Johns’ Bracket Builder: The field of 68
March 12, 2012
Here are the 68 teams that I think should be unveiled by the NCAA tournament selection committee at 6 p.m. The last few spots are very arguable – more so than usual. The final spots were taken by flawed teams. I can’t see any team having a legit gripe if they are excluded, because a couple more wins here or there and that particular team could have averted its fate.
My Last Four In:
North Carolina State, Texas, Iona and Tennessee
The last team I included was the Tennessee Volunteers. They are 8-2 in their last ten games and have quality wins since January against UConn and Florida (twice). I also think this is the selection I am most likely to miss.
Differences between ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s picks:
He has Seton Hall, I have Tennessee.
He has BYU, I have Iona.
American East
Vermont
Atlantic 10
Temple
St. Louis
St. Bonaventure
Xavier*
ACC
North Carolina
Duke
Florida State
Virginia
North Carolina State*
Atlantic Sun
Belmont
Big 12
Kansas
Missouri
Baylor
Iowa St.
Kansas State
Texas*
Big East
Syracuse
Marquette
Notre Dame
Georgetown
Louisville
Cincinnati
South Florida
UConn
West Virginia
Big Sky
Montana
Big South
UNC Asheville
Big Ten
Ohio State
Michigan State
Michigan
Wisconsin
Indiana
Purdue
Big West
Long Beach State
Colonial
Virginia Commonwealth
Conference USA
Memphis
Southern Miss
Horizon
Detroit
Ivy League
Harvard
MAAC
Loyola (MD)
Iona*
MAC
Ohio
MEAC
Norfolk State
Missouri Valley
Creighton
Wichita State
Mountain West
UNLV
San Diego State
New Mexico
Colorado State
Northeast
Long Island University
Ohio Valley
Murray State
Pac-12
Colorado
California
Patriot
Lehigh
SEC
Kentucky
Florida
Vanderbilt
Alabama
Tennessee*
Southern
Davidson
Southland
Lamar
SWAC
Mississippi Valley State
Summit
South Dakota State
Sun Belt
Western Kentucky
West Coast
St. Mary’s
Gonzaga
WAC
New Mexico State