FanPost

Schmolik 64 Update (2/24/23)

Hello, college basketball/Big Ten fans!

Welcome to this week's Schmolik 64.

Midwest Regional Kansas City
Fri/Sun March 24-26
Des Moines 1 Kansas 23-5
Thur/Sat March 16-18 16
8 Texas A&M 21-7
9 Pittsburgh 20-8
Greensboro 5 St. Mary's 24-5
Fri/Sun March 17-19 12 Iona 20-7
4 Indiana 19-9
13 Marshall 23-6
Albany 6 Maryland 19-9
Fri/Sun March 17-19 11 Nevada 20-7
3 Iowa State 17-10
14 Colgate 21-8
Sacramento 7 NC State 22-7
Thur/Sat March 16-18 10 West Virginia 16-12
2 UCLA 24-4
15 Samford 18-8
South Regional Louisville
Fri/Sun March 24-26
Birmingham 1 Alabama 24-4
Thur/Sat March 16-18 16 Texas A&M CC 15-10
8 Rutgers 17-11
9 Oklahoma State 16-12
Orlando 5 Xavier 20-8
Thur/Sat March 16-18 12 Oral Roberts 22-4
4 Miami 23-5
13 Hofstra 21-8
Des Moines 6 Northwestern 20-8
Thur/Sat March 16-18 11
3 Marquette 22-6
14 UC Irvine 18-9
Denver 7 Duke 20-8
Fri/Sun March 17-19 10 Missouri 20-8
2 Texas 22-6
15 Kennesaw State 19-8
East Regional New York
Thur/Sat March 23-25
Columbus 1 Purdue 24-4
Fri/Sun March 17-19 16
8 TCU 18-10
9 Kentucky 19-9
Orlando 5 Connecticut 21-7
Thur/Sat March 16-18 12 Yale 16-7
4 Virginia 21-5
13 Utah Valley 18-7
Greensboro 6 Michigan State 17-10
Fri/Sun March 17-19 11 Boise State 21-6
3 Tennessee 20-8
14 Eastern Washington 21-7
Denver 7 Providence 20-8
Fri/Sun March 17-19 10 Florida Atlantic 23-3
2 Baylor 20-8
15 Youngstown State 20-8
West Regional Las Vegas
Thur/Sat March 23-25
Birmingham 1 Houston 26-2
Thur/Sat March 16-18 16 UNC Asheville 21-7
8 Iowa 17-11
9 Arkansas 19-9
Albany 5 Creighton 18-10
Fri/Sun March 17-19 12 Drake 23-6
4 Gonzaga 23-5
13 VCU 21-7
Columbus 6 San Diego St 21-5
Fri/Sun March 17-19 11
3 Kansas State 21-7
14 Toledo 21-6
Sacramento 7 Illinois 19-9
Thur/Sat March 16-18 10 Auburn 19-9
2 Arizona 24-4
15 Vermont 17-10
First Four Games
Dayton MW Alcorn State 15-11
Tue March 17 16 Fairleigh Dickinson 14-14
Dayton S Morehead State 16-10
Wed March 18 16 Howard 14-11
Dayton S Mississippi State 18-10
Tue March 17 11 USC 20-8
Dayton W Wisconsin 16-11
Wed March 18 11 Memphis 21-7

Bids By Conference:

Big Ten: 9 (Purdue Boilermakers, Indiana Hoosiers, Marytand Terrapins, Northwestern Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Illinois Fighting Illini, Iowa Hawkeyes, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Wisconsin Badgers

Big 12: 8 (Kan, Tex, Bay, KSU, ISU, TCU, OKSt, WV)

SEC: 8 (Ala, Tenn, A&M, Ky, Ark, Mo, Aub, MissSt)

Big E: 5 (Marq, Xav, Conn, Creig, Prov)

ACC: 5 (Marq, Xav, Conn, Creig, Prov)

Pac 12: 3 (Ariz, UCLA, USC)

MWC: 3 (SDSt, BSU, Nev)

AAC: 2 (Hou, Mem)

WCC: 2 (Gonz, St. M)

One Bid: 23

Highest NET left out: Utah State (34), Liberty (43), New Mexico (46), North Carolina (47), Texas Tech (48), Oregon *(50). NET Data courtesy of WarrenNolan.com.

Comments:

Last week the NCAA revealed its current top 16 seeds. Now almost a full week's games have been played since then. I can't read the NCAA Selection Committee's minds but I'd have to believe Kansas built its resume the most the last week in beating Baylor (a #2 seed in their list, #7 overall) and TCU on the road in a span of three days. They have 13 Quad 1 wins compared to just four for Houston. I did respect the Committee with Alabama over Purdue and moved Alabama over Purdue as opposed to my bracket last week. I also changed my mind and agreed with the Selection Committee with Arizona over UCLA. Arizona trails UCLA by two games in the Pac 12 standings but they both have the same number of losses and of course Arizona won the head to head and beat Tennessee as well. When it comes to the #2 seeds, look out for Marquette.After winning at Creighton they lead the Big East by two games. They also beat Baylor earlier this year by 26 points. With UCLA and Arizona being #2 seeds and Texas and Baylor being #2 seeds playing in Denver, being a #7, #10, or #15 seed is the worst when it comes to travel as they are the ones that will have to go to Denver or Sacramento. Normally it's the #4, #5, #12, and #13 seeds.

The big news in this bracket is North Carolina isn't in this bracket. I think it's the first bracket I've done this year without them. They currently have no Quad 1 wins. They do have a big chance this weekend vs. Virginia and also play Duke at home (if Duke stays in the top 30, they will be another potential Quad 1 opportunity). They need to show they can win Quad 1 games to make the NCAA's. Kentucky, meanwhile, seems to be in good shape now, with five Quad 1 wins including two vs. Tennessee. Wisconsin meanwhile has six Quad 1 wins.

The regular season ends for many conferences this weekend including the WCC and MVC. I may come out with two brackets a week starting next week.

Compare my bracket to other brackets across the internet at the Bracket Matrix.

All FanPosts are the opinions of the author only. By posting a FanPost, you give OTE permission to edit or remove content as management of OTE, SBNation, or Vox deem necessary. FanPosts not in line with community guidelines will be removed.