Today is 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.
Final Bracket
Here is the FINAL BRACKET. LaSalle edges out UMass for the final spot
| WEST | EAST | |
| 1-Gonzaga | 1-Louisville | |
| 16-Western Kentucky | 16-Long Island/North Carolina A&T | |
| San Jose March 21-23 | Lexington March 21-23 | |
| 8-Notre Dame | 8-North Carolina State | |
| 9-San Diego St. | 9-Missouri | |
| 4-Arizona | 4- Michigan | |
| 13-New Mexico St* | 13-Akron | |
| Salt Lake City March 21-23 | Auburn Hills 21-23 | |
| 5-Wisconsin | 5-Oklahoma State | |
| 12-Bucknell | 12-LaSalle/St. Mary's | |
| 3-New Mexico | 3-Michigan State | |
| 14-Montana | 14-Florida Gulf Coast | |
| Salt Lake City March 21-23 | Auburn Hills March 21-23 | |
| 6-Pittsburgh | 6-Memphis | |
| 11-California | 11-Villanova | |
| 7-Oklahoma | 7-Butler | |
| 10-Minnesota | 10-Wichita St. | |
| Philadelphia March 22-24 | Philadelphia March 22-24 | |
| 2-Duke | 2-Miami | |
| 15-Iona | 15-Northwestern State | |
| MIDWEST | SOUTH | |
| 1-Indiana | 1-Kansas | |
| 16-Southern/Liberty | 16-James Madison | |
| Dayton March 22-24 | Kansas City March 22-24 | |
| 8-North Carolina | 8-Illinois | |
| 9-Cinncinatti | 9-Colorado | |
| 4-Kansas St | 4-Marquette | |
| 13-South Dakota St | 13-Valparaiso | |
| Kansas City March 22-24 | San Jose March 21-23 | |
| 5-St.Louis | 5-UNLV | |
| 12-Boise St/Tennessee | 12-Belmont | |
| 3-Florida | 3-Syracuse | |
| 14-Harvard | 14-Davidson | |
| Austin March 22-24 | Austin March 22-24 | |
| 6-UCLA | 6-VCU | |
| 11-Iowa State | 11-Ole Miss | |
| 7-Colorado State | 7-Creighton | |
| 10-Temple | 10-Oregon | |
| Lexington March 21-23 | Dayton March 21-23 | |
| 2-Georgetown | 2-Ohio State | |
| 15-Pacific | 15-Albany |
The Bracket as of 3/17/13 (Morning):
| WEST | EAST | |
| 1-Gonzaga* | 1-Louisville* | |
| 16-Western Kentucky* | 16-Long Island/North Carolina A&T** | |
| San Jose March 21-23 | Lexington March 21-23 | |
| 8-Notre Dame | 8-North Carolina State | |
| 9-San Diego St. | 9-Missouri | |
| 4-Arizona | 4- Michigan | |
| 13-New Mexico St* | 13-Akron* | |
| Salt Lake City March 21-23 | Auburn Hills 21-23 | |
| 5-Wisconsin | 5-Oklahoma State | |
| 12-Bucknell* | 12-LaSalle/St. Mary's | |
| 3-New Mexico* | 3-Michigan State | |
| 14-Montana* | 14-Florida Gulf Coast* | |
| Salt Lake City March 21-23 | Auburn Hills March 21-23 | |
| 6-Pittsburgh | 6-Memphis | |
| 11-California | 11-Villanova | |
| 7-Oklahoma | 7-Butler | |
| 10-Minnesota | 10-Wichita St. | |
| Philadelphia March 22-24 | Philadelphia March 22-24 | |
| 2-Duke | 2-Miami* | |
| 15-Iona* | 15-Northwestern State* | |
| MIDWEST | SOUTH | |
| 1-Indiana | 1-Kansas* | |
| 16-Southern/Liberty** | 16-James Madison* | |
| Dayton March 22-24 | Kansas City March 22-24 | |
| 8-North Carolina | 8-Illinois | |
| 9-Cinncinatti | 9-Colorado | |
| 4-Kansas St | 4-Marquette | |
| 13-South Dakota St* | 13-Valparaiso | |
| Kansas City March 22-24 | San Jose March 21-23 | |
| 5-St.Louis* | 5-UNLV | |
| 12-Boise St/Tennessee | 12-Belmont* | |
| 3-Florida* | 3-Syracuse | |
| 14-Harvard* | 14-Davidson* | |
| Austin March 22-24 | Austin March 22-24 | |
| 6-UCLA | 6-VCU | |
| 11-Iowa State | 11-Ole Miss | |
| 7-Colorado State | 7-Creighton* | |
| 10-Temple | 10-Oregon* | |
| Lexington March 21-23 | Dayton March 21-23 | |
| 2-Georgetown | 2-Ohio State* | |
| 15-Pacific* | 15-Albany* |
*Indicate Conference Auto-Bid
Krueger’s Notes on the Bracket:
There is not much separating the last four in and the first four out. There are some really tough choices. I went with LaSalle over UMass because of LaSalle’s better computer numbers. Ole Miss played their way in while Tennessee was the next best option. We have to fill the field with someone right?
I’m seeing some love for Middle Tennessee State. I really don’t get this. Yes, they won 28 games but they have one win over teams in the top 100. Just one. It would be a huge injustice if they get in over some others. Yes they played a nice non-conference schedule but you have to win games and they won one against the top teams all year.
Kansas moving to the top line means Creighton can’t go to Kansas City. However, they still have a nice draw. The Oregon game would be interesting.
Last four in: LaSalle,St Marys, Tennessee, Boise State
First four out: UMass, Kentucky,Maryland, Virginia