College basketball is 2 days away from Selection Sunday. Many 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 3/16/13:
| WEST | EAST | |
| 1-Gonzaga* | 1-Duke | |
| 16-JamesMadison* | 16-Western Kentucky* | |
| San Jose March 21-23 | Philadelphia March 22-24 | |
| 8-North Carolina State | 8-Illinois | |
| 9-San Diego St. | 9-Iowa State | |
| 4-Syracuse | 4- Marquette | |
| 13-Akron* | 13-Valparaiso* | |
| Lexington March 21-23 | San Jose March 21-23 | |
| 5-Oklahoma St | 5-UNLV | |
| 12-Ole Miss/LaSalle | 12-Bucknell* | |
| 3-New Mexico* | 3-Florida* | |
| 14-Montana* | 14-Stephen F. Austin* | |
| Salt Lake City March 21-23 | Austin March 22-24 | |
| 6-UCLA* | 6-VCU | |
| 11-Tennessee | 11-Villanova | |
| 7-Butler | 7-Memphis* | |
| 10-Minnesota | 10-Wichita St. | |
| Philadelphia March 22-24 | Auburn Hills March 21-23 | |
| 2-Georgetown | 2-Michigan St. | |
| 15-Iona* | 15-Vermont* | |
| MIDWEST | SOUTH | |
| 1-Indiana* | 1-Louisville* | |
| 16-Southern/Liberty** | 16-LIU/Morgan St** | |
| Dayton March 22-24 | Lexington March 21-23 | |
| 8-Notre Dame | 8-North Carolina | |
| 9-Colorado | 9-Missouri | |
| 4-Kansas St | 4-Arizona | |
| 13-South Dakota St* | 13-New Mexico St* | |
| Kansas City March 22-24 | Salt Lake City March 21-23 | |
| 5-St.Louis* | 5-Wisconsin | |
| 12-Boise St/St. Mary's | 12-Belmont* | |
| 3-Ohio State | 3-Michigan | |
| 14-Florida Gulf Coast* | 14-Davidson* | |
| Dayton March 22-24 | Auburn Hills March 21-23 | |
| 6-Pittsburgh | 6-Colorado St | |
| 11-Oregon | 11-California | |
| 7-Oklahoma | 7-Creighton* | |
| 10-Temple | 10-Cinncinati | |
| Austin March 22-24 | Kansas City March 22-24 | |
| 2-Miami* | 2-Kansas* | |
| 15-Pacific* | 15-Harvard* |
*Indicate Conference Auto-Bid
Krueger’s Notes on the Bracket:
Boy, how the bubble has changed in 48 hours. It looked like it was all but wrapped up except for a spot or two. Now, there are as many as six teams competing for the final spots.
I’m leaving LaSalle in the bracket for tonight over UMass. It is so close. LaSalle has the better wins but UMass has a win in the only meeting between the two. A UMass win Saturday would put them in.
I’m going with Ole Miss over Kentucky. I don’t like their non con strength of schedule at 273. However, with the Noel injury, I think it is clear you don’t know what you are getting with the Cats, especially on the road. Kentucky still has the far superior numbers but the injury has put a lot of doubt in peoples minds. I’m going to sleep on these last four or five spots and evaluate again tomorrow.
I had several people ask about Minnesota. Yes they have faded big time down the stretch. However with 5 top 50 wins,12 in the top 100, a strong RPI and power numbers, and a number 2 strength of schedule, they are in the field although their seeding took a big hit.
The Jays are a solid 7 seed. I currently have them going to KC which I think by winning both titles the committee will look to do if possible.
Last four in: Ole Miss, St. Marys, LaSalle, Boise St.
Last four out: UMass, Kentucky, Alabama, Maryland