BRACKET NOTES

-Bracket projections reflect games played through December 23rd, 2014

-This is a CHECKPOINT of the present, not a FORECAST of the future.  In other words, this is what we feel the bracket would look like if the season ended today, and not what we think it will look like in March.  Furthermore, we expect it to look very different in March.

-Teams that were considered, but are not in (and some will undoubtedly surprise you): Iowa, Texas, A&M, Loyola IL, Illinois State, Providence, Penn State, Evansville, Davidson, North Carolina State, Georgia, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Minnesota, George Washington, Harvard, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Oregon, Xavier, Saint Mary’s, UTEP

-This is the first bracket where we have tried to go strictly off the data, and no preseason assumptions.  With that said, Syracuse is probably the most egregious omission.  But, they’ve done absolutely nothing away from home other than beat Iowa on a neutral floor, and they’ve done very little else at home.  Iowa isn’t much better, but they did get a big win at North Carolina.

-TCU is currently the last team in the bracket.  They have done absolutely nothing, and the only reason we are projecting them in is because they are currently in the rankings.  I don’t think we’ll see them in there at the end.

-Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, Yale and Green Bay may be among the teams that appear to be seeded higher than you would expect, but look at their body of work.  Old Dominion has beaten VCU, LSU on a neutral site, and Georgia State.  Not too bad.  I still don’t expect Yale to win the Ivy League, much less end up on the #9 line, but as of now they’ve won at UConn and at Kent State, who is tough to beat at hme, and really don’t have bad losses other than at Quinnipiac.

-Long story short, it’s a mess.  It’s more about getting in the habit of evaluating teams than anything else.  This isn’t what it will look like in March.  We know this isn’t what it will look like in March.  We also know this is very easy to pick apart.  So, on that note, HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!!  I hope everyone has a safe and happy much needed holiday season!

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