March 9, 2009 Bracket

Here's today's edition. Automatic bids (official or assumed) are marked with asterisks. The next bracket will be up on Friday, March 13.

EAST REGION (Boston):
#1 North Carolina (27-3)* vs. #16 Winner of CS Northridge (15-13)*/Alabama State (19-9)*
#8 Utah (21-9) vs. #9 West Virginia (21-10)
#5 Gonzaga (25-5)* vs. #12 Penn State (21-10)
#4 Washington (24-7)* vs. #13 VCU (23-9)*
#6 Clemson (23-7) vs. #11 Arizona (19-12)
#3 Oklahoma (27-4) vs. #14 Binghamton (22-8)*
#7 BYU (24-6)* vs. #10 Michigan (19-12)
#2 Pittsburgh (28-3) vs. #15 Robert Morris (23-10)*

MIDWEST REGION (Indianapolis):
#1 Michigan State (25-5)* vs. #16 Morehead State (19-15)*
#8 Texas (20-10) vs. #9 California (22-9)
#5 LSU (25-6)* vs. #12 UNLV (21-9)
#4 Villanova (25-6) vs. #13 AR-Little Rock (23-7)*
#6 Syracuse (23-8) vs. #11 Boston College (21-10)
#3 Illinois (23-8) vs. #14 Buffalo (19-10)*
#7 Texas A&M (23-8) vs. #10 Utah State (27-4)*
#2 Memphis (28-3)* vs. #15 Cornell (21-9)*

WEST REGION (Glendale):
#1 Louisville (25-5)* vs. #16 Morgan State (20-11)*
#8 Tennessee (19-11) vs. #9 Oklahoma State (20-10)
#5 Florida State (23-8) vs. #12 Minnesota (21-9)
#4 Xavier (24-6)* vs. #13 American (23-7)*
#6 Marquette (23-8) vs. #11 St. Mary's (25-5)
#3 Missouri (25-6) vs. #14 Weber State (21-8)*
#7 Ohio State (20-9) vs. #10 Florida (22-9)
#2 Duke (25-6) vs. #15 East Tennessee State (23-10)*

SOUTH REGION (Memphis):
#1 Connecticut (27-3) vs. #16 Radford (21-11)*
#8 Wisconsin (19-11) vs. #9 Dayton (25-6)
#5 UCLA (24-7) vs. #12 Northern Iowa (23-10)*
#4 Butler (26-4)* vs. #13 Stephen F. Austin (21-7)*
#6 Purdue (22-9) vs. #11 New Mexico (21-10)
#3 Wake Forest (24-5) vs. #14 North Dakota State (24-6)*
#7 Arizona State (22-8) vs. #10 Siena (25-7)*
#2 Kansas (25-6)* vs. #15 Charleston (26-7)*

Bubble (Updated 3/11):
ACC - Miami (18-11), Maryland (18-12), Virginia Tech (17-13)
Analysis - If Miami can win a couple games in the ACC tourney and get to 20 wins, they should get in because of solid computer numbers. Maryland and VT might need to run the table or have tournament favorites lose to have a shot.

Atlantic 10 - Rhode Island (22-9), Temple (19-11)
Analysis: The loss to UMass definitely hurt the Rams. They will have to run the table now to get in. Temple, however, may only have to win a couple as they have good computer numbers.

Big East - Providence (18-12), Notre Dame (18-13)
Analysis: Providence has the best shot. If they get to 20 wins, they make a legitimate case. Notre Dame will likely have to run the table, but maybe even in a berth in the final could make a case. Cincinnati and Georgetown are headed to the NIT thanks to their opening round losses to DePaul and St. John's, respectively.

Big Ten - Northwestern (17-12)
Analysis: Many think Northwestern has to run the table to get in. I disagree. If they can beat fellow bubble team Minnesota and #1 seed Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, I think the 'Cats deserve it. They are a sentimental pick since they've never made the Dance.

Big 12 - Kansas State (21-10), Nebraska (18-11)
Analysis: Must run the table to get in. Kansas State's computer numbers are too gaudy and Nebraska is only 3-7 against the RPI Top 50.

Conference USA - Tulsa (22-9), UAB (21-10)
Analysis: Must run the table to get in. No real marquee wins for either, although Tulsa beat Texas A&M.

Missouri Valley - Creighton (26-7), Illinois State (24-9)
Analysis: Since these teams can no longer help themselves, they must hope conference favorites win to have a shot. Otherwise, it's the NIT for both.

Mountain West - San Diego State (21-8)
Analysis: Will likely have to run the table to get in. They only have one marquee win against Utah, and computer numbers aren't great.

Pac-10 - USC (18-12)
Analysis: If USC can at least reach semis of Pac-10 tournament, they could have a legitimate case. Computer numbers are fairly solid, and they've beaten Arizona State and California.

SEC - South Carolina (21-8), Auburn (21-10), Kentucky (19-12)
Analysis: Florida shouldn't get too comfortable in the bracket, because it seems only LSU and Tennessee are locks. As for these three, the Gamecocks need a couple wins in the tournament to have any shot. With Auburn's win over LSU, the Tigers join the discussion. They've beaten both LSU and Tennessee. If Auburn makes a run, the Tigers make a case. Kentucky is on life support; they would have to run the table.

Southern - Davidson (26-7)
Analysis: As much as the nation loves Stephen Curry, this may be the year we won't see the Wildcats come the NCAA Tourney. With that loss to Charleston, Davidson will definitely be sweating on Selection Sunday. They have to hope that conference tourney favorites win to have any shot.

Next Bracket: Friday, March 13