Wednesday, November 10, 2010

DWG Projected NCAA Tournament Teams

I figured I'd take a crack at projecting out who will be invited to the NCAA Basketball Tournament in March.  Let's take a look at this when the tournament rolls around and see how I did.

American East (1):  Maine
Atlantic 10 (3):  Xavier, Temple, Richmond
ACC (6):  Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Maryland
Atlantic Sun (1):  East Tennessee State
Big 12 (6):  Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas, Missouri, Colorado
Big East (8):  UCONN, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Pitt, St. Johns, Syracuse, Villanova, WVU
Big Sky (1):  Weber State
Big South (1):  Coastal Carolina
Big Ten (7):  Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State
Big West (1):  UC-Santa Barbara
Colonial (2):  VCU, Old Dominion
C-USA (2):  Memphis, Southern Miss
Horizon (1):  Butler
Ivy (1):  Harvard
MAAC (1):  Fairfield
MAC (1):  Central Michigan
MEAC (1):  Morgan State
Missouri Valley (2):  Wichita State, Missouri State
Mountain West (4):  San Diego State, BYU, New Mexico, UNLV
NEC (1):  Central Connecticut State
Ohio Valley (1):  Murray State
Pac-10 (3):  Washington, UCLA, Arizona
Patriot (1):  American
SEC (5):  Miss State, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Ole Miss
Southern (1): Wofford
Southland (1):  Stephen F. Austin
SWAC (1):  Jackson State
Summit (1):  Oakland
Sun Belt (1):  Western Kentucky
WCC (1):  Gonzaga
WAC (1):  Utah State

Just missed:  Seton Hall, Detroit, Dayton, Loyola-Marymount, George Mason, Tennessee

Wasn't that an exciting post?

Ok, I'll give you a little bit more and strongly recommend George Dohrmann's new book, Play their Hearts Out.  It takes a look behind the scenes of the youth basketball machine and how it starts turning kids into commodities to be used and traded for money and prestige as early as 10-years old.  It is a fascinating look into a weird, sometimes creepy world that turns a kids game being played by kids into big business.  I couldn't put it down, and it's the gift that keeps on giving because most of the kids who are featured in the book are now freshman or sophomores in college and I keep seeing their names pop up playing for teams like Cal, Oregon State, New Mexico, and Maryland.  In fact, the kid who hit the game-winner for Maryland tonight, Pe'Shon Howard, is one of the more prominent characters.  I can't recommend it more highly.  In fact, my brother is reading it now and my dad is reading it after him, but after that I can send it to somebody.  If you want it for free, shoot me an email with your address.

2 comments:

snacks said...

Actually I'm reading the Pendergast book first. And I'd love to make a wager on Northwestern not making the tournament if you are confident in that selection.

Dr. Acula!. said...

Can I hit that Pendergast? Not "Devoe", more like "nerdy white guy" style.