Selection Sunday: Reality & Reaction

On Sunday, the NCAA tournament was selected. Kansas, Florida, Ohio State, and North Carolina garnered top seeds. Georgetown, Memphis, UCLA, and Wisconsin were labeled second seeds. Drexel and Syracuse were glaring omissions. Arkansas was an undesirable addition. The Big Ten received more than deserved respect.

The selection committee is enigmatic. One should not attempt deciphering them. With that stated, the committee overseeded the power conferences. Purdue, Duke, Virginia, and Vanderbilt received undeserved high rankings. Butler, BYU, Nevada, and UNLV received unwarranted low rankings. Additionally, power conferences garnered twenty-eight at-large bids. Mid-major conferences received six. Mid-major squads are endearing and courageous. They are this tournament’s charm and character. In 2004, they received twelve bids. The dwindling of their births is disturbing.

Previously, regular season success was prioritized. Despite a brilliant campaign, UCLA was slighted. Drexel was completely excluded. The selection committee’s explanation? Conference tournaments were the priority. NCAA, please select a continuous methodology.

Midwest Regional (St. Louis, Missouri – Edward Jones Dome)

New Orleans, Louisiana (New Orleans Arena) – March 16 & 18
(1) Florida vs. (16) Jackson State
(8) Arizona vs. (9) Purdue

Buffalo, New York (HSBC Arena) - March 15 & 17
(5) Butler vs. (12) Old Dominion
(4) Maryland vs. (13) Davidson

Spokane, Washington (Spokane Memorial Arena) – March 16 & 18
(6) Notre Dame vs. (11) Winthrop
(3) Oregon vs. (14) Miami-Ohio

Chicago, Illinois (United Center) – March 16 & 18
(7) UNLV vs. (10) Georgia Tech
(2) Wisconsin vs. (15) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

West Regional (San Jose, California – HP Pavilion)

Chicago, Illinois (United Center) – March 16 & 18
(1) Kansas vs. (16) Florida A&M\Niagara
(8) Kentucky vs. (9) Villanova

Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena) – March 16 & 18
(5) Virginia Tech vs. (12) Illinois
(4) Southern Illinois vs. (13) Holy Cross

Buffalo, New York (HSBC Arena) - March 15 & 17
(6) Duke vs. (11) VCU
(3) Pittsburgh vs. (14) Wright State

Sacramento, California (Arco Arena) – March 15 & 17
(7) Indiana vs. (10) Gonzaga
(2) UCLA vs. (15) Weber State

East Regional (East Rutherford, New Jersey – Continental Airlines Arena)

Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Lawrence Joel Coliseum) – March 15 & 17
(1) North Carolina vs. (16) Eastern Kentucky
(8) Marquette vs. (9) Michigan State

Spokane, Washington (Spokane Memorial Arena) – March 16 & 18
(5) USC vs. (12) Arkansas
(4) Texas vs. (13) New Mexico State

Sacramento, California (Arco Arena) – March 15 & 17
(6) Vanderbilt vs. (11) George Washington
(3) Washington State vs. (14) Oral Roberts

Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Lawrence Joel Coliseum) – March 15 & 17
(7) Boston College vs. (10) Texas Tech
(2) Georgetown vs. (15) Belmont

South Regional (San Antonio, Texas – Alamodome)

Lexington (Rupp Arena) – March 15 & 17
(1) Ohio State vs. Central Connecticut State
(8) BYU vs. (9) Xavier

Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena) – March 16 & 18
(5) Tennessee vs. (12) Long Beach State
(4) Virginia vs. (13) Albany

Lexington (Rupp Arena) – March 15 & 17
(6) Louisville vs. (11) Stanford
(3) Texas A&M vs. (14) Pennsylvania

New Orleans, Louisiana (New Orleans Arena) – March 16 & 18
(7) Nevada vs. (10) Creighton
(2) Memphis vs. (15) North Texas

The Big Five

For reasons good and bad… they were the news.

The Hot Five

A quintet of sizzling conversation starters.

Automatic for the Tournament – Bid #31

Kansas Jayhawks (30-4)
(Big Twelve Conference Champions)

Automatic for the Tournament – Bid #30

Ohio State Buckeyes (30-3)
(Big Ten Conference Champions)

Automatic for the Tournament – Bid #29

North Carolina Tar Heels (28-6)
(Atlantic Coast Conference Champions)

Automatic for the Tournament – Bid #28

Florida Gators (29-5)
(South Eastern Conference Champions)

Automatic for the Tournament – Bid #27

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (26-6)
(South Land Conference Champions)

Line of the Morning

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)

"Attorney General Gonzales... he either doesn't accept or doesn't understand that he is no longer just the president's lawyer, but has a higher obligation to the rule of law and the Constitution… for the sake of the nation, Attorney General Gonzales should step down."

NCAA Tournament Projection

Midwest Regional (St. Louis, Missouri – Edward Jones Dome)

Lexington (Rupp Arena) – March 15 & 17
(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Jackson State\Florida A&M
(8) Villanova vs. (9) Georgia Tech

Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena) – March 16 & 18
(5) Tennessee vs. (12) Davidson
(4) Texas vs. (13) Stanford

New Orleans, Louisiana (New Orleans Arena) – March 16 & 18
(6) Nevada vs. (11) VCU
(3) Texas A&M vs. (14) Pennsylvania

Buffalo, New York (HSBC Arena) - March 15 & 17
(7) Duke vs. (10) Winthrop
(2) Pittsburgh vs. (15) Belmont

West Regional (San Jose, California – HP Pavilion)

Sacramento, California (Arco Arena) – March 15 & 17
(1) UCLA vs. (16) Weber State
(8) Vanderbilt vs. (9) Xavier

Buffalo, New York (HSBC Arena) - March 15 & 17
(5) Virginia Tech vs. (12) New Mexico State
(4) Louisville vs. (13) Wright State

Chicago, Illinois (United Center) – March 16 & 18
(6) BYU vs. (11) Purdue
(3) Southern Illinois vs. (14) Oral Roberts

Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena) – March 16 & 18
(7) Arizona vs. (10) Texas Tech
(2) Georgetown vs. (15) Eastern Kentucky

South Regional (San Antonio, Texas – Alamodome)

New Orleans, Louisiana (New Orleans Arena) – March 16 & 18
(1) Kansas vs. (16) North Texas
(8) Boston College vs. (9) Indiana

Spokane, Washington (Spokane Memorial Arena) – March 16 & 18
(5) UNLV vs. (12) Old Dominion
(4) Oregon vs. (13) Miami-Ohio

Sacramento, California (Arco Arena) – March 15 & 17
(6) Virginia vs. (11) Gonzaga
(3) Washington State vs. (14) Long Beach State

Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Lawrence Joel Coliseum) – March 15 & 17
(7) Creighton vs. (10) Syracuse
(2) Florida vs. (15) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

East Regional (East Rutherford, New Jersey – Continental Airlines Arena)

Chicago, Illinois (United Center) – March 16 & 18
(1) Wisconsin vs. (16) Central Connecticut
(8) Butler vs. (9) Kentucky

Spokane, Washington (Spokane Memorial Arena) – March 16 & 18
(5) Notre Dame vs. (12) Drexel
(4) Maryland vs. (13) Holy Cross

Lexington (Rupp Arena) – March 15 & 17
(6) Marquette vs. (11) George Washington
(3) Memphis vs. (14) Albany

Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Lawrence Joel Coliseum) – March 15 & 17
(7) USC vs. (10) Michigan State
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Niagara

If Either Arkansas or North Carolina State win:
Stanford – Out

If Both Arkansas or North Carolina State win:
Stanford & Drexel – Out

Bracket Projection Sources:
ESPN
CBS Sportsline
FOX Sports
Bracketography
Team Rankings