65 teams will get invited to the big dance.  There are 31 conferences with automatic bids.  That leaves 34 at-large bids.  Most of those conferences will be won by a team that should get an at large bid. What causes some teams to be bumped off the bubble is those conferences that someone wins that wouldn't normally be invited.

Here is a break are the top 34 teams that are going to get invited even if they don't win there conferences.

1)  KANSAS SYRACUSE KENTUCKY DUKE

2)  PURDUE OHIO ST W VIRGINIA VILLANOVA

3)  KANSAS ST MICH ST NEW MEXICO TENNESSEE

4) MARYLAND PITT WISCONSIN TEMPLE

5)  BUTLER BYU BAYLOR VANDERBILT

6)  GONZAGA XAVIER TEXAS A&M GEORGETOWN

7) RICHMOND N IOWA TEXAS UTEP

Continue reading "On The Bubble"

South Florida got hammered by Georgetown today.  That means that SFU most likely won't be invited to the big dance. 

Missouri got beat by lowly Nebraska.  That is very unimpressive.  The Tigers have a 10-6 record in Big 12 play.  That alone should qualify them for the NCAA tourney.  But losing in the first round to Nebraska who is 14 and 17 on the year is bad.

 What's scary is teams that run the table and make it that otherwise wouldn't have.  This bumps off another bubble team.  I don't think Nebraska will run the table, but someone usually does.

Back to the Big East.  Cincinatti and Seton Hall are still alive, but they won't likely run the table either.   However, Seton Hall takes on the 7 seed in Notre Dame.  This is a big game for the Fighting Irish.  They are a bubble team that is looking better than most.  A loss here could really hurt them.  A win should be enough to get them in.

Continue reading "Bubbles bursting by the minute."

There are some big games on Saturday.  The ACC is at the top of the list with perhaps the biggest game.  That game is Duke vs Miami Fla.  Miami had the worst record in the league for the ACC and knocked off Wake Forrest and Va Tech.  Va Tech looks to still get in and Wake was a bubble team.  Losing to Miami may have knocked them out.  If Miami wins, that would put them into the ACC final against either NC ST or Ga Tech.  Ga Tech is a bubble team that could earn a spot with a win today.  But either way, a Miami win would give a team that wasn't in the field of 64 a slot, bumping someone else out.  Live long Jimmy V.

In the American East, Vermont and Boston battle for the automatic bid.

The Atlatic 10 looks like it has 3 locks with Temple, Xavier and Richmond.  Those 3 are still alive in the tourny.  Xavier and Richmond are playing each other while Temple takes on Rhode Island.  ESPN has Rhode Island and one of the first 4 teams not getting in.  A win today could get them back in.  A tournament win definately would.

Continue reading "Saturday's Games: NCAA Tourney hopes"

If the Thunder win the next 12 out of 18 games, they will assure themselves of a playoff spot.  That's assuming Memphis wins every game here on out.  Memphis is in 9th place and has 16 games remaining. Should they win all 16, they would have 51 wins.  OKC may very well win 12 games.  But, either way it looks like they are going to make the playoffs.  Just where will they be is the question.  Right now they are in 5th place.  But, they are 1 1/2 games behind Utah for 4th!! They are also 2 games ahead of 8th.  So, they could finish anywhere.

No one is playing as good as Durant.  Jeff Green had 27 last night.  Westbrook is amazing and continues to impress.  Sefaloosha can hand cuff the best and Krstic is almost a double double level.  The bench has become solid.  Nick Collison is a blue collar veteran that knows how to play.  Ibaka is turning into a weapon offesnisvely and can rebound.  He is a high energy guy.  Eric Maynor's turnover to assist ratio is incredible for a rookie.  The only down fall is that Harden is out and may miss a month with a hamstring injury.  He should be back for the playoffs.  If he returns at the level he was playing at, the Thunder have a scorer off the bench.  Unitl then, Kyle Weaver will be picking up the slack. 

Continue reading "Thunder playoff bound"

A preview as the committee unveils their bracket in less than 5 hours.

I have taken the AP and Coache's poll as well as the RPI and Jeff Sagarain to compile the following:

1) KANSAS     KENTUCKY   DUKE   SYRACUSE                  there may be a swap with Syr and WV

2) W VIRGINIA    KANSAS ST   PURDUE   VILLANOVA    Ohio State may swap with Purdue

3)  NEW MEXICO   OHIO ST  BAYLOR   BUTLER     Temple may swap with Baylor

4)  TEMPLE   TENNESSEE  BYU   GEORGETOWN        

Continue reading "Bracketology March 14"

Here is how I see the east region and their chances of advancing to the final four.  I have them ranked on likely hood of reaching the final four, not on their seeding.  The seed is in paranthesis.

1--KENTUCKY (1)  The Wildcats are by far the best team in this region.  The biggest "scare" for this team could be Texas in the second round. But even if Texas plays at the level they were at before Christmas, the Wildcats are still better.  West Virginia will be the biggest challenge for the Wildcats.  The biggest weakness for this team is inexperience and that is why I'm not picking them to win it all and possibly fall in the elite 8.  They have 2 unbeleivable freshman.  But, Keven Durant, the fab 5 from Michiga, and Carmelo Anthony were freshman. They have a new coach this year. But Calipari is one of the best ever in the tournament.  What concerns me most is that at this time last year, they were in the NIT. 

Continue reading "NCAA East Region breakdown."

The NCAA South Region.

1--Duke has the best chance to win this region.  I think they will be in the finals against Kansas.  They have 3 outstanding scoring options and are getting good play inside.  In other words: they are peeking at the right time.  They have been absent from the final four for a while and this is the year they return.

2--Villanova is the only thing standing in the way of Duke making it to the final four.  I really don't see anyone having much of a chance outside of these two.  Villanova has a proven winner and competitor in Scottie Reynolds.  As long as he is on your team, you have a chance to win any game. 

3--Notre Dame has the next best chance to win this region.  I think in order to win during the tournament, you have to play tough teams during the year.  And being in the Big East allows you to play #3 seed or above on a daily basis.  This team knows Villanova and could beat them.  But I don't think they will.  Notre Dame vs Duke would be a classic match up.

Continue reading "NCAA South Region"

NCAA South Region.

1--Syracuse is best team in this region but is by no means a lock to win the region.  I think they will have a pretty good time getting to the Elite 8. But, the team they face there will be tough.

2--Kansas State is a good, good team with guards that can play.  This team lost it's swagger at the end of the regular season, then got it back in the Big 12 tournament.  I like that.  Instead of folding, they went out to prove they can still play.  What bothers me about this team is that they lost to Kansas 3 times this year.  Either that means they can't beat the upper echelon or, Kansas is that good.  I think it's that Kansas is that good.

3--Pittsburgh is a team that has tournament experience and comes from the Big East.  They play tough teams night in and night out.  Look for them to battle K State to play Syracuse.  I think they can be a dark horse for the title.

Continue reading "NCAA West Region"

The NCAA Midwest region is by far the deepest when you consider how many teams could make it to the final four.

1--Kansas is still the best team in the country.  I'm pretty confident they will make the elite 8.  But, the sweet 16 game against either Maryland or Michigan St is the toughest that any #1 seed will face.

2--Ohio State has 2 future NBA players and you need that to get far in the tournament.  But, this is going to be a tough tough road to haul.

3--Georgetown has had some bad losses.  But they are playing so good right now.  A showdown with them and Ohio State is exciting. 

4--Tennessee has the next best shot because they are on the other side of the bracket from Kansas.  They have beaten the best this year, but can they do it 4 games in a row?   Maybe?

Continue reading "NCAA Midwest Region"

The Charlotte Bobcats have had a good season and looks like they should make the playoffs.  I have really fallen in love with this team.  I hope Michael Jordan gets the team.   Here is how the Bobcats look now and could look come playoff time:

PG  Raymond Felton--He is a good leader on this team.  His minutes have gone down slightly this year from 37 to 32. So, accordingly his stats have dipped a little.  But he will be more fresh at season's end and make this team go.

SG Stephen Jackson--20pts 5reb 4ast 2st.  And, he makes 1.5 3's a game.  Oh, and he can defend too.  Not too shabby for a second round pick.   He has been rock solid for this team.

SF Boris Diaw--11pts 5 reb 4ast  He does a little bit of everything as well.  He logs in a lot of minutes and is this team's anchor.  You can't leave him open, he'll hit the 3.

Continue reading "Bobcats start keying up for playoffs."

Here is how I see the first day of the NCAA tournament.  I'm going to pick a winner and also show how many times I think they would win if they played each other ten times.

Kentucky has gone from being a powerhouse to lost the last 3 years.  They high Calipari and he gets a couple of freshman and instantly they are a success.  One thing bothers me about this team going all the way is that they haven't been there.  This is all new to everyone but the program itself and Calipari. That will quickly return though. Will it be this year?

Kentucky 10  E Tenn St  0

6 Marquette vs 11 Washington---Marquette is from the Big East and that bodes very well. They are a defensive grind it out team while Washington wants to push the tempo, cause turnovers, and get easy buckets.  Washington is on a roll after winning against Arizona State which all the experts said they had to do to get in.  Then, they won the PAC 10 tournament.  I think they are looking really good.

Continue reading "NCAA Tournament Thursday"

This has been an unbelievable tournament!  Not in the sweet 16--Kansas Jayhawks, the number one team in the country.--New Mexico, 29-4 and a 3 seed---Villanova, the numbe 2 seed and many who had in the final four---Georgetown, #3 seed.

What will be in store for today?

Michigan State vs Maryland.  I said a few days ago that this game didn't matter because the winnr would play Kansas.  Now, the winner plays Northern Iowa and a chance to get to the elite 8!  Maryland has one of the top players in the country and Michigan State has one of the best tournament coaches in the  country.   Let's keep riding the upsets and take Michigan State.

Xavier vs Pitt--Both teams are tournament good teams and it wouldn't surprise anyone if you said they were in the sweet 16.  Sean Miller played at Pitt and coached at Xavier and now is at home watching.  Who is he rooting for? Niether, he is trying to figure out how to get Arizona back into the tourney.  Anyway, I say that Pitt is too good for Xavier and will advance to play the other Kansas school. 

Continue reading "NCAA Madness: Sunday"

Losing to Indiana last night was tough.  If they had one last night, they would be tied for the 5th seed with Phoenix and 2 games ahead of 7th in front of San Antonio.  But, that didn't happen.  All is not lost, it just makes this week more difficult.  Tonight they are at home against the Spurs.  They have a one game lead over them.  A loss tonight would put the Thunder in 7th.  A win would keep them in 6th and put 2 games between them and San Antonio and more breathing room going into the last 14 games.

The Thunder play the Spurs, the Lakers, Houston, and Portland. Going 2-2 would be fine.  That would keep them in the playoffs and still have a shot at a good seed. Anything above that would be great. Anything below that would put them in danger of falling to the 8th seed.  It all starts tonight with San Antonio. 

Continue reading "Big Week for the Thunder"

This year's sweet 16 has some fresh faces in the field.  If you compare this year's group to last year's things are different. I want to look at the trend of the sweet 16 over the last 10 years.

Duke, Michigan State, Syracuse, Xavier, and Purdue were in the field last year. 

Ohio State, Xavier, West Virginia, Tennessee, Butler, and Washington have all been there within the past 10 years.

Northern Iowa, Kansas State, Cornell, Baylor, and St. Mary's are all new faces.

Who are the best programs in the last ten years?  What I did to answer this question was simple. I gave a point for each team that made the sweet 16.  4 points for making the final 4. 5 points for the runner up and 10 for the champion.  Including all the teams that make the tournament would take too long and really wouldn't change the overall outcome.  The same goes for the field of 32. What people really remember is who made the final four.  And, who made the sweet 16.  Unless you are a fan of a school, your'e not likely to remember that they made the elite 8 three years ago.  (This list includes this year's field of 16. So, teams may move up this list in the next couple of weeks.)

Continue reading "Sweet 16 Fun Facts and more...."

The Thunder needed to go 2 and 2 last week and that is exactly what they did.  They lost to San Antonio which put them into a tie for 6th. Then, they defeated Houston with an impressive comeback performance by James Hardin. They followed that with a romp of the Lakers.  Sunday was a defeat to Portland. 

The bad news is that they are in a 3 way tie for 6th,7th, and 8th with the Spurs and Trailblazers.  Phoenix also pulled away for the 5th spot.

The good news is they lowered the magic number to reach the playoffs to four. And, they sent a message to the league that they can play with anyone when they routed Los Angelos.

The Thunder end the month with back to back games at Philly and Boston.  It will be hard to be the Celtics on their floor as a second of a back to back series so, beating the 76ers is a must. This is a very tough end to a good season.  After a couple of days rest, they have another back to back at Dallas and home against Minnesota.  Another win and loss most likely. 

Continue reading "The Thunder playoff chances."

To win the final four you have to have players---NBA type players.  Let's take a look at recent history to prove the point.

Last year N Carolina won with 3 first round draft picks in Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington.

The year before Kansas won with 3 of their own:  Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers. Runner up Memphis had Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose.

2007 Florida--Cory Brewer, Al Horford, and Jakim Noah were starters and Richard and Speights were bench players.  Runner up Ohio State had Greg Oden and Mike Conley.   Note: Lighty played in that game.

2006 Florida had the same group as in 2007. UCLA had a pretty good group:J Farmar, Mbah a Moute, A Afflalo, D Collison

2005 An exciting game had UNC champs again with Raymond Felton, Scott May, Ronnie McCants--Illinois had Derron Williams and L Head

Continue reading "Who will win the Final Four?"