NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections -- November 14, 2008
The college basketball season has begun (barely), but something’s missing … the PHSports preseason NCAA tournament bracket projections.
Make no mistake about it. The North Carolina Tar Heels are the team to beat this season. Despite injuries early on, Tyler Hansbrough’s injury is not of the long-term variety. Who’s the best among the rest? Try UCLA, Texas, Duke, Tennessee and The Big East Conference.
Yes, I went there. In past seasons, the Big East has struggled to get the elusive 9th bid from its conference. Not only will the conference earn all nine bids, they boast three of the nation’s best eight teams. While some love Pittsburgh and Notre Dame, I favor the teams of Calhoun and Pitino.
Among the sleeper conferences, look no further than the Western time zone. The Mountain West (UNLV, San Diego State, BYU, Utah) and the West Coast Conferences (Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, San Diego) are this year’s Atlantic 10. That said, this will not be a big year for the mid-majors as some of the nation’s best mid-major programs lost players (to graduation, of course).
Let the basketball begin! If you have any questions, comments, or just wish to send a shout, shoot me a line at phashemi@gmail.com.
The Seedings
1: North Carolina (ACC), UConn (Big East), UCLA (PAC-10), Louisville
2: Texas (Big XII), Pittsburgh, Duke (ACC), Tennessee
3: Notre Dame, Purdue (Big Ten), Oklahoma, Gonzaga (WCC)
4: Memphis (C-USA), Marquette, Arizona State, Florida (SEC)
5: Michigan State, Miami-FL, Kansas, USC
6: Georgetown, Ohio State, Villanova, St. Mary’s
7: Clemson, Xavier, Syracuse, Kentucky
8: Creighton (MVC), Baylor, Wake Forest, UNLV (Mountain West)
9: West Virginia, Wisconsin, UAB, Oklahoma State
10: Washington, San Diego State, Davidson (Southern), Vanderbilt
11: Nevada (WAC), LSU, VCU (CAA), Virginia Tech
12: BYU, Washington State, St. Joseph’s, Ole Miss
13: Cleveland State (Horizon), Western Michigan (MAC), Siena (Metro Atlantic), Oakland (Summit)
14: American (Patriot), Vermont (America East), Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Portland State (Big Sky)
15: Cornell (Ivy), South Alabama (Sun Belt), Belmont (Atlantic Sun), Cal State Northridge (Big West)
16: Winthrop (Big South), Delaware State (MEAC), Murray State (Ohio Valley), Mount St. Mary’s (Northeast), Jackson State (SWAC)
Last Four In: BYU, Washington State, St. Joseph’s, Ole Miss
Last Four Out: Missouri, San Diego, Arizona, Temple
Next Four Out: Minnesota, Providence, Alabama, Utah
Seeding Summary (Multi-Bid Conferences Only in Order of Percentage)
Big East: 9/16
ACC: 6/12
SEC: 6/12
Pac-10: 5/10
Big XII: 5/12
Big Ten: 4/11
Mountain West: 3/9
West Coast: 2/8
C-USA: 2/12
A-10: 2/14


Daniella Sarahyba
Esti Ginzberg

Comments (8) Add A Comment
Duke is going to the final 4
yanksfan2
Glens Falls , NY
Total Comments (137)
Only two things I have a problem with are Cleveland State and San Diego. Butler may not have as good of talent as they have in the past few seasons, but they have enough and their recent destruction of Drake shows me they are ready to challenge Cleveland State. Butler comes out of the Horizon. As far as San Diego goes, they are returning all their starters from a team that beat Kentucky, Gonzaga, St. Mary's, and UConn last year. THe Toreros will have a better season than St. Joe's and probably even Ole Miss and BYU...you know now that I'm looking at it, how do you figure Ole Miss will have a better season than Alabama?? Ronald Steele and JaMychal Green are better than any one-two punch Ole Miss has. Haha, sounds like I need to do my own NCAA tourney projections...
Go Creighton...P'Allen Stinnett is my candidate for this years surprise NCAA tournament star. He can light it up on both ends of the floor. Great defender, great shooter, and he can get to rim on most teams.
DCforkIN'em
Total Comments (479)
I DOUBT THAT VERY SERIOUSLY THEY ARE TO SOFT
saints#12
Saucier , MS
Total Comments (11)
How the hell is Minnesota out????
cj says Go Packers
Menomonee Falls, WI
Total Comments (1074)
Minnesota is out for the same reason Missouri is out....People from the East coast don't actually watch basketball outside of NC and Duke...they watch ESPN...therefore they are unable to form an original opinion based on knowledge....these are the same people who pick the yankees or boston to win in baseball....similar to the people in the south who actually thought Alabama was a good football team last year.
vaclavhavel
Saint Louis , MO
Total Comments (1)
Are you a Texas Grad? They are a 7 seed at best
JohnNipe
Aubrey , TX
Total Comments (1)
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