BRACKETOLOGY: We're Back Live

I've been away for far too long, but I'm back and I'm so happy that we're in conference play. Before we get started, let's get some things straight:

1. This is not a prediction of what's going to happen on Selection Sunday. This is my best GUESS of what the tournament would look like if it began today.
2. ESPN is good for the games, don't listen to the commentary, it'll have you mixed up on Selection Sunday.

Now, with that out of the way. The Atlantic 10 is back in a big way. I didn't see it coming, but I've seen Dayton, Rhode Island and Xavier play and all three are REALLY good basketball teams. Throw in UMass and Duquesne and no you see a conference reminiscent of the glory years in the mid-90's. I can't wait to see how this season plays out.

Kentucky...yikes!!!

There is a clear distinction between the top 3 teams in the country and everyone else. Memphis, North Carolina and Kansas (in that order) are head and shoulders above the rest of the country. I think for the first time in a while, we may have dominant teams in college basketball.

If Baylor makes the tournament and I don't care if they barely make it on the bubble, Scott Drew should win National Coach of the Decade. Baylor was really close to having the program disbanded and Drew has them primed for the tournament. It's really unbelievable.

On to the bracket:

It's early, so I expect to look back at this bracket and laugh in two months.

The #1 seeds rank like this: 1. Memphis 2. North Carolina 3. Kansas 4. UCLA

Last Four In: George Mason, Kansas St, Syracuse, California
Last Four Out: Florida St, UConn, Florida, Minnesota

This bracket is good for games through Sunday January 13, 2008.

SOUTH
1.Memphis16.McNeese St/Jackson St Little Rock, AR
8.Arkansas9.Kent St
5.Texas12.Syracuse Denver, CO
4.Butler13.Siena
6.Pittsburgh11.Kansas St Little Rock, AR
3.Vanderbilt14.Wagner
7.Drake10.Providence Anaheim, CA
2.Washington St15.Delaware
WEST
1.UCLA16.Brown Anaheim, CA
8.Gonzaga9.Baylor
5.Rhode Island12.Illinois St Denver, CO
4.Marquette13.IUPUI
6.Oregon11.Villanova Washington, DC
3.Indiana14.Cal St. Northridge
7.Miami(FL)10.San Diego St Birmingham, AL
2.Tennessee15.Austin Peay
MIDWEST
1.Kansas16.Hartford Omaha, NE
8.Louisville9.Stanford
5.Mississippi12.South Alabama Tampa, FL
4.Wisconsin13.Davidson
6.St. Mary’s11.California Washington, DC
3.Dayton14.Hampton
7.Notre Dame10.Ohio St Raleigh, NC
2.Duke15.Northern Arizona
EAST
1. North Carolina16.Jacksonville Raleigh, NC
8.West Virginia9.Arizona
5.Xavier12.George Mason Tampa, FL
4.Texas A&M13.Utah St
6.Arizona St11.UMass Omaha, NE
3.Michigan St14.UNC-Asheville
7.Clemson10.Oklahoma Birmingham, AL
2.Georgetown15.Lafayette