NCAA Tournament Crystal Ball
by Michael Protos
As we quickly approach Selection Sunday, the Crystal Ball will be consulted biweekly, starting this coming Monday and culminating with a final entry the morning of Sunday, March 13. This week, top teams maneuver, and I foresee the biggest upset yet in the Crystal Ball.
At the top, Illinois and North Carolina continue on a collision course in the national championship game. Wake Forest holds a relatively firm grip on the third No. 1 seed, and Kentucky has earned the final top seed. Teams like Boston College and Arizona slipped this week. But the Wildcats benefit from their seeding by drawing a weaker bracket, facilitating the Wildcats’ first run to the Final Four in the Crystal Ball’s forecast.
Meanwhile, on the bubble, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Iowa State and Marquette get the nod over Miami, Creighton, North Carolina State and Texas A&M. These teams could and probably will change positions more than once during the final 10 days. The ACC is a jumbled mess as North Carolina State has rallied to create a five-way tie for fourth place in the conference. That means the final game of the season will be huge for every team.
In the brackets, Vermont’s bad loss at Maine drops the Catamounts down to a No. 14 seed. But they benefit by playing a suddenly suspect Boston College team in nearby Worcester, Mass. The mixture of talent, location and opponent produce a rare 3/14 upset. No. 6 Southern Illinois loves it, as the Salukis take advantage of Vermont and advance to the Sweet 16, where they beat LSU to move within a game of the Final Four.
Read on to see which teams make the tournament and how far they advance. Feel free to express your approval or dissatisfaction by e-mail.
No. 1 Seeds:
Illinois
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Kentucky
No. 2 Seeds:
Louisville
Duke
Washington
Kansas
Squeaking By
Vanderbilt
Minnesota
Iowa State
Marquette
Just Missing
Miami, FL
Creighton
North Carolina State
Texas A&M
Shooting Stars
Teams that rose at least two seeds
Kentucky
Connecticut
Pittsburgh
West Virginia
Fading Fast
Teams that fell at least two seeds
Boston College
Arizona
Marquette
Miami, FL
First Round Upsets
No. 14 Vermont vs. No. 3 Boston College
No. 12 Iowa State vs. No. 5 Villanova
No. 11 St. Mary’s vs. No. 6 Pacific
No. 9 Mississippi State vs. No. 8 Notre Dame
No. 9 DePaul vs. No. 8 UCLA
No. 9 West Virginia vs. No. 8 Nevada
The Brackets
Chicago Region:
First and second rounds in Indianapolis
No. 1 Illinois vs. Monmouth (NEC)
No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 Texas
First and second rounds in Cleveland
No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 12 Marquette
No. 4 Pittsburgh vs. No. 13 Old Dominion (CAA)
First and second rounds in Cleveland
No. 6 Syracuse vs. No. 11 Vanderbilt
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 Winthrop (Big South)
First and second rounds in Boise
No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 George Washington
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 15 Portland State (Big Sky)
Albuquerque Region:
First and second rounds in Nashville
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 16 Tennessee Tech (OVC)
No. 8 Nevada (WAC) vs. No. 9 West Virginia
First and second rounds in Boise
No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 12 Minnesota
No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Horizon)
First and second rounds in Worcester, Mass.
No. 6 Southern Illinois (MVC) vs. No. 11 New Mexico
No. 3 Boston College vs. No. 14 Vermont (America East)
First and second rounds in Indianapolis
No. 7 LSU vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech
No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 15 Niagara (MAAC)
Austin Region:
First and second rounds in Charlotte
No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 16 Gardner Webb (Atlantic Sun)
No. 8 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Mississippi State
First and second rounds in Tucson
No. 5 Gonzaga (WCC) vs. No. 12 Miami, Ohio (MAC)
No. 4 Charlotte vs. No. 13 Davidson (Southern)
First and second rounds in Oklahoma City
No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 11 UTEP
No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 14 Oral Roberts (Mid-Continent)
First and second rounds in Nashville
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Georgetown
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Holy Cross (Patriot)
Syracuse Region:
First and second rounds in Charlotte
No. 1 North Carolina vs. winner of play-in game between Coppin State (MEAC) and Alabama A&M (SWAC)
No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 9 DePaul
First and second rounds in Tucson
No. 5 Villanova vs. No. 12 Iowa State
No. 4 Utah vs. No. 13 St. Joseph’s (Atlantic 10)
First and second rounds in Worcester, Mass.
No. 6 Pacific (Big West) vs. No. 11 St. Mary’s
No. 3 Connecticut vs. No. 14 PENNSYLVANIA (Ivy)
First and second rounds in Oklahoma City
No. 7 Cincinnati vs. No. 10 Stanford
No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 15 Northwestern State (Southland)
Sweet 16
Chicago
No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 5 Alabama
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 6 Syracuse
Albuquerque
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Arizona
No. 6 Southern Illinois vs. No. 7 LSU
Austin
No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 5 Gonzaga
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State
Syracuse
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 12 Iowa State
No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 3 Connecticut
Elite Eight
Chicago: No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 2 Washington
Albuquerque: No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 6 Southern Illinois
Austin: No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State
Syracuse: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 3 Connecticut
Final Four
No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 4 Arizona
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State
Championship
No. 1 Illinois beats No. 1 North Carolina
