BRACKETOLOGY: Pop (Welcome Drake)

That's the sound heard in Richmond, College Park, Blacksburg, Peoria and Gainesville. When you have opportunities to control your own fate, you have to get it done. Florida was kind of up the creek having to goto Kentucky. Illinois St, losing by 30 on National television at THIS time of year is bad. Maryland, you cannot lose to Virginia. Clemson handed Virginia Tech that game on a platter yesterday, but the Hokies didn't want it. Virginia Commonwealth may have been able to get away with losing tonight. Not to William & Mary in the semi-finals though.

Unlike those teams, you have to tip your hat to the Ohio St Buckeyes. Yes they back themselves into a corner, but unlike some other teams, they fought themselves out of it. One win in Indianapolis will be all it takes to get the Buckeyes dancing.

More conference tournaments

MEAC: This tournament has been as unpredictable as any over the past decade. This one could provide more of the same. Morgan St is the clear-cut favorite it has had it's fair share of close calls. If I were the Bears, I'd be leary of Delaware St, Norfolk St, Hampton and Coppin St. However, sporting a top-100 win and another over a team from the A-10, I'm going to put my money on Morgan St.

Mid-American: Bubble teams beware. Navigating the MAC tournament has proven to be a trying task for #1 seeds. This year the Kent St Golden Flashes, with a bid sewn up, are vying for the title. Akron, Ohio, and Miami(OH) will be dangerous in Cleveland this week. Akron has all the ingredients and this is the year the Zips finally put it all together and get it done.

SWAC: Sad to say, but I don't think it'll matter who wins this week in Birmingham, their destination will be the play-in game. With only one team with a winning record versus Division 1 teams, the SWAC is having a bad year for it's own standards. Let's just hope Alabama St can continue to play well and cut the nets down.

Big West: Keep your eye on Anaheim this week. This is going to be a wild tournament out west. UC Santa Barbara, Cal St Northridge, and Cal St Fullerton all finished with identical 12-4 league records with Pacific right behind them at 11-5. Now this tournament has a similar format to the West Coast Conference where the 1 and 2 seeds (UCSB and CSN) won't have to play until the semifinals. Even with the extra day of rest, I don't think UCSB or CSN will get it done. Pacific head coach Bob Thomason knows what he's doing in March. I'd put my money on him and his Tigers.

Southland: For much of the season, Lamar had a chokehold on first place. Then the last week of the season happened and Stephen F. Austin caught them at the line. With only four losses on the season, an RPI at 59 and a win over Oklahoma, I'd be crazy not to dead-bolt lock Stephen F. Austin as the favorite. They'll be dangerous in Big Dance too.

On to the bracket:
The number seeds rank in this order: 1. Memphis 2. North Carolina 3. UCLA 4. Tennessee

Last Four In: Ohio St, Syracuse, Villanova, Oregon
Last Four Out: Illinois St, Virginia Commonwealth, New Mexico, Dayton (WATCH THEM)

SOUTH
1.Memphis16.Sacred Heart/Alabama St Little Rock, AR
8.Pittsburgh9.Arkansas
5.Michigan St12.Oregon Denver, CO
4.Notre Dame13.Oral Roberts
6.Marquette11.UNLV Washington, DC
3.Xavier14.Winthrop(BSouth)
7.Gonzaga10.Kentucky Raleigh, NC
2.Duke15.Cornell(Ivy)
MIDWEST
1.Tennessee16.Morgan St Little Rock, AR
8.Oklahoma9.St Mary’s
5.Drake(MVC)12.Syracuse Denver, CO
4.Washington St13.Sam Houston St
6.Indiana11.Arizona St Washington, DC
3.Louisville14.Boise St
7.South Alabama10.Miami-FL Omaha, NE
2.Kansas15.Belmont(ASun)
WEST
1.UCLA16.American Anaheim, CA
8.Kent St9.Baylor
5.Butler12.Villanova Tampa, FL
4.Purdue13.George Mason
6.Vanderbilt11.Arizona Tampa, FL
3.UConn14.Siena
7.Clemson10.UMass Little Rock, AR
2.Texas15.Austin Peay(OVC)
EAST
1.North Carolina16.UMBC Raleigh, NC
8.Kansas St9.West Virginia
5.BYU12.Mississippi Anaheim, CA
4.Stanford13.Ohio St
6.USC11.Davidson Birmingham, AL
3.Georgetown4.UC Santa Barbara
7.Mississippi St10.Texas A&M Omaha, NE
2.Wisconsin15.Portland St