February 2, 2009 Bracket

I must say, it's hard having to shuffle some major teams around to accommodate the lower-seeded major teams. But it must be done, and this is what came out.
Also, I'm bringing back the "Also Considered" section, including reasons for why the teams considered are out.

EAST REGION (Boston):
#1 Duke (19-2) vs. #16 Winner of Morgan State (11-10)/Alabama State (10-8)
#8 Missouri (18-4) vs. #9 South Carolina (16-4)
#5 UCLA (17-4) vs. #12 Dayton (20-2)
#4 Villanova (17-4) vs. #13 Northeastern (15-6)
#6 West Virginia (15-6) vs. #11 Kentucky (16-5)
#3 Illinois (18-4) vs. #14 Cornell (14-6)
#7 UNLV (17-4) vs. #10 Arizona State (16-5)
#2 Clemson (18-2) vs. #15 Vermont (16-6)

SOUTH REGION (Memphis):
#1 Oklahoma (21-1) vs. #16 Morehead State (13-10)
#8 Florida State (16-5) vs. #9 California (16-6)
#5 Syracuse (17-5) vs. #12 Utah State (21-1)
#4 Minnesota (18-3) vs. #13 Northern Iowa (16-6)
#6 Purdue (17-4) vs. #11 USC (15-6)
#3 Xavier (19-2) vs. #14 VMI (17-3)
#7 Georgetown (12-8) vs. #10 Baylor (15-6)
#2 North Carolina (19-2) vs. #15 East Tennessee State (16-6)

MIDWEST REGION (Indianapolis):
#1 Connecticut (20-1) vs. #16 Holy Cross (11-11)
#8 Ohio State (15-5) vs. #9 Texas A&M (17-5)
#5 Memphis (18-3) vs. #12 Virginia Tech (14-7)
#4 Butler (19-1) vs. #13 Buffalo (14-5)
#6 Kansas (17-4) vs. #11 Miami (14-7)
#3 Marquette (19-2) vs. #14 North Dakota State (16-5)
#7 Florida (18-4) vs. #10 St. Mary's (18-3)
#2 Michigan State (17-4) vs. #15 Robert Morris (15-7)

WEST REGION (Glendale):
#1 Pittsburgh (19-2) vs. #16 Long Beach State (11-9)
#8 Davidson (18-3) vs. #9 Siena (17-5)
#5 Texas (15-5) vs. #12 BYU (16-5)
#4 Wake Forest (17-2) vs. #13 Stephen F. Austin (14-5)
#6 Gonzaga (16-4) vs. #11 Boston College (17-6)
#3 Washington (16-5) vs. #14 AR-Little Rock (16-6)
#7 Tennessee (13-7) vs. #10 Utah (14-7)
#2 Louisville (17-3) vs. #15 Weber State (14-8)

Also Considered:
St. Joseph's (12-8, 67): 5-1 in A-10...but only one QW over Cornell.
Temple (12-8, 48): Only 4-2 in A-10, but solid wins over Penn St. and Tennessee.
Rhode Island (15-7, 64): Best wins over VCU and Temple.
Providence (14-7, 63): Syracuse is their only QW.
Cincinnati (14-8, 58): 4-5 in conference, good wins over UNLV and Georgetown.
Notre Dame (12-8, 75): 3-6 in conference, way too low RPI.
Penn State (17-5, 66): Closer than anybody, but RPI and SOS numbers don't help.
Northwestern (12-7, 56): 4 quality wins, but 4-5 conference record.
Michigan (14-8, 54): 4-6 conference record.
Wisconsin (12-9, 37): 3-6 conference record, best win vs. Virginia Tech.
Kansas State (14-7, 76): 3 quality wins, but too high RPI.
Nebraska (13-7, 81): Too high RPI.
Oklahoma State (13-7, 26): 2-4 conference record, only QW vs. Siena.
VCU (16-6, 61): No QW.
George Mason (15-6, 59): No QW.
UAB (14-8, 45): No QW.
Illinois State (18-4, 60): No QW.
Creighton (17-6, 73): Best win vs. Dayton.
San Diego State (15-5, 53): SOS of 84 doesn't help.
Arizona (14-8, 62): 4-5 conference record.
Stanford (13-6, 69): 3-6 conference record.
LSU (17-4, 55): SOS of 111, best wins against Tennessee and Arkansas.

Next Bracket: February 9