Bracketology!

Jesus Martinez || Main Columnist

It is Americas favorite moment of the sports year: March Madness! As coworkers join together in bracket pools and attempt to do the inconceivable task of designing a perfect bracket, we first need to know the teams going to the NCAA tournament. This is why I'm writing the first (and only) edition of "Bracketology!" during the Conference Championship weekend.
When predicting the teams that will make the tourney, we need to understand the tournament more for people who don't understand.

There are 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament, 8 of such teams are administered in play in games to earn their spot in the bracket. Thus, 64 teams will play in the ultimate goal of seeing the national champion of college basketball. Out of the 64 spots, 32 teams will receive automatic bids for entry to the tournament. The other 36 teams will be selected at large based on their respective resume.

These 32 teams (will or already) have automatic bids based on results in their respective conference tournaments: UMBC (America East), Houston/Cincinnati (American), Davidson (A10), Virginia (ACC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Kansas (Big 12), Villanova (Big East), Montana (Big Sky), Michigan (Big 10), Cal State Fullerton (Big West), College of Charleston (CAA), Marshall (CUSA), Wright State (Horizon), Penn (Ivy League), Iona (MAAC), Buffalo (MAC), NC Central (MEAC), Loyola-Chicago (Missouri Valley), San Diego State (Mountain West), LIU Brooklyn (NEC), Murray State (Ohio Valley), Arizona (Pac 12), Bucknell (Patriot), Kentucky (SEC), UNC Greensboro (Southern), Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC), South Dakota State (Southern League), Georgia State (Sun Belt), Gonzaga (WCC), New Mexico State (WAC).

The NCAA tourney selection committee takes these 32 teams and the other 36 teams they have selected and ranks them within a 68 team bracket. Here is my prediction of what those 68 teams will be.

Play In Games:
EAST: 16. Iona (20-13) vs 16. LIU Brooklyn (18-16)
SOUTH: 16. Texas Southern (15-19) vs NC Central (19-15)
MIDWEST: 11. Marshall (24-10) vs 11. Oklahoma (18-13)
WEST: 11. UCLA (21-11) vs 11. Boise State (23-8)

East Region
1. Villanova (30-4) vs 16. Iona/LIU Brooklyn
8. Missouri (20-12) vs 9. Florida State (21-11)

5. Florida (20-12) vs 12. Buffalo (25-8)
4. Clemson (23-9) vs 13. Murray State (26-5)

6. Ohio State (24-8) vs 11. Syracuse (20-13)
3. Purdue (28-6) vs 14. Bucknell (25-9)

2. Duke (26-7) vs 15. Wright State (25-9)
7. Seton Hall (21-11) vs 10. Virginia Tech (21-11)

South Region
1. Virginia (31-2) vs 16. Texas Southern/NC Central
8. Kansas State (22-11) vs 9. Nebraska (22-10)

5. Texas A&M (20-12) vs 12. Penn (24-8)
4. Tennessee (25-8) vs 13. Stephen F Austin (28-6)

6. Kentucky (24-10) vs 11. Penn State (21-13)
3. Auburn (25-7) vs 14. UNC Greensboro (27-7)

2. Xavier (28-5) vs 15. College of Charleston (26-7)
7. Miami (22-9) vs 10. Alabama (19-14)

Midwest Region
1. Kansas (27-7) vs 16. Vermont (27-7)
8. Arkansas (23-11) vs 9. NC State (21-11)

5. West Virginia (24-10) vs 12. New Mexico State (28-5)
4. Michigan (28-7) vs 13. Georgia State (24-10)

6. Houston (26-6) vs 11. Marshall/Oklahoma
3. North Carolina (24-10) vs 14. UMBC (24-10)

2. Cincinnati (29-4) vs 15. Montana (26-7)
7. TCU (21-11) vs 10. Davidson (21-11)

West Region
1. Arizona (27-7) vs 16. Cal State Fullerton (20-11)
8. St Marys (28-5) vs 9. San Diego State (22-10)

5. Wichita State (25-7) vs 12. Rhode Island (27-7)
4. Texas Tech (24-9) vs 13. South Dakota State (28-6)

6. Nevada (27-7) vs 11. UCLA/Boise State
3. Gonzaga (30-4) vs 14. Lipscomb (23-9)

2. Michigan State (29-4) vs 15. Radford (22-12)
7. Oregon (22-12) vs 10. Loyola Chicago (28-5)

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