BRACKETOLOGY: Falk the Bubble (Welcome Southern Illinois and Davidson)

At this time last Friday, Southern Illinois was in trouble to make the tournament. Now they can sit back and relax for the rest of the week and it's all due to one man: Randal Falker. His 36 rebounds and excellent post defense led the Salukis to the Missouri Valley tournament championship and the automatic bid. Now, the game on Sunday was just like every other game in the tournament (I watched them all), UGLY. That's because they play defense in the conference. People keep talking about tis league, but you don't want to play any MVC teams in the tournament.

Speaking of Mid-Majors...the CAA. Right now, on Monday, I have them getting three teams in. Obviously, this depends on what happens the rest of the week. If a bubble team in another conference, i.e. Florida St, gets hot than it may push the conference back down to two bids. It's going to be a lock-down final tonight though.

If you get a chance, make sure you watch the Metro Atlantic championship tonight. St. Peters, a surprise finalist, is led by the Keydren Clark, the sixth leading scorer in NCAA history. One more time for emphasis: The sixth leading scorer in NCAA history. He dropped 29 on regular season champion Manhattan last night and if he still has his legs, will put similar numbers up tonight.

Florida St is still in trouble to me. They're just 6-7 against the RPI top-100 and they're non-conference strength of schedule is 317, they have to beat a good team in the ACC tournament to satisfy me.

I'm still not seeing how San Diego St is getting at-large consideration. If they can get an at-large than it's no doubt in my mind that UNC-Wilmington HAS to been in regardless of what happens tonight. San Diego St has five losses outside of the top-100. You can't get in with that.

Conference Tourmanet prediction time.

Mid-American: Hard one to call right here. I think I'm going to go with Kent St though. They won the more difficult of the two divisions in the MAC this year and also got a huge Bracket Buster win over Butler. Besides after Miami-Ohio and Akron beat each other up in the semi-finals, they may not have anything left for the Golden Flashes in the final.

Southland: With only one setback in conference all year, Northwestern St is the team to beat here. Someone would have to beat them on their home floor and that hasn't happened all year long. Don't expect that to happen this week. I'll take Northwestern St this week and as a candidate for a first-round upset in the Big Dance next week.

Last Four In: Texas A&M, Creighton, UNC-Wilmington, Hofstra
Last Four Out: Air Force, Florida St, Missouri St, Maryland

Washington, DC
1.UCONN16.Albany Philadelphia, PA
8.Bucknell9.Kentucky
5.Kansas12.Creighton Auburn Hills, MI
4.George Washington13.Kent St
6.Marquette11.Hofstra Greensboro, NC
3.North Carolina14.Winthrop(BSOUTH)
7.Wisconsin10.California Jacksonville, FL
2.LSU15.Penn(IVY)
Oakland
1.Ohio St16.Fairleigh Dickinson/Southern Dayton, OH
8.Southern Illinois(MVC)9.Alabama
5.Pittsburgh12.Texas A&M San Diego, CA
4.Boston College13.Northwestern St
6.West Virginia11.Michigan Salt Lake City, UT
3.Gonzaga14.Murray St(OVC)
7.Arkansas10.Arizona Dallas, TX
2.Memphis15.Delaware St
Minneapolis
1.Duke16.Oral Roberts Greensboro, NC
8.Indiana9.Seton Hall
5.Nevada12.UNC-Wilmington Salt Lake City, UT
4.Washington13.San Diego St
6.Oklahoma11.UAB Jacksonville, FL
3.Tennessee14.Iona
7.Wichita St10.Cincinnati Dayton, OH
2.Illinois15.Northern Arizona
Atlanta
1.Villanova16.Belmont(A-SUN) Philadelphia, PA
8.NC State9.Northern Iowa
5.Florida12.Western Kentucky Auburn Hills, MI
4.Iowa13.Wisconsin-Milwaukee
6.Michigan St11.Bradley San Diego, CA
3.UCLA14.Pacific
7.Georgetown10.George Mason Dallas, TX
2.Texas15.Davidson(Southern)