College basketball is midway through the conference tournaments. Between now and Sunday, many will play the role of Bracketologist predicting the field of 68. 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.
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, with podcasts of the show available via www.am590espnradio.com and the Bluejay Underground A/V room
The bracket as of 3/9/2012:
| EAST | SOUTH | |
| 1-Syracuse* | 1-Kentucky* | |
| 16-Stony Brook/Lamar** | 16-Norfolk State* | |
| Pittsburgh, PA. (Mar. 15-17) | Louisville, KY, (Mar. 15-17) | |
| 8-Purdue | 8-St. Louis | |
| 9-New Mexico | 9-Southern Mississippi | |
| 4-Florida State | 4-Georgetown | |
| 13-Seton Hall/Washington | 13-Davidson* | |
| Pittsburgh, PA (Mar. 15-17) | Nashville, TN (Mar. 16-18) | |
| 5-Temple* | 5-Wichita State | |
| 12-BYU | 12-North Carolina State | |
| 3-Michigan | 3-Marquette | |
| 14-Belmont* | 14-Montana* | |
| Nashville, TN (Mar. 16-18) | Portland, OR (Mar. 15-17) | |
| 6-Murray St* | 6-Gonzaga | |
| 11-Texas | 11-California* | |
| 7-St. Mary's* | 7-Iowa State | |
| 10-West Virginia | 10-Alabama | |
| Omaha, NE (Mar. 16-18) | Columbus, OH (Mar 16-18) | |
| 2-Missouri | 2-Michigan State* | |
| 15-Long Island* | 15-Loyola (MD)* | |
| MIDWEST | WEST | |
| 1-Kansas* | 1-North Carolina* | |
| 16-UNC-Ashville*/Western Kentucky* | 16-Mississippi Valley State* | |
| Omaha (Mar. 16-18) | Greensboro (Mar. 16-18) | |
| 8-San Diego State* | 8-Memphis* | |
| 9-Cinncinatti | 9-UConn | |
| 4-Louisvile | 4-Wisconsin | |
| 13-Xavier/Northwestern | 13-South Dakota State* | |
| Columbus, OH (Mar. 16-18) | Albuquerque (Mar. 15-17) | |
| 5-Florida | 5-UNLV | |
| 12-VCU* | 12-South Florida | |
| 3-Indiana | 3-Baylor | |
| 14-Nevada* | 14-Akron* | |
| Portland, OR (Mar. 15-17) | Albuquerque (Mar. 15-17) | |
| 6-Creighton* | 6-Vanderbilt | |
| 11-Colorado State | 11-Long Beach State* | |
| 7-Kansas State | 7-Notre Dame | |
| 10-Harvard* | 10-Virginia | |
| Greensboro, NC (Mar. 16-18) | Louisville, KY (Mar. 15-17) | |
| 2-Duke | 2-Ohio State* | |
| 15-Lehigh* | 15-Detroit* |
**Denotes Conference Autobid
Last four in: Washington, Northwestern, Xavier, Seton Hall
First four out: St Joseph’s, Tennessee, Mississippi St, Miami
Next four out: Arizona, Drexel, Dayton, Mississippi
Krueger’s Notes on the Bracket:
Mississippi State’s loss to a bad Georgia team sealed their fate. Washington, who was bumped earlier is added back to the field. Northwestern hangs on as well. However, with an upset or strong play by Arizona they could be out as well. Drexel has a strength of schedule in the 200’s plus had a non conference schedule just as bad. There is no way I can add them to the field. A big bubble game on Friday is Xavier vs. Dayton in the A-10 tournament.
The Jays stay at a 6 seed. Don’t be surprised if they are a 7 though–especially if Notre Dame gets to the Big East final.