First One of 2009 - January 5

Since conference season is kicking off for most conferences (but not all), I figured I would formulate the first prognostication of the 2008-2009 season. This is definitely subject to change since some major teams are lower seeds at the moment; but it's mostly due to the fact that they have lower RPI's than some mid-major teams who are definitely proving they are legit. This was also hard to make because the Big East is just the dominant conference this year. I currently give them 8 tournament bids, with a few others very close.
Here it is, for your enjoyment!

EAST REGION (Boston)
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #16 Winner of Alabama State/Western Illinois
#8 Davidson vs. #9 Michigan
#5 Arizona State vs. #12 Lamar
#4 Wake Forest vs. #13 Texas A&M
#6 Florida vs. #11 Missouri
#3 Syracuse vs. #14 Cornell
#7 Ohio State vs. #10 George Mason
#2 Xavier vs. #15 Binghamton

WEST REGION (Glendale)
#1 Oklahoma vs. #16 Robert Morris
#8 Stanford vs. #9 Western Kentucky
#5 St. Mary's vs. #12 Boise State
#4 Georgetown vs. #13 Kentucky
#6 Tennessee vs. #11 Utah
#3 Wisconsin vs. #14 Portland State
#7 UCLA vs. #10 Louisville
#2 North Carolina vs. #15 UC Riverside

SOUTH REGION (Memphis)
#1 Clemson vs. #16 Morehead State
#8 Minnesota vs. #9 Marquette
#5 Texas vs. #12 VMI
#4 Memphis vs. #13 Washington
#6 Florida State vs. #11 UAB
#3 California vs. #14 Baylor
#7 Villanova vs. #10 UNLV
#2 Michigan State vs. #15 East Tennessee State

MIDWEST REGION (Indianapolis)
#1 Duke vs. #16 Bethune-Cookman
#8 Illinois State vs. #9 Oklahoma State
#5 Illinois vs. #12 Evansville
#4 West Virginia vs. #13 Arkansas
#6 Boston College vs. #11 Gonzaga
#3 Butler vs. #14 Miami University
#7 Dayton vs. #10 Siena
#2 Connecticut vs. #15 Lehigh

Last Four Out: Maryland, Rhode Island, Purdue, BYU

Next Update: Monday, January 12