Daniel Evans (@bracketexpert) is RTC’s new resident bracketologist. According to Bracket Matrix, he ranks as one of the top bracketologists among those who have produced brackets for more than three years, including two seasons with perfect bracket projections. He updates the field daily on his site, Bracketology Expert, and will be producing a weekly bracket update here at RTC on Fridays. RTC Bubble Watch will publish on Sunday nights and Thursday afternoons for the rest of the season.
- New in This Update:
- I re-evaluated the entire bracket tonight. I had Colorado too low and have moved the Buffaloes up. I admit to overreacting to their loss to Oregon State over the weekend, an exercise I generally avoid (and reference avoiding frequently). Remember, as Selection Committee chairman Mike Bobinski said during his teleconference on Wednesday morning, bracketologists evaluate the bracket every night while the committee only makes one bracket, based on one evaluation of the entire season. That’s why I always say it is important to not overreact to wins and losses. If you would like to read the entire chat, here is the transcript.
- The biggest story from Wednesday is that Norfolk State (16-0) and North Carolina Central (15-1) in the MEAC both lost in their first conference tournament games. That’s right, the top two seeds are gone. Savannah State is now projected to make the field based on being the highest remaining seed int he MEAC Tournament.
- San Diego State’s win over Boise State means the Broncos will have a long wait until the field is announced on Selection Sunday.
- If Louisville gets a #1 seed and plays in Lexington (which it would), the First Four will work out a lot better than it does in my bracket below. I’ve moved one match-up to the #11 line so that teams in the First Four will play close to Dayton if they win their opening round games, but one set of #16 seeds is being sent to Salt Lake City, because it is the only Thursday/Saturday site at which the No. 1 seeds are projected to play.
- NOTE: Tonight’s bracket does not include a S-curve ranking, but that will return in the next update.
LAST FOUR IN: Tennessee, Kentucky, La Salle, Saint Mary’s (last team in)
FIRST FOUR OUT: Virginia (first team out), Mississippi, Alabama, Baylor
NEXT FOUR OUT: Southern Miss, Iowa, Maryland, Xavier
NOTE: Projected conference champions (or auto bid winners) are in capital letters.
(full bracket after the jump)
