College basketball is well underway this season and as we are now in the conference season, many will play the role of Bracketologist predicting the field of 68. Tim Krueger, co-host of both the Bluejay Banter radio show and of the new MVC Hoops 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.
Leading up to Selection Sunday, Krueger will provide White & Blue Review his updated bracket predictions. Bluejay Banter can be heard every Monday from 6-7 PM on 590 AM, Omaha’s ESPN Radio. The MVC Hoops show can be heard on local radio stations across the MVC six-state footprint.
The Bracket as of 2/18/13:
| EAST | WEST | |
| 1-Miami* | 1-Duke | |
| 16-Northeastern* | 16-Harvard* | |
| Lexington March 21-23 | Philadelphia March 22-24 | |
| 8-St. Louis | 8-San Diego St | |
| 9-UCLA | 9-Memphis* | |
| 4- Wisconsin | 4-Butler* | |
| 13-Stephen F. Austin* | 13-Akron.* | |
| Austin March 22-24 | Lexington March 21-23 | |
| 5-Pittsburgh | 5-Ohio St. | |
| 12-Belmont* | 12-Villanova/Baylor | |
| 3-Syracuse | 3-Arizona* | |
| 14-Stony Brook | 14-Long Beach St* | |
| Philadelphia March 22-24 | Salt Lake City March 21-23 | |
| 6-Oklahoma St | 6-Colorado St. | |
| 11-Mississippi | 11-Iowa St | |
| 7-Oregon | 7-Minnesota | |
| 10-LaSalle | 10-Notre Dame | |
| Auburn Hills March 21-23 | San Jose March 21-23 | |
| 2-Michigan | 2-Gonzaga* | |
| 15-Niagara* | 15-Montana* | |
| SOUTH | MIDWEST | |
| 1-Mich. St | 1-Indiana* | |
| 16-Mercer/Norfolk St** | 16-Southern/High Point** | |
| Auburn Hills March 21-23 | Dayton March 22-24 | |
| 8-Colorado | 8-UNLV | |
| 9-Missouri | 9-Wichita St* | |
| 4-Georgetown | 4-Kansas St | |
| 13-Louisiana Tech* | 13-Bucknell* | |
| San Jose March 21-23 | Kansas City March 22-24 | |
| 5-North Carolina State | 5-Marquette | |
| 12-Charlotte | 12-Middle Tennessee St.* | |
| 3-New Mexico* | 3-Louisville* | |
| 14-Davidson* | 14-Valparaiso* | |
| Salt Lake City March 21-23 | Dayton March 22-24 | |
| 6-Cinncinati | 6-Illinois | |
| 11-North Carolina | 11-Virginia/Temple | |
| 7-VCU | 7-Oklahoma | |
| 10-Creighton | 10-California | |
| Kansas City March 22-24 | Austin March 22-24 | |
| 2-Kansas* | 2-Florida* | |
| 15-South Dakota St* | 15-Robert Morris* |
*Indicate Conference Auto-Bid
Krueger’s Notes on the Bracket:
In the 20 plus years I have been doing this bracket I don’t think I have ever got to the 10-11 seed line and run out of teams to put in the field. A lot of teams will get in that really don’t deserve it. At least there are a couple like Cal and St. Lou who are trying to play their way into the field.
It’s seems like only a matter of time before Miami will be the number one over all seed. A couple of Big Ten teams taking a big tumble–Ohio St and Minnesota. Even Iowa is in the conversation now.
Jays hang on to a 10 seed. Two wins this week could move them up a seed. A loss to St Marys will have them in a play in game.
Last four in: Villanova, Baylor, Virginia, Temple
First four out: Indiana State, Boise State, St. Johns, Arizona St
Next four out: Maryland, UMass, Iowa, St. Marys