March Madness Selection Show Preview 3/17

Here we are, Selection Sunday.  Thank God.  I believe we still have 73 teams still in the hunt for the title.  I hope some team doesn't come back from dead to make the tourney, but based on those teams profiles, that would be a travesty.  Below are the teams that are still alive.  We have 31 AUTO bids,
27 LOCKS, and 15 ZOMBIE teams.  So 58 are in for sure.  That leaves 10 ZOMBIE's that will get in the dance.  I ranked them from top to bottom on their chances of getting in the tourney.  Whether I'm correct or not, five teams will die tonight, leaving us with 68 still with a chance to dream the ultimate dream.  Here are your teams....

NOTE: Wisconsin and Ohio State are still playing, one will be a LOCK, the other the AUTO.

AUTO (31):
Atlantic Sun - FLORIDA GULF COAST
Big South - LIBERTY
Colonial - JAMES MADISON
Horizon - VALPARAISO
Ivy - HARVARD
MAAC - IONA
Missouri Valley - CREIGHTON
Ohio Valley - BELMONT
Northeast - LIU-BROOKLYN
Patriot - BUCKNELL
Southern - DAVIDSON
Summit - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Sun Belt - WESTERN KENTUCKY
West Coast - GONZAGA
America East - ALBANY
Conference USA - MEMPHIS
SWAC - SOUTHERN
MEAC - NORTH CAROLINA A&T
Big 12 - KANSAS
Mountain West -  NEW MEXICO
MAC - AKRON
Southland - NORTHWESTERN STATE
Big East -  LOUISVILLE
Big Sky - MONTANA
Big West - PACIFIC
Pac 12 -  OREGON
WAC - NEW MEXICO STATE
Atlantic 10 - ST. LOUIS
ACC - MIAMI
SEC - MISSISSIPPI
Big Ten -



LOCK (27):
Atlantic 10 - TEMPLE, BUTLER, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
ACC - DUKE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE, NORTH CAROLINA
Big 12 - OKLAHOMA STATE, KANSAS STATE
Big East - CINCINNATI, GEORGETOWN, MARQUETTE, NOTRE DAME, PITTSBURGH, SYRACUSE
Big 10 - MICHIGAN, INDIANA, MICHIGAN STATE
Missouri Valley - WICHITA STATE
Mountain West - SAN DIEGO STATE, COLORADO STATE, UNLV
Pac 12 - COLORADO, ARIZONA, UCLA
SEC - MISSOURI, FLORIDA



ZOMBIE (15) Ranked by best chance to get in, to worst chance to get in:
Big Ten - MINNESOTA
Big Ten - ILLINOIS
Big East - VILLANOVA
Big 12 - OKLAHOMA
Pac 12 -  CALIFORNIA
Big 12 - IOWA STATE
Mountain West - BOISE STATE
West Coast - ST. MARY'S
SEC - TENNESSEE
Atlantic 10 - UMASS
Atlantic 10 - LASALLE
SEC - KENTUCKY
Sun Belt - MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
Conference USA - SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
ACC - MARYLAND



Predicted top seeds:
INDIANA
LOUISVILLE
GONZAGA
KANSAS

Let's hear the agreements and disagreements.  This is the last time to call your shot before the brackets are released.  Thanks for following and reading these last couple of next weeks. 

Curt

Dead or Alive March 15

With two more days of games until we see the bracket, I figured I would list the teams that are still in the hunt.  So here are the 83 teams that are left with a chance to win it all.  Four categories for teams still in the hunt: LIMBO (still playing), AUTO (won their tourney), LOCK (out of their tourney but will be in the dance), ZOMBIE (still hoping for an at-large bid).  If you don't see your team on this list, well, better luck next year.

LIMBO (42):
America East - ALBANY, VERMONT
Atlantic 10 - BUTLER, UMASS, ST. LOUIS, VCU
ACC - MARYLAND, MIAMI, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Big 12 - KANSAS, KANSAS STATE
Big East - LOUISVILLE, SYRACUSE
Big Sky - MONTANA, WEBER STATE
Big 10 - INDIANA, MICHIGAN STATE, OHIO STATE, WISCONSIN
Big West - PACIFIC, UC IRVINE
Conference USA - MEMPHIS, SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
MAC - AKRON, OHIO
MEAC - MORGAN STATE, NORTH CAROLINA A&T
Mountain West - NEW MEXICO, UNLV
Pac 12 - OREGON, UCLA
SEC - FLORIDA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, VANDERBILT
Southland - STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, NORTHWESTERN STATE
SWAC - PRAIRIE VIEW A&M, SOUTHERN
WAC - TEXAS-ARLINGTON, NEW MEXICO STATE



AUTO (14):
Atlantic Sun - FLORIDA GULF COAST
Big South - LIBERTY
Colonial - JAMES MADISON
Horizon - VALPARAISO
Ivy - HARVARD
MAAC - IONA
Missouri Valley - CREIGHTON
Ohio Valley - BELMONT
Northeast - LIU-BROOKLYN
Patriot - BUCKNELL
Southern - DAVIDSON
Summit - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Sun Belt - WESTERN KENTUCKY
West Coast - GONZAGA



LOCK (15):
Atlantic 10 - TEMPLE
ACC - DUKE
Big 12 - OKLAHOMA STATE
Big East - CINCINNATI, GEORGETOWN, MARQUETTE, NOTRE DAME, PITTSBURGH
Big 10 - MICHIGAN
Missouri Valley - WICHITA STATE
Mountain West - SAN DIEGO STATE, COLORADO STATE
Pac 12 - COLORADO, ARIZONA
SEC - MISSOURI



ZOMBIE (12):
Atlantic 10 - LASALLE
Big 12 - IOWA STATE, OKLAHOMA
Big East - VILLANOVA
Big 10 - MINNESOTA, ILLINOIS
Mountain West - BOISE STATE
Pac 12 - CALIFORNIA
SEC - KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE
Sun Belt - MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
West Coast - ST. MARY'S



13 Title games on Saturday.  Here are the matchups and my picks:

America East - Albany vs. Vermont
I'll take the Catamounts in this one.  They were my pretourney pick.

Big 12 - Kansas State vs. Kansas
Kansas is playing for a 1 seed.  I think they get it done.

Big East - Syracuse vs. Louisville
The more Syracuse keeps winning, the better that Temple win looks.  But I think Louisville is the better team.  They are also playing for a 1 seed.  I'll take the Cards.

Big Sky - Weber State vs. Montana
Top dogs here in the conference.  I'll take the Grizzlies.

Big West - UC Irvine vs. Pacific
Pacific has done it before, they'll do it again.

Conference USA -  Southern Mississippi vs. Memphis
Southern Miss is on the bubble, they need this.  Memphis on the other hand is too talented.  Tigers in a rout.

MAC - Ohio vs. Akron
With or without Abreu the Bobcats were going to get revenge.  3 out of 4 years, here we come.

MEAC - North Carolina A&T vs. Morgan State
Five seed vs. seven seed, crazy.  I'll take the Aggies of A&T.

Mountain West - UNLV vs. New Mexico
UNLV on their home floor against the best Mountain West team in awhile.  I'll take New Mexico in a great game.

Pac 12 - Oregon vs. UCLA
UCLA loses Abrams, Oregon just isn't that great if you ask me.  Bruins take this one.

Southland - Northwestern State vs. Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin has been the class of the conference all year.  Need to finish it.

SWAC - Prairie View A&M vs. Southern
Let's go for the upset here.  Prairie View.  Remember when they lost like 100 games in a row about 15 years back?

WAC - Texas- Arlington vs. New Mexico State
Another Vegas game, I'll take New Mexico State.



Anything you see that is horribly wrong?  A ZOMBIE team that is a definiite LOCK?  A LOCK that you feel should be a ZOMBIE?  Or a team I don't have on there that you feel should be?  Let's hear it.  Until next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 14

Thursday was a massacre of epic proportions.  We are now almost at two thirds of the teams gone.  With 14 AUTO bids and 5 LOCK's we now have 19 teams in the dance who are not playing anymore until the dance.  I have had a few people ask for a list of the teams in each category.  Not sure how to do that since this isn't the most user-friendly website for something like that.  So on Friday night, I'll make a list of all the teams that are still alive.  Does that work?  Here is who finished their regular season and found themselves in a category on Thursday.

DEAD:
ACC - GEORGIA TECH, VIRGINIA TECH, WAKE FOREST, CLEMSON
Atlantic 10 - RICHMOND, DAYTON, XAVIER, GEORGE WASHINGTON
SEC - GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI STATE, ARKANSAS, TEXAS A&M
Conference USA - UAB, HOUSTON, TULANE, EAST CAROLINA
SWAC - ALABAMA STATE, ALCORN STATE
Big 10 - PENN STATE, PURDUE, NORTHWESTERN,
Big 12 - TEXAS TECH, TEXAS, BAYLOR
Pac 12 - ARIZONA STATE, WASHINGTON
WAC - IDAHO, DENVER, LOUISIANA TECH, UTAH STATE
Big West - UC SANTA BARBARA, UC DAVIS, CAL STATE FULLERTON, HAWAII
Big Sky - NORTHERN ARIZONA, SOUTHERN UTAH, MONTANA STATE
MEAC - HAMPTON, SAVANNAH STATE
Southland - MCNEESE STATE, ORAL ROBERTS
MAC - BUFFALO,  EASTERN MICHIGAN



LOCK:
Big East - CINCINNATI
Big East - PITTSBURGH
Pac 12 - COLORADO
Big East - MARQUETTE

(Wichita State also in Lock category for a total of four.)

ZOMBIE:
Big 10 - MINNESOTA
Big 12 - OKLAHOMA
Big East - VILLANOVA
Pac 12 - CALIFORNIA




(Middle Tennessee State, St. Mary's, and Boise State also in Zombie category for a total of 6.)

STANDINGS:
TEAMS                  347
DEAD                    239                                      
AUTO                      14
LOCK                        5                                       
ZOMBIE                    7 
ALIVE                   108

All tourneys have started.

No Championship games on Friday.

3 days until Selection Sunday.

Which of the ZOMBIE's do you think are out for sure?  Should any of the LOCK's not be locks?  Let me know, enjoy your Friday.  Until next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 13

Well, somehow out of the 27 games on Wednesday's schedule we only received one ZOMBIE, one AUTO bid, and zero LOCK's.  Things will definitely change on Thursday with 53 total games on the slate.  We are down to 151 teams still alive.  With, of course, 68 making the tourney, that means we only have another 83 left to eliminate in the next four days.  We had two big upsets on Wednesday, none from the Power Conferences.  These two upsets came from the MEAC.  Top seed Norfolk State (16-0) and second seeded UNC-Central (15-1) both went down in the Quarters, crazy.  Here is who found themselves in a category from Wednesday night.

DEAD:
Big East - PROVIDENCE, SETON HALL, ST. JOHN'S, RUTGERS
Pac-12 - STANFORD, OREGON STATE, USC
Mountain West - AIR FORCE, FRESNO STATE, WYOMING
Conference USA - SOUTHERN METHODIST, RICE, MARSHALL
Southland - NICHOLLS STATE, CENTRAL ARKANSAS
MEAC - NORFOLK STATE, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
MAC - BALL STATE, MIAMI (OH)
Big 12 - WEST VIRGINIA, TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Patriot - LAFAYETTE, WASHINGTON STATE
SEC - SOUTH CAROLINA, AUBURN
SWAC - GRAMBLING STATE


AUTO:
Patriot - BUCKNELL (Beat some good teams this year, barely lost at Mizzou, this team can play.)



ZOMBIE:
BOISE STATE - 44 RPI, 45 Strength of Schedule, 9-8 in conference.  Eight Top 100 RPI wins.  Didn't finish very hot.  Losing record.  I think they have a good enough resume to get in, especially with those 8 Top RPI 100 wins.  But they are far from a LOCK.

STANDINGS:
TEAMS                    347
DEAD                      196                                     
AUTO                        14                                                
LOCK                          1                                
ZOMBIE                     3
ALIVE                     151

NO CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON THURSDAY.

The last five tourneys get started on Thursday.  Here they are and my picks...

ACC - Give me Duke on this one.  I don't like Duke but they have the best players and they are rolling right now.  Miami has the athletes to beat them but they just look tired right now.  Funny thing is, no one else in the ACC has a shot if you ask me.

A10 - I'll take the Owls.  Homer pick?  Yep.  But at least I can say they are the hottest team in the conference right now and not be wrong about that.  I think Charlotte, UMASS, Xavier, and Dayton move on to the quarters.  That's right, I'm calling the UD over Butler upset.  Don't make me look bad Flyers.



BIG TEN -  Who the hell knows.  I really dislike the Hoosiers because of Crean, but when I really think about it, I don't hate any players on their team, so that's not fair.  Ohio State is overrated, Michigan State has trouble scoring.  Illinois and Minnesota are frauds.  I'll take Michigan.  I'll say it again, give me guys that can create their own shot and score any day.  They have more of them than anyone else.

BIG SKY - Montana and Weber State are going to fight to the death on this one.  Montana's only loss in conference was at Weber, and they got rolled.  With that being the only timed they played, I'm guessing Montana comes out pissed and looks to get revenge.  I'll take them.

BIG WEST - Let's find an upset here.  I'll take Hawaii.  They finished in the middle of the pack but they beat the two best squads during the season.  Maybe they could win four in a row.  We'll see.

4 days until Selection Sunday. 

Curt

Dead or Alive March 12

Last slow day in awhile.  We had 3 more teams get their AUTO bids and 11 more teams lose their lives.  The bubblers really start to get it going on Wednesday.  Let the media overreaction on wins and losses commence.  I don't like the way people talk about how one win can be the difference, but it's going to happen, so we might as well live with it.  Here is who joined a new category on Tuesday... 

DEAD:
MEAC - COPPIN STATE, FLORIDA A&M, HOWARD
Northeast - MOUNT ST. MARY'S
Big East - SOUTH FLORIDA, DEPAUL
Mountain West - NEVADA
WAC - SEATTLE, SAN JOSE STATE
Summit - NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Horizon - WRIGHT STATE


AUTO:
Northeast - LIU-BROOKLYN (Finally called an upset before the tourney started.  They have some players.  Might be another candidate for a Dayton game.)
Horizon - VALPARAISO (Nice win, took Wright State's best shot.  Can't believe this is their first appearance since 2004.  Seems like they use to always be there.)
Summit - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (Again, with this Wolters kid, the Jackrabbits could make someone pretty upset when they see them on their line come bracket time.)



STANDINGS:
TEAMS                  347
DEAD                    170                                     
AUTO                      13                                                
LOCK                        1
ZOMBIE                   2
ALIVE                   177   

Only one tournament final on Wednesday.  It's the Patriot League, here's my prediction...

PATRIOT - Lafayette vs. Bucknell
Lafayette gave the Bison one of it's two losses in conference this year so they know they can beat them.  But this is on Bucknell's home floor.  I got the Bison.

Six more Conference Tourneys get underway on Wednesday.  Here they are, with my predictions...

PAC 12 - I'll take UCLA in this one.  It's probably one of the biggest guesses of all the tourneys.  Each one of these teams has been Jekyl and Hyde all season.  Who stays hot for three days? 

CONFERENCE USA - Southern Miss is pretty much the only team that can beat Memphis.  But they won't, the Tigers will win this tourney.  They need it, some have them on the bubble if they lose.

SOUTHLAND - Stephen F. Austin is the top dog, I'll take them.  Don't know much about this league. 

BIG 12 - This will be another good tourney.  Kansas is the top seed, but every time I watch them they struggle.  Kansas State is the same way, have some big scoring droughts.  Can the Pokes have a few big games in a row?  Is Baylor actually going to play up to their ability?  I think I'll go with Oklahoma State in this one.  Marcus Smart is a stud along with Le'Bryan Nash.



SEC - Florida has been my pick to win it all for a few months.  They have struggled lately so they need to get it going.  To be honest, I don't see how anyone can challenge them.  Every other team has serious issues.  I got the Gators.

SWAC - No brainer, I'm taking the 0-27 Grambling State Tigers.  When they become the biggest story of the season, make sure you tell everyone you heard it here first.

Finally some big tourneys are tipping off.  Who you got in the Pac, Big 12, and SEC?  Do you think Kentucky eventually gets in?

5 days until Selection Sunday.

Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 11

Only a measly 12 games on the schedule tonight.  But five of them brought AUTO bids to the table and one of those brought us our second ZOMBIE team of the year.  We now have ten teams in the tourney and two that are probably in, but they could be dead and we just don't know it yet.  Their lives depend on others that are trying to steal bids in their tourneys later in the week.  Here is who filled the categories on Monday...

DEAD:
MEAC - MARYLAND-EASTERN SHORE, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
MAC - CENTRAL MICHIGAN, NORTHERN ILLINOIS, BOWLING GREEN
Southern - CHARLESTON
Sun Belt - FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
Summit - IPFW, WESTERN ILLINOIS
Colonial - NORTHEASTERN
MAAC - MANHATTAN



AUTO:
Colonial - JAMES MADISON (Mild upset.  Record isn't too good.  Depending on how the other tourneys go, could find themselves in Dayton.)
Southern - DAVIDSON (Finished off another outstanding season.  Another team no one wants to see in the tourney.)
Sun Belt - WESTERN KENTUCKY (Another First Four Dayton possibility.)
West Coast - GONZAGA (Yeah, these guys pass the eye test.  Best team in the nation?  Maybe not, but one of the top five for sure.)
MAAC - IONA (Momo Jones can score it up, could be a tough out for someone.)

ZOMBIE:
West Coast - ST. MARY'S
Personally, I think they are in.  Hard to see them get left out over a bad Big 12 or Big 10 team, but would I be super surprised if they didn't make it?  Not really.  One top 50 win, three top 100 wins, only one of those on the road.  They beat Creighton and BYU, but that SOS of 111 is scary.  So are they dead?  No.  But are they truly alive?  Not sure.  Guess we'll have to wait and see on this one.


STANDINGS:
TEAMS               347
DEAD                 159                                     
AUTO                   10                                                
LOCK                     1               
ZOMBIE                 2
ALIVE                188

Three more title games on Tuesday night.  Here are the matchups and my picks.

Northeast - Mount St. Mary's vs. LIU-Brooklyn
I picked Long Island before the tourney started, I'm sticking with them.  Like I said, watched them play earlier in the year and they have some ballers.

Horizon - Wright State vs. Valparaiso
Wright State knocked off a really good Detroit team so I have respect for them, but Valpo is really good this year.  Although, they needed a buzzer beater to make it to the final. I think it'll be a good game, but I'll take Valpo.

Summit - South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State
Back to my statement on how I always take the team with the best individual player.  Wolters for SDSU is that guy.  I'll take the Jackrabbits.

Three more conferences start their tourneys on Tuesday.  Here they are, and here's who I like...

Big East - I'll take Louisville.  They seem to be the only team in the Big East that can score some points when they need to.  Cuse, G'town, Notre Dame all struggle to score.  Maybe Marquette could steal it, but I'm going with the Cardinals.

Mountain West - This is going to be a good one.  Looks like more than half of the league is going to make the dance, crazy.  This one is never chalk.  I'll take UNLV to pull it out in Vegas.

WAC - I'm a Denver Broncos fan, so I'll take Denver.  It's as much of a breakdown as I can come up with in this conference.

6 days until Selection Sunday.

Do you have MTSU and St. Mary's in the dance?  Both of them?  Why or why not?

Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

This guy played at Georgetown...

Dead or Alive March 10

Smaller schedule on Sunday but I'll take it.  We ended up with two more AUTO bids, some more deceased teams, and our first LOCK and ZOMBIE.  And how about that Indiana vs. Michigan ending?  Crazy that ball didn't go down for Michigan.  The highlight of the day though?  Well, that was the Temple win over VCU of course.  Great win for the Owls.  That should stop all the bubble talk.  Here is who officially put their names in a category today.

DEAD:
Big South - CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
MAAC - NIAGARA, FAIRFIELD
Colonial - GEORGE MASON, DELAWARE
America East - UMBC, STONY BROOK
Southern - APPALACHIAN STATE, ELON
Summit - OAKLAND, UMKC
Sun Belt - ARKANSAS STATE



AUTO:
Missouri Valley - CREIGHTON (Wonder how high their seed will be.  7?  6?)
Big South - LIBERTY (20 losses, great tourney, pack your bags to Dayton for a first four game.)

LOCK:
Missouri Valley - WICHITA STATE (8 Top 100 RPI wins, winning road record, among other good stats, they're in.)



ZOMBIE:
Sun Belt - MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (28-5, 11-3 on the road, 0 Top 50 RPI wins, but 2 Top 100 wins with one on the road.  I think they are in, but definitely no guarantee.)

STANDINGS:
TEAMS            347
DEAD              148            
AUTO                  5                                                
LOCK                  1
ZOMBIE             1
ALIVE             199

Two conferences start their tourneys on Monday.  Here they are, and who I like...
MEAC - I'll take UNC Central in this one.  Norfolk State is undefeated in the conference, but due to some quirky scheduling, they didn't have to play Central.  It's just Central's time if you ask me.
MAC - Well, ummm, ya, I'll take my alma mater, the Bobcats of Ohio.  Kent is hot right now, so they worry me, but Akron lost Abreu so I'm not worried about them.  And I don't feel bad for Abreu, definitely the most hated player in the MAC this year.

We have three more Championship games on Monday, which will give us eight AUTO Bids when they are all said and done.  Here are the matchups and who I like...

Colonial - James Madison vs. Northeastern
Northeastern was the class of the Colonial all year.  They looked dead on Sunday vs. George Mason but made a great comeback and stole the win.  I think they carry the momentum and win the bid.

West Coast - St. Mary's vs. Gonzaga
Will the Zags finish off a perfect WCC season?  Will St. Mary's finally topple Gonzaga?  I think Gonzaga wins this, but I'll be rooting for St. Mary's.

MAAC - Manhattan vs. Iona
Like I've said many times, I always like the team that has the best player that can put their team on it's back.  Iona's Mo Mo Jones is that guy.  I'll take Iona in this one.

But back to that Temple game.  Did Wyatt officially put his name on the A10 player of the year trophy or what?  The guy can just take over any game at any time.  Never seen a game with so many runs.  Temple up 12-3, then VCU goes on an 18-0 run.  Then Temple down 41-25, they go on a 43-15 run to basically put the game away, crazy.  HAVOC didn't work against the Owls.  HAVOC is great, it gets VCU wins, but it doesn't work against good, veteran guards, just tires out their own players.  Oh well, may see them again on Saturday in the A10 semis.



Good Bubble Wins: Temple, Virginia, Davidson
Bad Bubble Losses: Illinois, Maryland, Middle Tennessee State

What are your thoughts on Sundays games?  Who do you think will be the Top seeds in the Tourney?  Should Temple be ranked?  Until next time, thanks for reading.

And oh, 7 Days until Selection Sunday.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 9

What a Saturday of College Basketball.  By my count, we lost 39 teams and moved two teams into the AUTO category.  With all those losses, I still don't believe that any team warrants Zombie status.  Detroit, Murray State, and Robert Morris had good seasons, but whether it's RPI, top wins, or Strength of Schedule, they don't have the profiles to make the dance.  Next 8 days will bring some Zombie teams, don't worry.  Here are the teams that died or lived on a crazy Saturday...

DEAD:
America East - NEW HAMPSHIRE, HARTFORD, BINGHAMTON, MAINE
Southern - GEORGIA SOUTHERN, FURMAN, UNC-GREENSBORO, WESTERN CAROLINA
Big South - VMI, GARDNER-WEBB
Atlantic Sun - MERCER
Northeast - WAGNER, ROBERT MORRIS
Patriot - LEHIGH, ARMY
Missouri Valley - INDIANA STATE, ILLINOIS STATE
MAAC - SIENA, CANISIUS, RIDER, LOYOLA (MD)
Colonial - DREXEL, HOFSTRA, WILLIAM & MARY
Ivy - PRINCETON
Horizon - DETROIT, GREEN BAY
Ohio Valley - MURRAY STATE,
Sun Belt - ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK, LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE, SOUTH ALABAMA, TROY
Summit - IUPUI, SOUTH DAKOTA
West Coast - LOYOLA MARYMOUNT, SAN DIEGO
Atlantic 10 - ST. BONAVENTURE
Big Sky - EASTERN WASHINGTON, SACRAMENTO STATE



AUTO BIDS:
Atlantic Sun - FLORIDA GULF COAST (First bid ever.)
Ohio Valley - BELMONT (Nobody wants to play these guys.)
Ivy - HARVARD (2 straight bids, three straight Ivy League titles.)



STANDINGS:
TEAMS             347
DEAD               136            
AUTO                  3                                                
LOCK                  0
ZOMBIE              0
ALIVE              211                           

We have 14 more conference tourney games on the slate for Sunday.  No tourneys get started on Sunday, but we have two championship games.  Here they are, and who I like.

Big South - Liberty vs. Charleston Southern
With 20 losses, Liberty has a chance to be a true Cinderella and pack their bags to Dayton, OH, ha.  I don't think they get it done, but it would be pretty cool if they did.

Missouri Valley - Wichita State vs. Creighton
Wow, awesome game.  Glad it came down to these two.  They've played two great games already this year.  No bid stealers in the MVC for the first time in awhile.  I still like Creighton because they have the best player on the floor in McDermott.  I always say, the most dangerous teams are the ones that have a guy that can take over if need be.  Either way, the loser will be the first team in the LOCK category.

7 days until Selection Sunday.

But even more important than these title games and other tourney games is the game at noon on CBS.  Temple vs. VCU.  HUGGGGEEEEE game for the Owls.  I think they get it done, and in a convincing fashion.  Senior day, chance for a first round bye in the A10 tourney, chance to lock up a bid.  VCU gets their points off of steals and creating ummm, havoc or something.  You can't speed up the slowest player in the league, Khalif Wyatt.  As long as Temple doesn't try to play VCU's game, I think they'll take care of business.  Crazy to think they could get a bye after a home loss to Duquesne put them at 5-5 in the conference.  Oh well, LET'S DO THIS!!!!!!



Any thoughts on what you saw yesterday?  What do you think of some of the bubble teams wins and losses?  I didn't have time to mention those, but there were some bursts and some survival wins.

Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 8

We've reached the weekend before Selection Sunday, which means we have title games, which means we'll have our first AUTO BIDS of the tourney.  Last night we lost another 21 teams in the race for the title.  Two teams were close to achieving the first Zombie status of the year.  BYU has an RPI of 65 but they have zero top 50 RPI wins, that won't get it done.  Eastern Kentucky also has an RPI in the 60's but they have zero wins in the Top 100 RPI, therefore, they aren't getting in.  They can watch the Selection Show, but I hope they don't have their hopes up.  Here is the list of teams added to the Cemetery on Friday...

DEAD:
Missouri Valley - DRAKE, EVANSVILLE, MISSOURI STATE, NORTHERN IOWA
Southern - WOFFORD, SAMFORD, CHATTANOOGA, CITADEL
Atlantic Sun - USC UPSTATE, STETSON
Horizon - YOUNGSTOWN STATE, ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
Sun Belt -  LOUISIANA-MONROE, NORTH TEXAS, FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Ohio Valley - TENNESSEE STATE, EASTERN KENTUCKY
MAAC - MARIST, ST. PETER'S
West Coast - SANTA CLARA, BRIGHAM YOUNG


STANDINGS:
TEAMS           347
DEAD               97
AUTO                 0
LOCK                 0
ZOMBIE             0
ALIVE            250

Three more tourneys get underway on Saturday.  Here they are, and my picks...
America East - I'll take the Catamounts of Vermont.  Always liked them since they won me some money in Vegas with that upset over Syracuse a few years back.
Colonial - I'm going to guess that George Mason finds a way to get this done.
Summit - In these tourneys, you need a guy that can score.  South Dakota State's Nate Wolters is averaging almost 23 a game.  I'll take the Jackrabbits to get it done.



We have two Championship games today that will get us the first AUTO BIDS of the tourney.  Here is who is playing...

Atlantic Sun - Florida Gulf Coast vs. Mercer
The two top seeds have made it to the final.  The game is on Mercer's homecourt.  I picked Mercer at the start of the tourney, I'll keep my pick.  This will be their third meeting of the year.  First game Mercer won at home in OT and the second game was a FGC win on their homecourt by two points.  Should be a good one.

Ohio Valley - Murray State vs. Belmont
The top two seeds have made it to this final also.  This game is going to be good.  Belmont is the better team, but Murray and Isaiah Cannan don't want to give up their stranglehold on this conference.  Game is in Nashville, which is Belmont's home.  I would be surprised if Murray wins this, but you never know.

Also, with a Harvard win and a Princeton loss, Harvard would win the Ivy League and get the AUTO BID since they don't have a Conference tourney.

We have a total of 35 tourney games on the slate today.  Along with an elimination in the A10, two in the Big Sky, and a possible Ivy League elimination, the Cemetery is going to get awfully crowded. 

I'd be remissed if I didn't mention the Loyola Marymount upset last night.  They had one conference victory this year but they have now won two straight in the tourney and they get the Zags tonight.  So, uh, ya, probably over, but who knows, right?


And oh, probably some other good games going on today, UNC Duke anyone?

Anything you would like to point out so far this tourney season?  Any picks in these tourneys?  Down to 250, getting close.  Selection Sunday is only 8 days away.  Enjoy your day.  Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 7

Finally, we got some upsets from today's slate of games.  Top seeded High Point went down to Liberty in the Big South Tourney, and 1-15 Loyola Marymount wins a game in the WCC Tourney.  I had High Point winning that tourney so I guess I won't have a perfect season, oh well.  We are down to under 80% of Division I schools still in the hunt.  Here is who lost their chances on Thursday...

DEAD:
Big South - LONGWOOD, WINTHROP, CAMPBELL, HIGH POINT
Atlantic Sun - EAST TENNESSEE STATE, JACKSONVILLE
Missouri Valley - BRADLEY, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Ohio Valley - MOREHEAD STATE, SE MISSOURI STATE
West Coast - SAN FRANCISCO, PEPPERDINE
Big West - CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE



STANDINGS:
TEAMS         347
DEAD             76
AUTO               0
LOCK               0
ZOMBIE           0
ALIVE          271

Good bubble wins: Colorado
Bad bubble losses: Louisiana Tech, UMASS, Kentucky, Virginia



Three more tourneys get started on Friday.  Here they are, and my picks to win.

Southern - Davidson is the class of this conference, and it would be a huge upset for them not to win, so I'll take them.
Sun Belt - Same thing here, Middle Tennessee State is by far the best team.  I'll take them, and I want them to win since they are probably a bid stealer if they lose.
MAAC - This tourney will be quite the shootout with so many good teams.  I'll take Canisius in this one.  Little Baron and his daddy will get hot and carry them to the title.

10 days until Selection Sunday.  Keeps getting more and more interesting.

Do you think Colorado is in now?  Do you think Kentucky will end up making it in or not?  Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 6

Biggest elimination day of the year so far.  Another 13 bite the big one and join the rest of the deceased.  Still nothing to add to the other categories, don't worry we'll get there.  Here are the new additions to the Cemetery...

Northeast - BRYANT, CENTRAL CONNECTICUTT STATE, QUINNIPIAC, ST. FRANCIS (NY)
Patriot - HOLY CROSS, NAVY, AMERICAN, COLGATE
Ohio Valley - TENNESSEE-MARTIN, EASTERN ILLINOIS
Atlantic Sun - NORTH FLORIDA, LIPSCOMB
West Coast - PORTLAND



STANDINGS:
TEAMS       347
DEAD           63
AUTO             0
LOCK             0
ZOMBIE         0
ALIVE        284

Only one conference starts their tourney on Thursday, that would be the Missouri Valley Conference.  The MVC is usually one of the most unpredictable tourneys in the nation.  I'll go ahead and take Creighton.  Yeah, I know they are the top seed, but when Doug McDermott gets it going, I'm not sure anyone or any team can stop him.

Some other thoughts on the night in basketball:

I'm not a conspiracy theorist guy, but the Lakers were down 17 in New Orleans going into the fourth quarter.  They end up going on a 30-6 run and end the game on a 20-0 run to end it.  How in the hell does that happen?  Aren't the guys on the other team pros too?  They can't score one point?  Wow.
Oh, and the Jazz and Rockets lost, so here come the Lakers.

Nice win by the Owls tonight.  Finally beatdown a weak opponent instead of playing down to them and having to pull it out in the final minutes.  22-8.  White out on Sunday against the Rams of VCU.

Good wins for these bubble teams: Villanova, Iowa State, LaSalle, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma



Bad losses for these bubble teams: Maryland, Minnesota

11 days until Selection Sunday.  Who are your number one seeds right now?  I got Indiana, Gonzaga, Duke, and Lousville.

Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 5

Another day in the books, another day closer to Selection Sunday.  Seven tourney games were on the schedule on Tuesday, which means we have seven more to add to the Division I Cemetary.  But how we got there was exactly what you would expect during March Madness.  Two of the seven games went to overtime, while another was decided on the last possession.  A team with a 7-24 record was victorious and stayed on life support for at least one more game.  But no matter the results, seven had to go, which brings us to a total of 50 teams with no chance at the title, leaving 297 still in the hunt.  Below is who we lost.

DEAD:
Big South - PRESBYTERIAN, RADFORD, UNC-ASHEVILLE, COASTAL CAROLINA
Horizon - LOYOLA (IL), CLEVELAND STATE, MILWAUKEE

 

STANDINGS:

TEAMS      347
DEAD          50
AUTO            0
LOCK            0
ZOMBIE        0
ALIVE        297

Five more conferences start their tourneys on Wednesday.  Here are the conferences and my picks to win each.

Atlantic Sun - Top seeded Mercer.
Patriot - Bucknell is the class of this conference, I'll take them.  Lehigh should have been there, but sometimes injuires happen, too bad.
Northeast - The four seed LIU-Brooklyn is my pick.  Watched them play earlier this year, they have some ballers.
Ohio Valley - This is Belmont's tourney, only have to win two games, and in their home city.  Plus, with my Owls being on the bubble, I don't need someone else stealing a bid.
West Coast - Does someone step up and beat Gonzaga?  I'm going to say the Gaels of St. Mary's do it.

For my Owls followers and readers, I think they finally get that comfortable win we have been waiting for.  I'm guessing a 78-62 victory at Fordham.  But like many have said, it's funny that this game at Fordham scares us more than the home game against VCU.  Never seen a team play down to their competition as much as this Owls team.



What are your picks to win these conference tourneys?  Have a score for the Temple game?  Do you remember when you bought a 20 ounce Mountain Dew and you got a school name on the cap?  Those were the days.  Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt

Dead or Alive March 4

Well here we are, the eve of March Madness.  On Tuesday March 5th, the Conference Tourneys officially begin.  This marks the beginning of dreams being realized, and also dreams being dashed.  Check in daily for new updates on who is out of the hunt for the title, and who can still say they have a chance to hoist the trophy.  Each night I'll add the teams that have reached dead, lock, auto, or zombie status.  So this will be the last time you see these schools below.  There are 347 teams in Division I this year.  Below are the teams that are "dead", they have no chance.  There is a total of 43 of these schools, which leaves 304 still in it.  This list below will grow rapidly each day until Selection Sunday on March 17.  Is your team below?  If so, umm, find another team.

DEAD
America East - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Atlantic 10 - DUQUESNE, FORDHAM, RHODE ISLAND
Atlantic Sun - NORTHERN KENTUCKY, KENNESAW STATE
Big East - UCONN
Big Sky - PORTLAND STATE, IDAHO STATE
Big West - UC RIVERSIDE  
Colonial - UNC WILMINGTON, TOWSON, OLD DOMINION, GEORGIA STATE
Conference USA - CENTRAL FLORIDA
Independent - CAL STATE-BAKERSFIELD, NEW ORLEANS
Great West - CHICAGO STATE, HOUSTON BAPTIST, NJIT, TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN, UTAH VALLEY
Ivy - BROWN, COLUMBIA, CORNELL, DARTMOUTH, PENNSYLVANIA, YALE
Mid-American - TOLEDO
Northeast - MONMOUTH, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON, SACRED HEART, ST. FRANCIS (PA)
Ohio Valley - JACKSONVILLE STATE, TENNESSEE TECH, AUSTIN PEAY, SIU-EDWARDSVILLE
Southland - TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI, LAMAR
SWAC - ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE, TEXAS SOUTHERN
Summit - NEBRASKA-OMAHA

TEAMS    347
DEAD        43
AUTO         0
LOCK         0
ZOMBIE     0
ALIVE      304

Big South and Horizon Conferences start their tourneys on Tuesday.  I'll take the 2 seeds to win these tourneys, High Point and Detroit.

Enjoy the next few weeks, no better time of the year.  Anything you would like to see added to the daily updates?  Any thoughts on the tourney this year?  Til next time, thanks for reading.

Curt