Below is the latest Bracket Projections from Hoops HD. David Griggs built the bracket, and then Chad Sherwood chimes in with all the things that he thinks is wrong with it.
-For Chad Sherwood’s Under the Radar Game of the Day, which features the horrendous floor decorating skills of Cal State Bakersfield – CLICK HERE
-For Jon Teitel’s Hoops In the House: UNC Wilmington vs Georgetown article – CLICK HERE
NOTES ON THE BRACKET
-First and foremost, it is important to understand that these brackets are CHECKPOINTS on CURRENT MERIT. They are not a forecast of what I think things will look like in March, or for that matter how good I actually think teams currently are. Because of that there are things in this bracket that will undoubtedly appear to be a little strange.
-Louisville is the team that I feel whose current profile undersells how good they actually are. They are currently on my #11 line, but that’s because they have beaten no one that’s likely to even make the NIT, much less the NCAAs. They did lose to Michigan State on the road in a very close game, so I know they’re a good team. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to see them end up as a #2 or #3 seed come March. But, when doing a merit based bracket, they won’t start to move up our projections until they get into conference play and start beating good teams.
-Little Rock is unbeaten and has five wins away from home, including at Tulsa and at San Diego State. I have them on the #6 line, and if you’re just looking at their paper, a case could be made that they belong even better than that. This team is legitimately good. I don’t know if I see them finishing on the #6 line, but I do think they’re good enough to finish inside the bubble.
-Syracuse is hard to figure out. They’ve played their best basketball abroad by winning the Battle 4 Atlantis, but doing little else on top of that.
-Wichita State does have some key losses, but they also weren’t at full strength . Since Val Vleet has returned, they’ve looked a lot better and the committee will take into consideration that he didn’t play for them in their losses. They’re on the #12 line now, and I see them moving up and being safely inside the bubble before the end of March.
Finally, you will see some comments from Chad Sherwood below. He will agree with some things, and disagree with others. The things he disagrees with, he is wrong about. Anyone who disagrees with me is wrong!!
OTHERS CONSIDERED: Florida State, Florida, Michigan, Marquette, Saint Joseph’s, Northern Iowa, Seton Hall, Oral Roberts, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, USC, Texas Tech, New Mexico, Oregon State, Middle Tennessee, UTEP, Evansville, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Saint Mary’s, Davidson, UNC Wilmington, Georgia
CHAD SHERWOOD’S COMMENTS ON THE BRACKET
– Once again, making a bracket before mid-January is lunacy. But David did make one so I must comment.
– I understand Colorado being in the bracket, but at the 7 line? This team has sown me nothing so far except a bloated record.
– I know that Syracuse won the Battle 4 Atlantis, but any team that loses to St. John’s should be automatically ineligible. Or at least get sent to the First Four.
– Baylor is being undervalued as a 10 seed in my opinion. I cannot call them just as good as Tulsa. Of course, Tulsa does not even belong in the field. I think David is smoking something on that pick and better start sharing.
– I will excuse the Richmond pick. They don’t belong in the field or even close to it, but we have known for years that David overvalues this team every season, so it does not shock me at all.
– How Kansas State can be ahead of Oregon on anybody’s seed list ever is beyond me.
– If this is based on merit, where is USC????