Hoops HD Staff Bracket – Monday, January 2nd

After our holiday break, we resume our Staff Bracket projections this week. This is not to be confused with the brackets that our committee-guessing expert Jon Teitel posts; he is simply guessing what the Selection Committee would likely pick at this stage. With John Stalica’s turn this week, this is how he sees fit at this checkpoint of the season.

COMMENTS FROM JOHN:

– With UConn losing this weekend, we now have a clear-cut #1 overall seed with Purdue taking control. Kansas and Arizona continue to impress and UConn still has the edge over Houston for the final #1 spot for now.

– Both New Mexico and Xavier tied for #22 in the AP Poll last week and both teams have been rising fast in the seed list. The Musketeers have an opportunity to rise up a little faster given the level of competition in the Big East versus what the Mountain West offers for the Lobos.

– If not for their win at home against Yale, Kentucky would be 0-4 against the top two tiers in the NET. Notice they are not in the bracket right now.

– I think that Charleston and Florida Atlantic deserve to be above the First Four right now, but teams like North Texas and UAB also have a chance to crash the party as at-larges if things break right for them in C-USA. Southern Miss is not above the First Four but I do have them as a #12 seed at this point.

– Creighton is a team that will likely get healthy and get in the field later on in the season, but right now the resume isn’t there. Villanova may not get to that point and will really be behind the 8-ball should they not kick into gear soon.

First Four Out: Creighton, Utah State, Northwestern, NC State

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:  Stalica mentioned this in his write-up, but to the question of “Where’s Kentucky?” the answer should be “Right next to Oklahoma State.”  I do think Kentucky will be there in the end, but right now despite multiple chances, they just don’t have enough wins against the top 100, much less tournament caliber wins, to be selected.  I applaud John for the omission!!

-Sam Houston is in his field, but on the #12 line.  I’m starting to think that I’m the only person that I’m the only person that respects the hell out of their resume.  The wins at Oklahoma and Utah have got to be worth something.  Granted Stalica only has both of those teams in the First Four, so…