BRACKETOLOGY: Meet the Salukis

Southern Illinois has been the Missouri Valley Conference's most consistent team over the past six years. Now it's staking claim to being one of the elite teams in the country. At 22-5, with seven RPI top-50 wins, I think you can consider SIU to be a legitimate top-10 team.

Now I know that's very difficult for some people to grasp, but just because you haven't seen them play, doesn't mean they're not good. They are good and it was proven this past weekend when they went into Hinkle Fieldhouse, took control of the game against Butler and never really let it go.

When people watch SIU play, they tend to not be impressed by its style of play. All SIU does is be balanced and solid on offense and play stiffling defense (just ask Butler). Randal Falker is great in the low post, while Jamaal Tatum continues to be one of the best guards you've never heard of. Matt Shaw, at 6'7", can take you inside or outside with his jumper.

Listen to me when I tell you, if your team has to play Southern Illinois in the first two rounds, its not going to be a pleasant experience. I, for one, will not be surprised to see them in the Final Four. By the way, a Saluki is the Royal dog of Egypt and the oldest know breed of domesticated k-9's.

On to the bracket:
I felt bad putting this one together. This is the first time I remember running out of spots to put teams. Usually, teams play themselves out of contention for at-large bids. No one is really doing that this year. There are 5 or 6 teams not in this bracket that I believe are tournament-worthy and it's a shame.

One of those teams would be Appalachian St. I haven't heard its name mentioned once when it comes to bubble teams, but it should be discussed. The Mountaineers have beaten Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth, and, most recently, Wichita St out of conference. The problem with Appalachian St isn't what happened out of conference, it's what happened in-conference. They have three "bad" losses to Elon, UNC-Greensboro, and Furman. I fully expect them to make the Southern Conference finals and meet up with Davidson. That would be a great game.

Last Four In: Texas Tech, Creighton, Georgia Tech, Old Dominion
Last Four Out: Oklahoma St, Georgia, Kansas St, Drexel and Appalachian St (tie)



East
1.North Carolina16.Delaware St Winston-Salem, NC
8.Tennessee9.Purdue
5.Stanford12.Texas Tech Spokane, WA
4.Air Force13.Oral Roberts
6.Kentucky11.Old Dominion Columbus, OH
3.Southern Illinois14.Toledo
7.Maryland10.Villanova Lexington, KY
2.Ohio St15.Austin Peay
Midwest
1.Wisconsin16.Jackson St/Central Connecticut Chicago, IL
8.Oregon9.West Virginia
5.Virginia12.Winthrop Columbus, OH
4.Vanderbilt13.Davidson
6.Virginia Tech11.Illinois Winston-Salem, NC
3.Georgetown14.Marist
7.BYU10.Arizona Chicago, IL
2.Kansas15.Long Beach St
West
1.UCLA16.Weber St Sacramento, CA
8.Louisville9.Alabama
5.Duke12.Creighton Spokane, WA
4.Nevada13.Santa Clara
6.Butler11.Georgia Tech New Orleans, LA
3.Texas A&M14.Vermont
7.Xavier10.Michigan St Buffalo, NY
2.Pittsbugh15.Penn
South
1.Florida16.East Tennessee St New Orleans, LA
8.Marquette9.USC
5.Boston College12.Virginia Commonwealth Buffalo, NY
4.Texas13.Holy Cross
6.Notre Dame11.UNLV Sacramento, CA
3.Washington St14.Texas A&M-CC
7.Indiana10.Clemson Lexington, KY
2.Memphis15.South Alabama