The time is finally here! Tuesday officially kicked off the college basketball regular season with a full slate of games ending off the nightcap with the Champions Classic between the Duke Blue Devils against the Kansas Jayhawks, and the Michigan State Spartans against the Kentucky Wildcats. Duke edged off Kansas 68-66, and Kentucky beat Michigan State 69-62.
With this, we are all interested to see how the season will shake out and how the NCAA Tournament is filled out come next March. Here are my picks on who will be in the tournament and how the tournament could play itself out.
SEED LIST
1. Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Kentucky
2. Gonzaga, Xavier, Villanova, Oregon
3. Maryland, Florida State, Ohio State, Louisville
4. Arizona, Purdue, Virginia, Marquette
5. Texas Tech, Auburn, LSU, Utah State
6. Alabama, Iowa State, St. Mary’s, Cincinnati
7. Mississippi State, Baylor, VCU, Notre Dame
8. Colorado, Arizona State, Memphis, Houston
9. Texas, Providence, Ole Miss, Michigan
10. New Mexico State, Liberty, Vermont, Monmouth
11. Oklahoma, Washington, Kansas State, Iowa/Wofford
12. Seton Hall, Tennessee, UNC Greensboro, East Tennessee State
13. Missouri State, North Dakota State, UC Irvine, Western Kentucky
14. Murray State, Colgate, Charleston, Weber State
15. Wright State, UT Arlington, Radford, Harvard
16. Iona, Stephen F. Austin, LIU Brooklyn/NC Central, Texas Southern/UMBC
BRACKET
Round of 64
Midwest Region:
1. Kansas (Omaha) – 16. LIU Brooklyn/NC Central Winner: Kansas
8. Arizona State – 9. Ole Miss Winner: Arizona State
4. Arizona (Spokane) – 13. UC Irvine Winner: UC Irvine
5. Utah State – 12. UNC Greensboro Winner: Utah State
3. Louisville (Cleveland) – 14. Charleston Winner: Louisville
6. St. Mary’s – 11. Iowa/Wofford- Iowa Winner: Iowa
2. Xavier (St. Louis) – 15. UT Arlington Winner: Xavier
7. VCU – 10. Vermont Winner: VCU
South Region (Houston)
1. Duke (Tampa Bay) – 16. Texas Southern/UMBC- UMBC Winner: Duke
8. Memphis – 9. Michigan Winner: Michigan
4. Marquette (Sacramento) – 13. Missouri State Winner: Marquette
5. Auburn – 12. East Tennessee State Winner: Auburn
3. Florida State (Tampa Bay) – 14. Murray State Winner: Florida State
6. Iowa State – 11. Washington Winner: Iowa State
2. Gonzaga (Greensboro) – 15. Harvard Winner: Gonzaga
7. Notre Dame – 10. Liberty Winner: Liberty
East Region (New York City)
1. Michigan State (Cleveland) – 16. Stephen F. Austin Winner: Michigan State
8. Houston – 9. Texas Winner: Texas
4. Purdue (Albany) – 13. North Dakota State Winner: North Dakota State
5. LSU – 12. Tennessee Winner: LSU
3. Ohio State (Albany) – 14. Colgate Winner: Ohio State
6. Cincinnati – 11. Oklahoma Winner: Cincinnati
2. Villanova (Greensboro) – 15. Wright State Winner: Villanova
7. Mississippi State – 10. New Mexico State Winner: NMSU
West Region (Los Angeles)
1. Kentucky (St. Louis) – 16. Iona Winner: Kentucky
8. Colorado – 9. Providence Winner: Colorado
4. Virginia (Spokane) – 13. Western Kentucky Winner: Virginia
5. Texas Tech – 12. Seton Hall Winner: Texas Tech
3. Maryland (Sacramento) – 14. Weber State Winner: Maryland
6. Alabama – 11. Kansas State Winner: Kansas State
2. Oregon (Omaha) – 15. Radford Winner: Oregon
7. Baylor – 10. Monmouth Winner: Monmouth
Round of 32
Midwest
1. Kansas vs. 8. Arizona State Winner: Kansas
5. Utah State vs. 13. UC Irvine Winner: Utah State
3. Louisville vs. 11. Iowa Winner: Louisville
2. Xavier vs. 7. VCU Winner: Xavier
South
1. Duke vs. 9. Michigan Winner: Duke
4. Marquette vs. 5. Auburn Winner: Auburn
3. Florida State vs. 6 Iowa State Winner: Iowa State
2. Gonzaga vs. 10 Liberty Winner: Gonzaga
East
1. Michigan State vs. 9. Texas Winner: Michigan State
13. North Dakota State vs. 5 LSU Winner: LSU
3. Ohio State vs. 6. Cincinnati Winner: Cincinnati
2. Villanova vs. 10. NMSU Winner: Villanova
West
1. Kentucky vs. 8. Colorado Winner: Kentucky
4. Virginia vs. 5. Texas Tech Winner: Texas Tech
3. Maryland vs. 11. Kansas State Winner: Maryland
2. Oregon vs. 10. Monmouth Winner: Oregon
Sweet 16
Midwest
1. Kansas vs. 5. Utah State Winner: Kansas
3. Louisville vs. 2. Xavier Winner: Louisville
South
1. Duke vs. 5. Auburn Winner: Auburn
6. Iowa State vs. 2. Gonzaga Winner: Gonzaga
East
1. Michigan State vs. 5. LSU Winner: Michigan State
6. Cincinnati vs. 2 Villanova Winner: Villanova
West
1. Kentucky vs. 5. Texas Tech Winner: Kentucky
3. Maryland vs. 2. Oregon Winner: Oregon
Elite Eight
Midwest
1. Kansas vs. 3. Louisville Winner: Louisville
South
5. Auburn vs. 2. Gonzaga Winner: Gonzaga
East
1. Michigan State vs. 2. Villanova Winner: Michigan State
West
1. Kentucky vs. 2. Oregon Winner: Kentucky
Final Four
3. Louisville vs. 2. Gonzaga Winner: Louisville
1. Michigan State vs. 1. Kentucky Winner: Kentucky
National Championship
3. Louisville vs. 1. Kentucky Winner: Kentucky
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