NCAA Tournament Crystal Ball
by Michael Protos
Mirror, mirror or Crystal Ball, which conference is best among them all?
The answer, my friend, is clear: The Big East is best with eight NCAA Tournament-worthy teams. Yes, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke and Georgia Tech are a more formidable foursome than Syracuse, Boston College, Connecticut and Pittsburgh. But give me Villanova, Notre Dame, Georgetown and West Virginia before Maryland, North Carolina State, Virginia and Miami.
Because of the depth from top to bottom, the Big East earns two No. 1 seeds this week, relegating Wake Forest to a No. 2 seed. Boston College finally gets the recognition it deserves with a No. 1 seed, while Syracuse continues to hold down the fort.
Among the last teams in, Vanderbilt and Arizona State are fading in conference play, while Georgetown is skyrocketing toward the top of the Big East standings. Enjoy this week’s look into the Crystal Ball.
No. 1 Seeds
Illinois
North Carolina
Syracuse
Boston College
No. 2 Seeds
Kansas
Washington
Wake Forest
Louisville
Last Four Teams In
Vanderbilt
Arizona State
St. Mary’s
Georgetown
Last Four Teams Out
Virginia
Rice
LSU
Tennessee
The Brackets
Chicago Region
First and second rounds in Indianapolis
No. 1 Illinois vs. winner of the play-in game between Alabama A&M (SWAC) and Montana State (Big Sky)
No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 9 UNLV
First and second rounds in Indianapolis
No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Horizon)
No. 4 Connecticut vs. No. 13 Bucknell (Patriot)
First and second rounds in Tucson, Ariz.
No. 6 Charlotte vs. No. 11 North Carolina State
No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 14 Denver (Sun Belt)
First and second rounds in Charlotte
No. 7 Mississippi State vs. No. 10 Pittsburgh
No. 2 Wake Forest vs. No. 15 Coppin State (MEAC)
Albuquerque Region
First and second rounds in Worcester, Mass.
No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 16 UMKC (Mid-Continent)
No. 8 Marquette vs. No. 9 Texas Tech
First and second rounds in Nashville
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Wichita State (MVC)
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Old Dominion (CAA)
First and second rounds in Cleveland
No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 11 Vanderbilt
No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Vermont (America East)
First and second rounds in Oklahoma City
No. 7 UTEP vs. No. 10 Stanford
No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 15 Southeast Louisiana (Southland)
Austin Region
First and second rounds in Charlotte
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Samford (OVC)
No. 8 George Washington vs. No. 9 Notre Dame
First and second rounds in Tucson, Ariz.
No. 5 Cincinnati vs. No. 12 Georgetown
No. 4 Michigan State vs. No. 13 Princeton (Ivy)
First and second rounds in Nashville
No. 6 Georgia Tech vs. No. 11 Arizona State
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Davidson (Southern)
First and second rounds in Cleveland
No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 West Virginia
No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 15 Marist (MAAC)
Syracuse Region
First and second rounds in Worcester, Mass.
No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 16 Monmouth (NEC)
No. 8 Florida vs. No. 9 Pacific (Big West)
First and second rounds in Boise, Idaho
No. 5 Utah vs. No. 12 St. Mary’s
No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Bowling Green (MAC)
First and second rounds in Oklahoma City
No. 6 Maryland vs. No. 11 Temple
No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 14 Winthrop (Big South)
First and second rounds in Boise, Idaho
No. 7 Gonzaga vs. No. 10 Michigan
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 15 Gardner Webb (Atlantic Sun)
Sweet 16
Chicago
Illinois vs. Connecticut
Wake Forest vs. Arizona
Albuquerque
Boston College vs. Alabama
Kansas vs. Duke
Syracuse
North Carolina vs. Michigan State
Louisville vs. Georgia Tech
Austin
Syracuse vs. St. Mary’s
Gonzaga vs. Maryland
Elite Eight
Chicago: Illinois vs. Wake Forest
Albuquerque: Boston College vs. Kansas
Syracuse: North Carolina vs. Georgia Tech
Austin: Syracuse vs. Maryland
Final Four
Illinois vs. Kansas
North Carolina vs. Syracuse
Championship
Illinois beats North Carolina
