Dead or Alive 3/7

The new record was set on Saturday for casualties.  A whopping 27 teams lost their chance at the title.  We are getting closer and closer to the end.  Now a total of 114 teams are dead and 237 still alive.  Here are the teams that bit the dust on Saturday...

NORTHEAST - Bryant University, St. Francis (PA)
COLONIAL - Elon, James Madison, College of Charleston, Delaware
BIG SOUTH - Longwood, Gardner Webb
MAAC - Siena, Canisius, Rider, Marist
SOUTHERN - UNC Greensboro, East Tennessee State, Chattanooga, VMI
WEST COAST - St. Mary's, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara
MISSOURI VALLEY - Loyola (IL)
OHIO VALLEY - Murray State
HORIZON - Illinois Chicago, Cleveland State
SUN BELT - Arkansas State
BIG SKY - Southern Utah
SUMMIT - Denver



We also got out first LOCK of the tourney when Wichita State was upset in the Missouri Valley semi's.  Nothing wrong with being a LOCK, but I think the Shockers would rather have been an AUTO qualifier.  Oh well, either way we'll be seeing them in the bracket.

LOCK
MISSOURI VALLEY - Wichita State



The first AUTO bid was handed out on Saturday.  The Belmont Bruins beat the Racers of Murray State in an instant classic.  They'll be a tough out in the tourney, I wouldn't want to play them.

AUTO
OHIO VALLEY - Belmont




STANDINGS
ALIVE      237
DEAD       114
AUTO         1
LOCK         1
ZOMBIE     0

Three more bids to be handed out on Sunday.  The Atlantic Sun has USC Upstate against North Florida.  Upstate knocked off FGCU, I'll take them in this one.  A good one in he Big South as well, Winthrop should take the title.  The Missouri Valley will be very interesting for bubble teams, they don't want to see Illinois State take this game.  I'm rooting for the Panthers of Northern Iowa for sure.

Only eight more days of basketball until we have a bracket.  Things really ramp up in a few days.  Here we go.

Curt