College basketball fans are just a few weeks away from the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. Between now and then, many fans will play the role of bracketologist. Tim Krueger, co-host of the Bluejay Banter radio show, is one such fan. Krueger has conducted his own bracket projections for years, even before ESPN’s Joe Lunardi gave such a practice the term Bracketology.
Each Monday leading up to Selection Sunday, Krueger will provide White & Blue Review his updated bracket predictions. Bluejay Banter can be heard every Monday from 5-6PM on 590 AM, Omaha’s ESPN Radio, with podcasts of the show available via www.am590espnradio.com.
Here is the Bracket for February 21, 2011:
EAST REGION SOUTHEAST REGION
1-PITT** 1-OHIO ST**
16-FLORIDA ATL.** 16-B COOK/LIU**
Cleveland Mar 18th Cleveland Mar 18th
8-UNLV 8-UCLA
9-OLD DOMINION 9-KANSAS ST
4-WISCONSIN 4-VILLANOVA
13-OAKLAND** 13-UTEP**
Chicago Mar 18th Tulsa Mar 18th
5-VANDERBILT 5-KENTUCKY
12-MARQUETTE 12-MISSOURI ST**
12-COLORADO ST
Play in game Mar 16th
6-TEXAS A+M 6-W. VIRGINIA
11-ALABAMA 11-MEMPHIS
Washington DC Mar 17th Charlotte Mar 18th
3-U CONN 3-N CAROLINA
14-COLL. OF CHARL.** 14-COAST. CARL**
7-TEMPLE 7-MISSOURI
10-CINNCINATI 10-MINNESOTA
Charlotte Mar 18th Tampa Mar 17th
2-DUKE** 2-GEORGETOWN
15-VERMONT** 15-MURRAY ST.**
WEST REGION SOUTHWEST REGION
1-KANSAS** 1-TEXAS
16-LONG BEACH ST** 16-MCN ST/TX SO.**
Tulsa Mar 18th Tucson Mar 17th
8-G MASON** 8-FLORIDA ST
9-ILLINOIS 9-UTAH STATE**
4-LOUISVILLE 4-FLORIDA**
13-HARVARD** 13-BELMONT**
Washington DC Mar 17th Tampa Mar 17th
5-ARIZONA** 5-SYRACUSE
12-GONZAGA 12-CLEVELAND ST**
12-BUTLER
Play in game March 15th
6-XAVIER** 6-WASHINGTON
11-MICH ST 11-ST MARYS**
Chicago Mar 18th Denver Mar 17th
3-NOTRE DAME 3-PURDUE
14-BUCKNELL** 14-FAIRFIELD**
7-GEORGIA 7-ST JOHNS
10-VIR. TECH 10-TENNESSEE
Denver Mar 17th Tucson Mar 17th
2-BYU** 2-S DIEGO ST
15-MONTANA** 15-WEST MICHIGAN**
(** denotes conference leader/automatic bid)
Krueger’s Notes About the Bracket:
BracketBusters weekend affected potential bubble teams even more than ever, it seems. Two Valley teams, Missouri State and Wichita State, suffered greatly from their defeats while Utah State benefited from its win over fellow bubble team St. Mary’s.
Gonzaga, Butler, and Michigan State all joined the field while the at-large bids were cut by one with Memphis losing to Rice and UTEP taking over the CUSA lead.
Nebraska made the biggest move on the bubble, as the Huskers went from outside the discussion to being on the first four out list. They will have to win 3 of their last 4 games, which would include another top 50 win over either Missouri or Kansas State, and then have to win at least one in the Big 12 Tournament. As much as it pains most of us, all teams on the bubble have major warts and if Nebraska pulls off these wins Big Red’s resume would be better than comparable teams, despite NU’s horrid non-conference schedule.
Last four in: Colorado State, Butler, Gonzaga, Marquette
First four out: Boston College, Richmond, Baylor, Nebraska
Next four out: Michigan, VCU, Wichita State, Maryland