). However, they have a bad loss and no superior wins. Also, they can't play defense.

7. Texas (12) - An oddball selection for the seven spot, especially after being blown out by the Aggies. This is, however, a team that blew out Tennessee on a neutral-court, beat UCLA on the road, and trounced Saint Mary's. Despite inconsistent play, which will limit the seed they receive, this is the 7th best team.

8. Georgetown (7) - They could be elite... I just haven't seen it. They dominated Notre Dame, but (relatively) poor showings against Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia have me wary about the elite status of the Hoyas. Their signature wins so far are home games against the Irish and UConn.

9. Drake (11) - The Bulldogs might be on the level with Texas and Georgetown, but really, this team will go into the tournament mostly untested. Their only loss came to a good St. Mary's team.

10. Stanford (9) - Again, just feels right (as I proved in my last seed list, I am not an authority on anything Pac-10).

11. Wisconsin (8) - I really want to put them lower than 11th, but there exists a rather large gap between these top 11 teams and the next 14. Wisconsin hasn't impressed, but you don't need to be impressive to be good this year.

12. Texas A&M (19) - They started off the year strong, had a three-game slide, and are back on track. This is a good team, and will probably be a Sweet 16 team come tournament time.

13. Kansas St. (18) - The Cat's resume is not worthy of a top 15 ranking. But, with the exception of a let-down game at Mizzou, few teams are playing better than Kansas St. I would take them over many teams.

14. Xavier (10) - See, I do give Xavier some love. They are obviously a dominant team. They just don't have the big wins that other teams do. Also, in retrospect, I realize that I should have switched XU and KSU, but I completely forgot about Xavier's domination of KSU. This will be corrected next week.

15. Butler (13) - Another overrated team that keeps pulling games out. They will be upset in either the first or second rounds. However, I can't justify moving them down in the rankings.

16. Marquette (20) - Reason Why
17. Oklahoma (NR) - I Won't
18. Notre Dame (24) - Move Butler
19. Gonzaga (NR) - Down in
20. Connecticut (17) - My Rankings
21. Louisville (23) - Seriously... those six teams are very arguable. I firmly belive that Marquette should be ahead of Notre Dame, who should be ahead of UConn. If Louisville holds their own against G'Town, they'll probably jump to the head of those 6.

22. Washington St. (16)
23. Indiana (15) - The three most overrated teams in the ballot. I've seen no reason to put them higher.
25. Michigan St. (14)

24. St. Mary's (22) - Beat Gonzaga to make up for the loss at San Diego. Doesn't have a big win to allow them to lose many in-conference games.

In the Poll, not my Ballot
Arizona (21) - What have they done besides schedule well?
Pittsburgh (25) - Losses to Cincy and Rutgers keep them out for me
Read more!

Bracket - February 3

All Discrepancies between this and the seed list reflect movement to make the bracket work.

Texas Regional
Little Rock, Arkansas
1 – Memphis (CUSA)
16 - Play-in (UMBC/Alabama St.) (America East/SWAC)
9 – St. Mary’s
8 – Southern Cal
Tampa, Florida
5 – Marquette
12 – Virginia Commonwealth (CAA)
13 - Oral Roberts (Summit)
4 – Ohio St.
Denver, Colorado
3 – Washington St.
14 – Stephen F. Austin (Southland)
11 – Miami (FL)
6 – Xavier (A-10)
Omaha, Nebraska
7 – West Virginia
10 – Florida
15 – American (Patriot)
2 – Kansas (Big XII)

Arizona Regional
Anaheim, California
1 – UCLA (Pac-10)
16 – Austin Peay (OVC)
9 – Purdue
8 – Mississippi
Denver, Colorado
5 – Gonzaga (WCC)
12 – Syracuse
13 – UNC-Asheville (Big South)
4 – Drake (MVC)
Washington DC
3 – Michigan St.
14 – Portland St. (Big Sky)
11 – BYU (MWC)
6 – Notre Dame
Little Rock, Arkansas
7 – Stanford
10 – Arkansas
15 - East Tennessee St. (OVC)
2 – Texas

North Carolina Regional
Raleigh, North Carolina
1 – Duke (ACC)
16 – Wagner (NEC)
9 – Louisville
8 – Mississippi St.
Anaheim, California
5 – Baylor
12 – South Alabama (Sun Belt)
13 – Boise St. (WAC)
4 – Arizona
Washington DC
3 – Indiana
14 – Davidson (SoCon)
11 – Rhode Island
6 – Texas A&M
Birmingham, Alabama
7 – Vanderbilt
10 – California
15 – Cornell (IVY)
2 – Georgetown (Big East)

Detroit Regional
Birmingham, Alabama
1 – Tennessee (SEC)
16 – Morgan St. (MEAC)
9 – Clemson
8 – Pittsburgh
Tampa, Florida
5 – Oklahoma
12 – UNLV
13 – Kent St. (MAC)
4 – Connecticut
Omaha, Nebraska
3 – Wisconsin
14 – Rider (MAAC)
11 – Seton Hall
6 – Butler (Horizon)
Raleigh, North Carolina
7 – Kansas St.
10 – Dayton
15 – Cal State-Fullerton (Big West)
2 – North Carolina
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Seed List, February 3

1: Memphis, Duke, Tennessee, UCLA
2: Kansas, North Carolina, Texas, Georgetown
3: Wisconsin, Indiana, Washington St., Michigan St.
4: Drake, Arizona, Ohio St., Connecticut
5: Oklahoma, Gonzaga, Texas A&M, Marquette
6: Baylor, Butler, Notre Dame, Kansas St.
7: Stanford, Xavier, West Virginia, Vanderbilt
8: Southern Cal, Mississippi, St. Mary’s, Mississippi St.
9: Louisville, Florida, Arkansas, Pittsburgh
10: Clemson, Purdue, California, Dayton
11: Seton Hall, Miami (FL), Rhode Island, Brigham Young
12: Syracuse, UNLV, South Alabama, Virginia Commonwealth
13: Oral Roberts, UNC-Asheville, Kent St., Stephen F. Austin
14: Davidson, Boise St, Rider, Portland St.
15: East Tennessee St, Cornell, CSU-Fullerton, Morgan St.
16: American, Wagner, Austin Peay, UMBC, Alabama St.
Last Four Out: UMass, Houston, Villanova, St. Joseph’s
New Teams IN: California, UNLV, Rider, Portland St, Boise St, Morgan St, American, CSU-Fullerton
Old Teams OUT: Providence, UMass, Siena, NAU, Utah St, Hampton, Lafayette, CSU-Northridge
Conference Breakdown:
9: Big East
7: Pac-10
6: Big XII
5: SEC, Big 10
4: ACC
3: A-10
2: WCC, MWC


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Big East Blogpoll Ballot

1. Georgetown
2. Marquette
3. Notre Dame
4. Connecticut
5. Pittsburgh
6. Marquette
7. Louisville
8. Cincinnati
9. Providence
10. Syracuse
11. Seton Hall
12. Villanova
13. Depaul
14. Rutgers
15. St. John’s
16. South Florida
POW: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
ROW: Dejuan Blair, Pitt
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