Columns

Crystal Basketball

by Michael Protos




NCAA Tournament Crystal Ball

by Dan Hauptman and Michael Protos

March 10, 2006

The busiest day of conference tournament action produced several monstrously important results that affect the seeds of several teams and the NCAA Tournament livelihood of others. After Dan Hauptman and Michael Protos consulted their Crystal Basketballs, they collaborated to compile eight burning questions.

  • At the top, will Connecticut’s loss open the door for Duke or Villanova to claim the top No. 1 seed and a potential trip to Washington, D.C., in the regional finals? Hauptman and Protos agree that Villanova will get that spot if the Wildcats – suddenly the Big East Tournament favorite – win the conference championship.

  • What seed will George Washington land? Following a wild day of Atlantic 10 Tournament action, none of the conference’s top four seeds – which all received byes into the quarterfinals – remain. No. 5 Saint Joseph’s becomes the favorite.

  • How will a second bid for the Atlantic 10 affect the bubble? Teams like Colorado, Florida State, Goergia Mason, Hofstra, Maryland and Michigan are breaking out in cold sweats.

  • Will Michigan’s opening round loss to Minnesota drop the Wolverines out of the field?

  • Does Florida State’s loss to ACC cellar-dweller Wake Forest negate the win vs. ACC powerhouse Duke last week?

  • How many more games does Maryland need to win to earn an at-large bid?

  • Will Colorado play better against Texas A&M than the Buffaloes did in an unconvincing four-point win against Baylor?

  • How do Missouri Valley and Colonial conference bubble teams compare to power conference bubble teams?

    • Hauptman will have a clearer bubble picture after Friday’s games. He believes Maryland and Colorado are in with another win, while Hofstra and Florida State are in trouble. Protos thinks the Terrapins and Buffaloes must work some Saturday magic in conference semifinals before they can threaten for an at-large bid. Here are the full results of the most recent Crystal Basketball projections.

    Hauptman’s Hoops Horoscope Protos’ Prognostications

    Connecticut
    Villanova
    Duke
    Memphis
    Connecticut
    Villanova
    Duke
    Memphis

    Texas
    Gonzaga*
    Ohio State
    Illinois
    Texas
    Ohio State
    Illinois
    North Carolina

    Tennessee
    North Carolina
    UCLA
    George Washington
    Gonzaga*
    UCLA
    LSU
    Tennessee

    Pittsburgh
    Iowa
    LSU
    Kansas
    Pittsburgh
    Iowa
    George Washington
    Boston College

    Florida
    West Virginia
    Boston College
    Oklahoma
    Kansas
    Washington
    Florida
    Oklahoma

    Washington
    Nevada
    Wichita State
    Michigan State
    Oklahoma
    Nevada
    Michigan State
    Marquette

    Arizona
    Georgetown
    North Carolina State
    Kentucky
    Arkansas
    Wichita State
    Georgetown
    Wisconsin

    Wisconsin
    Southern Illinois*
    UAB
    Marquette
    Kentucky
    Southern Illinois*
    North Carolina State
    Arizona

    Missouri State
    Bucknell
    San Diego State
    Northern Iowa
    Bucknell
    Northern Iowa
    UAB
    Cincinnati

    California
    Wisconsin-Milwaukee*
    Cincinnati
    Texas A&M
    Alabama
    Indiana
    UNC-Wilmington*
    California

    UNC-Wilmington*
    Arkansas
    Bradley
    Alabama
    Bradley
    San Diego State
    Saint Joseph’s
    Syracuse

    Saint Joseph’s
    Indiana
    Syracuse
    Hofstra
    Wisconsin-Milwaukee*
    Texas A&M
    Hofstra
    Missouri State

    Florida State
    Kent State
    Murray State*
    South Alabama*
    George Mason
    Iona*
    South Alabama*
    Northwestern State

    Iona*
    Penn*
    Montana*
    Winthrop*
    Murray State*
    Montana*
    Winthrop*
    Kent State

    Northwestern State
    Oral Roberts*
    Albany
    Pacific
    Pacific
    Penn*
    Davidson*
    Albany

    Davidson*
    Monmouth*
    Belmont*
    Delaware State
    Southern
    Delaware State
    Oral Roberts*
    Belmont*
    Southern
    Monmouth*
    Bubble Trouble:
    Colorado
    Maryland
    Michigan
    Seton Hall    		 Bubble Trouble:
    Seton Hall
    Michigan
    Florida State
    Maryland
    Bubble Bursting:
    George Mason
    Creighton
    Air Force
    Houston    		 Bubble Bursting:
    Utah State
    Colorado
    Brigham Young
    Vanderbilt
    Conference Breakdown:
    Big East: 8
    Big Ten: 6
    SEC: 6
    ACC: 5
    Missouri Valley: 5
    Big 12: 4
    Pac-10: 4
    Atlantic 10: 2
    Conference USA: 2
    Colonial: 2
    21 one-bid conferences
    		 Conference Breakdown:
    Big East: 8
    Big Ten: 6
    SEC: 6
    Missouri Valley: 5
    ACC: 4
    Big 12: 4
    Pac-10: 4
    Colonial: 3
    Atlantic 10: 2
    Conference USA: 2
    21 one-bid conferences

    Whose field looks more accurate to you? Or are both Hauptman and Protos off target? E-mail comments on the Crystal Basketball or give us your NCAA Tournament prognostications. Then check back throughout this final week, as Hauptman’s and Protos’ visions for the Big Dance become clearer and clearer as the days until Selection Sunday count down. The calendar reads March. Madness ensues.

    * – denotes won conference’s automatic bid

         

    Leave a Comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.