Rush The Court

Zach Hayes is RTC’s official bracketologist.

Last Four In: Washington State, Butler, Kansas State, Colorado

Last Four Out: Miami (FL), UCLA, Virginia Tech, Wichita State

Conference Call

• America East (1)-Vermont
• Atlantic 10 (2)– Temple, Xavier
• ACC (4)- Duke, North Carolina, Boston College, Florida State
• Atlantic Sun (1)– Belmont
• Big 12 (7)- Kansas, Texas A&M, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Kansas State
• Big East (11)- Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Villanova, Notre Dame, Louisville, West Virginia, Georgetown, St. John’s, Cincinnati, Marquette
• Big Sky (1)– Northern Colorado
• Big South (1)– Coastal Carolina
• Big Ten (6)– Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota
• Big West (1)– Long Beach State
• CAA (2)– Old Dominion, James Madison
• Conference USA (2)– UCF, Southern Mississippi
• Horizon (2)– Valparaiso, Butler
• Ivy (1)– Harvard
• MAAC (1)– Iona
• MAC (1)– Ball State
• MEAC (1)– Bethune-Cookman
• Missouri Valley (1)– Missouri State
• Mountain West (3)– San Diego State, BYU, UNLV
• Northeast (1)– Long Island
• Ohio Valley (1)– Austin Peay
• Pac-10 (3)– Washington, Arizona, Washington State
• Patriot (1)– Bucknell
• SEC (5)– Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Tennessee
• Southern (1)– Charleston
• Southland (1)–  McNeese State
• Summit (1)– Oakland
• Sun Belt (1)– Florida Atlantic
• SWAC (1)– Texas Southern
• WCC (2)– Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga
• WAC (1)– Utah State

Automatic bids: Vermont, Xavier, Duke, Belmont, Kansas, Syracuse, Northern Colorado, Coastal Carolina, Ohio State, Long Beach State, James Madison, Southern Mississippi, Valparaiso, Harvard, Iona, Ball State, Bethune-Cookman, Missouri State, BYU, Long Island, Austin Peay, Arizona, Bucknell, Charleston, McNeese State, Texas Southern, Oakland, Florida Atlantic, Saint Mary’s, Utah State.

Analysis:

• The Big East compiled a Bracketology-record 11 bids for this bracket both on the strength of their representatives and the result of fellow high-major conferences lacking in quality compared to previous seasons. Down years in the ACC, SEC and Pac-10 have created more and more bids to be had and Big East overachievers like Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame and St. John’s have taken full advantage. I expect two of these teams to slump as the season progresses and the pre-eminent conference in the land to collect nine bids come Selection Sunday.
• Both Syracuse and Pittsburgh collected #1 seeds in this week’s edition and their battle tonight at Pittsburgh is essentially a head-to-head to determine who stays on the top line. The loser makes way for Duke. Many thought we’d never see the Blue Devils off the top line at any point this season.
• Some non-BCS at-large bids: Butler, UCF, Gonzaga, Old Dominion. The Missouri Valley is a one-bid league with Missouri State representing that conference and Wichita State lacking the RPI top-100 wins to make their way into the field.
• The ACC has plenty of teams sitting around the bubble. In the end, I expect Maryland to earn a bid, but in every chance for a quality win, they’ve faltered. Miami‘s strong computer numbers and wins over West Virginia and Boston College have them lingering. And in the shocker of shockers, Virginia Tech is right on the fringe.
• Baylor, a preseason ranked team and a member of the top 10 not too long ago, does not have a win over the RPI top 100. Knocking off Kansas tonight would be a good start if the Bears hope of creeping back to NCAA contention. Fellow Big 12 disappointment Kansas State also has work to do to ensure a bid.

Next bracket: Monday, January 24.