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For our third installment of STL bracketology, the bracket has come into focus quite a bit. While there are still some games to be played, I don't really see any major changes to this as far as the teams are concerned. There may be some changes to the last four in, but that is to be expected. Now on to the bracket.
Midwest Regional
| Seed | Team (overall rank) |
| 1 | Kansas (1) |
| 16 | Fairleigh Dickinson / Holy Cross |
| 9 | USC |
| 8 | Dayton |
| 5 | Indiana |
| 12 | Iona |
| 13 | Northern Iowa |
| 4 | Seton Hall |
| 3 | Miami |
| 14 | Chattanooga |
| 11 | St. Mary's |
| 6 | California |
| 7 | Texas Tech |
| 10 | Providence |
| 15 | Weber State |
| 2 | Michigan State |
East Regional
| Seed | Team (overall rank) |
| 1 |
UVA (2) |
| 16 | Southern / Hampton |
| 9 | Cincinnatti |
| 8 | Oregon State |
| 5 | Iowa State |
| 12 | Stephen F. Austin |
| 13 | UNC Wilmington |
| 4 | Purdue |
| 3 | Utah |
| 14 | Cal St Bakersfield |
| 11 | Virginia Commonwealth |
| 6 | Baylor |
| 7 | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Arkansas-Little Rock |
| 15 | UNC Asheville |
| 2 | Villanova |
South Regional
| Seed | Team (overall rank) |
| 1 | UNC (3) |
| 16 | Florida Gulf Coast |
| 9 | Colorado |
| 8 | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Texas |
| 12 | Yale |
| 13 | South Dakota State |
| 4 | Kentucky |
| 3 | Xavier |
| 14 | Fresno State |
| 11 | Wichita State / Syracuse |
| 6 | Iowa |
| 7 | Gonzaga |
| 10 | Pittsburgh |
| 15 | Middle Tennessee |
| 2 | Oklahoma |
West Regional
| Seed | Team (overall rank) |
| 1 | Oregon (4) |
| 16 | Austin Peay |
| 9 | Michigan |
| 8 | St Joes |
| 5 | Maryland |
| 12 | Stephen F. Austin |
| 13 | Stony Brook |
| 4 | Duke |
| 3 | Texas A&M |
| 14 | Green Bay |
| 11 | South Carolina / Temple |
| 6 | Arizona |
| 7 | Connecticut |
| 10 | Butler |
| 15 | Buffalo |
| 2 | West Virginia |
Last Four In: Wichita State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple
First Four Out: Tulsa, San Diego State, Monmouth, Vanderbilt
This represents the results of my statistical look at teams' resumes. I have no idea what the committee will do, and wouldn't be surprised if Virginia went to the two line. If that happens, then we can be certain that this committee was heavily influenced by the conference tournaments. However, this model treats a neutral game against UNC in March the same way it treated a neutral game against West Virginia in December. I did give a bump to teams who won their conference tournaments (and gave a bump to MSU assuming they win theirs). These were still the results. After examining things closely, only Kansas can trump Virginia's resume on paper.
Do you agree? Leave a comment. Just know none of it matters after about 6 p.m. Sunday night.