Bracket Projections - 1/23/2012

Here's my current seed projections for games played through Sunday, January 22. 

1 Seeds:  KANSAS, OHIO STATE, SYRACUSE, KENTUCKY
2 Seeds:  Missouri, Baylor, North Carolina, DUKE
3 Seeds:  Michigan State, UNLV, Indiana, Georgetown
4 Seeds:  Wisconsin, Marquette, West Virginia, CREIGHTON
5 Seeds:  Kansas State, Florida, Florida State, Gonzaga
6 Seeds:  Wichita State, Seton Hall, SAINT MARY'S, Michigan
7 Seeds:  Connecticut, Virginia, Vanderbilt, SAN DIEGO STATE
8 Seeds:  Alabama, MURRAY STATE, Illinois, Mississippi State
9 Seeds:  CALIFORNIA, Louisville, DAYTON, Purdue
10 Seeds:  Memphis, New Mexico, Temple, HARVARD
11 Seeds:  Saint Louis, BYU, Southern Miss, Minnesota
12 Seeds:  LONG BEACH STATE, MIDDLE TENNESSEE, Texas, Iowa State, Xavier
13 Seeds:  IONA, NC State, Cincinnati, ORAL ROBERTS, BELMONT
14 Seeds:  DAVIDSON, AKRON, CLEVELAND STATE, UCF
15 Seeds:  BUCKNELL, NEVADA, TX-ARLINGTON, WEBER STATE
16 Seeds:  GEORGE MASON, NORFOLK STATE, NC ASHEVILLE, LIU-BROOKLYN, STONY BROOK, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

Last 4 Byes:  BYU, Southern Miss, Minnesota, Texas
Last 4 In:  Iowa State, Xavier, NC State, Cincinnati
First 4 Out:  Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Virginia Tech, Wyoming
Next 4 Out:  Marshall, Arizona, Stanford, VCU

Bracket Projections - 1/17/2012

Here are my latest projections based on games played through 1/16/2012.

1 Seeds:  SYRACUSE, Ohio State, KANSAS, KENTUCKY
2 Seeds:  Baylor, DUKE, MICHIGAN STATE, Missouri
3 Seeds:  North Carolina, Indiana, Georgetown, Seton Hall
4 Seeds:  UNLV, Marquette, Alabama, Connecticut
5 Seeds:  West Virginia, Gonzaga, Wisconsin, SAINT MARY'S
6 Seeds:  CREIGHTON, Kansas State, Virginia, Illinois
7 Seeds:  Florida, MURRAY STATE, Michigan, Vanderbilt
8 Seeds:  Wichita State, CALIFORNIA, Memphis, San Diego State
9 Seeds:  NEW MEXICO, Purdue, Louisville, Mississippi State
10 Seeds:  BYU, Northwestern, Florida State, Southern Miss
11 Seeds:  Saint Louis, Temple, Texas, Harvard, Minnesota
12 Seeds:  IONA, MIDDLE TENNESSEE, DAYTON, Xavier, Stanford
13 Seeds:  ORAL ROBERTS, MARSHALL, LONG BEACH STATE, BELMONT
14 Seeds:  DAVIDSON, AKRON, NEVADA, WI MILWAUKEE
15 Seeds:  WEBER STATE, GEORGE MASON, TX ARLINGTON, BUCKNELL
16 Seeds:  NORFOLK STATE, NC ASHEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, LIU BROOKLYN, STONY BROOK, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

Last 4 Byes:  Southern Miss, Saint Louis, Temple, Texas
Last 4 In:  Harvard, Minnesota, Xavier, Stanford
First 4 Out:  Iowa State, Northern Iowa, NC State, Saint Joseph's
Next 4 Out:  VCU, Arizona, Colorado State, Miami FL

Bids By Conference:
Big Ten - 9
Big East - 7
Big 12 - 5
SEC - 5
ACC - 4
A10 - 4
CUSA - 3
MWC - 3
WCC - 3
MVC - 2
Ivy - 2
Pac 12 - 2

Bracket Projections - 1/11/2012

Here are my projections for games played through 1/10/2012.  With conference play starting to get into full swing, I am now projecting each of the current conference leaders to get the auto-bid for their conference (even if I don't necessarily think they will end up there).  As a result teams like Colorado who's currently leading the Pac-12 is being projected to make the tournament here although they have pretty much no shot at getting an at-large bid.  This sort of thing helps account for the fact that there's always a few "bid thieves" come March and thus makes for a more accurate projection of where the line is between those that are in the tournament and those that are out.

1 Seeds:  SYRACUSE, Ohio State, Kentucky, NORTH CAROLINA
2 Seeds:  MICHIGAN STATE, Indiana, Duke, BAYLOR
3 Seeds:  Kansas, Missouri, UNLV, Georgetown
4 Seeds:  Alabama, Kansas State, Gonzaga, Seton Hall
5 Seeds:  Marquette, Connecticut, Michigan, Louisville
6 Seeds:  Florida,  MURRAY STATE, West Virginia, Creighton
7 Seeds:  Wisconsin, Virginia, Purdue, VANDERBILT
8 Seeds:  SAINT MARY'S, WICHITA STATE, New Mexico, Illinois
9 Seeds:  California, Saint Louis, Memphis, San Diego State
10 Seeds:  DAYTON, SOUTHERN MISS, Temple, Mississippi State
11 Seeds:  Brigham Young, Texas, IONA, Northern Iowa
12 Seeds:  Stanford, Marshall, HARVARD, Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Xavier
13 Seeds:  LONG BEACH STATE, ORAL ROBERTS, MIDDLE TENNESSEE, CLEVELAND STATE
14 Seeds:  BELMONT, DAVIDSON, NEVADA, COLORADO
15 Seeds:  LAMAR, GEORGE MASON, WEBER STATE, BUCKNELL
16 Seeds:  NORFOLK STATE, BALL STATE, NC ASHEVILLE, LONG ISLAND, STONY BROOK, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

Last 4 Byes:  Brigham Young, Texas, Northern Iowa, Stanford
Last 4 In:  Marshall, Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Xavier
First 4 Out:  Florida State, Saint Joseph's, NC State, Northwestern
Next 4 Out:  Missouri State, Arizona, Cincinnati, Wyoming

Bracket Projections - 1/7/2011

Here is my bracket projection for games played through January 6:

1 Seeds:  SYRACUSE, OHIO STATE, KENTUCKY, NORTH CAROLINA
2 Seeds:  Michigan State, Duke, MISSOURI, Baylor
3 Seeds:  Indiana, Kansas, Georgetown, Connecticut
4 Seeds:  UNLV, Louisville, Marquette, Florida
5 Seeds:  Wisconsin, GONZAGA, Kansas State, Virginia
6 Seeds:  Alabama, MURRAY STATE, Michigan, Mississippi State
7 Seeds:  Saint Mary's, WICHITA STATE, Creighton, Seton Hall
8 Seeds:  SAINT LOUIS, CALIFORNIA, Temple, Purdue
9 Seeds:  New Mexico, West Virginia, San Diego State, Vanderbilt
10 Seeds:  BYU, Virginia Tech, Illinois, Xavier
11 Seeds:  MEMPHIS, Texas, HARVARD, Southern Miss
12 Seeds:  Saint Joseph's, Florida State, Marshall, Stanford, Dayton, NC State
13 Seeds:  IONA, LONG BEACH STATE, MIDDLE TENNESSEE, BELMONT
14 Seeds:  OHIO, ORAL ROBERTS, VCU, WAGNER
15 Seeds:  DAVIDSON, CLEVELAND STATE, NEVADA, BUCKNELL
16 Seeds:  WEBER STATE, LAMAR, NORFOLK STATE, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE, COASTAL CAROLINA, MAINE

Last 4 Byes:  Texas, Southern Miss, Saint Joseph's, Florida State
Last 4 In:  Marshall, Stanford, Dayton, NC State
First 4 Out:  Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, Cincinnati
Next 4 Out:  Missouri State, Oklahoma, Arizona, Pittsburgh

Bracket Projections - 1/2/2011

Here are my first projections of the new year.  These are through games played New Years Day.

1 Seeds:  SYRACUSE, OHIO STATE, KENTUCKY, DUKE
2 Seeds:  North Carolina, BAYLOR, Missouri, Louisville
3 Seeds:  Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Connecticut
4 Seeds:  Michigan State, Georgetown, Florida, Marquette
5 Seeds:  UNLV, Kansas State, Alabama, Seton Hall
6 Seeds:  GONZAGA, CALIFORNIA, MURRAY STATE, XAVIER
7 Seeds:  Saint Louis, CREIGHTON, Michigan, Pittsburgh
8 Seeds:  MEMPHIS, Purdue, Virginia, Mississippi State
9 Seeds:  Saint Mary's, Wichita State, West Virginia, Illinois
10 Seeds:  HARVARD, Texas, Virginia Tech, San Diego State
11 Seeds:  Stanford, Saint Joseph's, Southern Miss, Vanderbilt
12 Seeds:  New Mexico, BYU, Temple, Florida State, Northern Iowa, Arizona,
13 Seeds:  LONG BEACH STATE,  BELMONT, OHIO, IONA
14 Seeds:  MIDDLE TENNESSEE, VCU, ORAL ROBERTS, WAGNER
15 Seeds:  NEW MEXICO STATE, CLEVELAND STATE, DAVIDSON, BUCKNELL
16 Seeds:  COASTAL CAROLINA, WEBER STATE, LAMAR, NORFOLK STATE, ALBANY, ALABAMA A&M

Last 4 Byes:   Southern Miss, Vanderbilt, New Mexico, BYU
Last 4 In:   Temple, Florida State, Northern Iowa, Arizona
First 4 Out:   Marshall, Oklahoma, Missouri State, Minnesota
Next 4 Out:   NC State, Northwestern, Miami FL, Dayton

Bids by Conference:
Big East:   8
Big Ten:   7
ACC:   5
Big 12:   5
SEC:   5
A10:   4
MVC:   3
MWC:   3
Pac-12:   3
WCC:   3
CUSA:   2

Bracket Projections - 12/18/2011

Here are my projections through games played Saturday 12/17. 

1 Seeds:  SYRACUSE, Marquette, OHIO STATE, KENTUCKY
2 Seeds:  Wisconsin, Louisville, NORTH CAROLINA, KANSAS
3 Seeds:  Duke, Michigan State, Baylor, Indiana
4 Seeds:  UNLV, Missouri, Georgetown, Florida
5 Seeds:  XAVIER, Connecticut, CALIFORNIA, Stanford
6 Seeds:  Alabama, Virginia, MURRAY STATE, Pittsburgh
7 Seeds:  Saint Louis, MEMPHIS, Florida State, HARVARD
8 Seeds:  WICHITA STATE, Northern Iowa, Michigan, Illinois
9 Seeds:  SAINT MARY'S, West Virginia, Purdue, Mississippi State
10 Seeds:  Creighton, Texas, Gonzaga, Vanderbilt
11 Seeds:  BYU, Marshall, Kansas State, Seton Hall
12 Seeds:  Southern Miss, San Diego State, Arizona, Texas A&M, Northwestern, New Mexico
13 Seeds:  IONA, OHIO, BELMONT, LONG BEACH STATE
14 Seeds:  DENVER, NEW MEXICO STATE, CLEVELAND STATE, VCU
15 Seeds:  LAMAR, DAVIDSON, BUCKNELL, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
16 Seeds:  COASTAL CAROLINA, WEBER STATE, ROBERT MORRIS, NORFOLK STATE, ALBANY, ALABAMA A&M

Last 4 Byes:  Kansas State, Seton Hall, Southern Miss, San Diego State
Last 4 In:  Arizona, Texas A&M, Northwestern, New Mexico
First 4 Out:  Minnesota, Temple, Saint Joseph's, Oklahoma
Next 4 Out:  Virginia Tech, Washington, Dayton, Kent State

Bids by Conference:
Big Ten:   8
Big East:   8
Big 12:   6
SEC:   5
ACC:   4
CUSA:   3
MWC:   3
MVC:   3
Pac-12:   3
WCC:   3
A-10:   2

2012 Bracket Projections - 12/1/2011

Here are my initial bracket projections for the 2011-2012 season.  At this early stage in the season the projections are very fluid.  These projections are a combination between what teams have currently done along with how they're projected to finish the season.  These projections are based off of games played through 11/30/2011.

1 Seeds:  OHIO STATE, KENTUCKY, DUKE, SYRACUSE
2 Seeds:  North Carolina, Wisconsin, Louisville, Florida
3 Seeds:  Alabama, Marquette, MISSOURI, UNLV
4 Seeds:  Kansas, Purdue, XAVIER, Connecticut
5 Seeds:  Michigan State, CALIFORNIA, Baylor, Michigan
6 Seeds:  HARVARD, Georgetown, Saint Louis, Vanderbilt
7 Seeds:  Florida State, CREIGHTON, GONZAGA, Pittsburgh
8 Seeds:  Illinois, Stanford, West Virginia, MEMPHIS
9 Seeds:  Northwestern, Virginia Tech, Washington, Arizona
10 Seeds:  Temple, CLEVELAND STATE, San Diego State, Mississippi State
11 Seeds:  Saint Mary's, Missouri State, BYU, Minnesota
12 Seeds:  BELMONT, Indiana, Virginia, Texas A&M, Wichita State
13 Seeds:  Northern Iowa, Oklahoma State, IONA, LONG BEACH STATE, BUFFALO
14 Seeds:  NEW MEXICO STATE, DAVIDSON, MURRAY STATE, DENVER
15 Seeds:  ROBERT MORRIS, NORTH DAKOTA STATE, GEORGE MASON, NORFOLK STATE
16 Seeds:  BUCKNELL, WEBER STATE, VERMONT, LAMAR, CAMPBELL, ALABAMA A&M

Last 4 In:  Texas A&M, Wichita State, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma State
First 4 Out:  Saint Joseph's, Seton Hall, Southern Miss, College of Charleston

Bids by Conference:
Big Ten:   9
Big East:   7
ACC:   5
Big 12:   5
SEC:   5
MVC:   4
Pac-12:   4
A10:   3
WCC:   3
MWC:   2