Bracket Projections for Friday, Jan 23rd

For a discussion of each team and the seed lines they ended up on, see our latest Bracket Rundown show – CLICK HERE

BRACKET NOTES

– The only seed line swap required was between the last 11 seed (Tennessee) and the top 12 seed (St Mary’s/Washington First Four game).  This was done to send the First Four winner to a Friday-Sunday site that did not require them to travel cross-country from Dayton to Seattle.

– The potential Kentucky vs LSU round of 32 game is perfectly permissible as the two teams only play once this season.  If they were to meet a second time in the SEC tournament, that potential matchup would no longer be allowed, but for purposes of these brackets we do not assume any conference tournament pairings.

– I got a kick out of VCU’s pod in the West Region, featuring Oklahoma vs Stephen F Austin (a regular season rematch from two years ago won by SFA) and a potential VCU vs SFA round of 32 game (rematch from last year’s tournament also won by SFA).  That was purely coincidence, as is the potential Indiana-Notre Dame game in the round of 32.  That would be a regular season rematch from this year, but those are not considered by the committee beyond the round 64.

– Teams in the top 4 seed lines are not supposed to be at a home court disadvantage in their round of 64 game.  I was slightly concerned that Utah vs Eastern Washington in Portland could be an issue there, but I just don’t think it would be a factor.  I do not think Eastern Washington would be placed in Seattle though.

– I have noted previously that, as the bird flies, Pittsburgh is closer to Charlottesville, VA than Charlotte is.  However, it is a longer drive to Pittsburgh with no direct highways.  I therefore placed Virginia in Charlotte.  It will be interesting to see which way the committee goes if the Cavaliers remain on the 1 seed line.