BRACKETOLOGY: Proof why rankings in College Hoops are poop

They mean nothing!!! I always argue that rankings in college basketball have no bearing on the tournament and people argue with me. I pay them no mind. Cincinnati is ranked 25 in the AP poll and not ranked at all in the other. If the tournament started today, they'd be a 3 or 4 seed. Boston College is ranked 15 in one poll and 14 in the other. If the tournament started today, they'd be somewhere between a 7-9 seed. NC State beat GW by 20+ points a week and a half ago and GW is still ranked ahead of them in the AP poll. Let's be for real folks.

There is real drop off at the bottom end of the seedings. The tournament field is real strong until you get to Montana and then it's almost complete vertical decline in the quality of teams. There's a huge difference between 15-seeded Montana in my bracket and 15-seeded Oral Roberts which is the next overall team. Basically what I'm saying is those 1-16 matchups this year, unlike last year, will get REAL ugly.

Now on to the bracket. I screwed up last week. Villanova only plays 3 games at the Wachovia Center this season, because of that and the fact that they're not hosting, they'll be able to play there in the tournament.

This is good for games through January 8. Final Four matchups would be Washington winner vs. Oakland winner and the Minneapolis winner vs. Atlanta winner.

Washington, DC
1.Duke16.Robert Morris Greensboro, NC
8.UAB9.Vanderbilt
5.West Virginia12.Old Dominion Salt Lake City, UT
4.Michigan St13.Western Kentucky
6.Northern Iowa11.Georgetown Dallas, TX
3.Texas14.Penn
7.Maryland10.Xavier San Diego, CA
2.UCLA15.Samford
Oakland
1.Villanova16.Albany Philadelphia, PA
8.Air Force9.Kentucky
5.Arizona12.Texas A&M San Diego, CA
4.Indiana13.Northwestern St
6.Iowa St11.Nevada Auburn Hills, MI
3.Cincinnati14.Wisconsin-Milwaukee
7.Wake Forest10.Michigan Salt Lake City, UT
2.Gonzaga15.UC-Irvine
Minneapolis
1.Memphis16.Florida Atlantic/Southern Dallas, TX
8.Syracuse9.Oklahoma
5.North Carolina12.Wichita St Greensboro, NC
4.Ohio St13.Winthrop
6.Washington11.Bucknell Auburn Hills, MI
3.Wisconsin14.Davidson
7.Boston College10.Arkansas Philadelphia, PA
2.UCONN15.Oral Roberts
Atlanta
1.Florida16.Delaware St Jacksonville, FL
8.George Washington9.Washington St
5.Iowa12.Kansas St Jacksonville, FL
4.Louisville13.Ohio
6.NC State11.Southern Illinois Dayton, OH
3.Pittsburgh14.Manhattan
7.Tennessee10.Marquette Dayton, OH
2.Illinois15.Montana