BRACKETOLOGY: Time for the Postseason (Welcome Cornell)

I know it doesn't seem that late, but conference tournaments begin tomorrow. The Ohio Valley, Big South and Horizon League will kick the action off while the Atlantic Sun, Sun Belt, and Patriot League get things going on Wednesday.

Big South: Raise your hand if you had UNC-Asheville winning the regular season championship. If your hand is raised, you're either somehow affiliated with UNC-Asheville or you're a bold-faced liar. The Bulldogs finished in a 10-4 tie with the favored Winthrop Eagles, but due to the season sweep, the Bulldogs get the number one seed. That being said, it is HARD beating a team three times in one season. However, being at home will be a huge boost and come saturday, the Bulldogs will be dancing.

Ohio Valley: Austin Peay isn't just better, they're light years better than the next best team in the OVC. The Governors are tested and I have to believe that they're ready. There's not much left to say because I don't see anyone taking Austin Peay down.

Horizon League: Butler has been outstanding this season. They've been ranked in the top-25 virtually the entire year and boasts only 3 losses on the year. So why is it that I have an uneasy feeling about this tournament. Cleveland St, Wright St, and Valparaiso all have legitimate shots at winning this tournament. For the first time since the late eighties, the Cleveland St Vikings will go to the tournament.

More Predictions to come tomorrow

On to the bracket:

The Number 1 seeds Rank in this order: 1. Memphis 2. North Carolina 3. UCLA 4. Tennessee

Last Four In: Villanova, Texas Tech, Florida, Southern Illinois
Last Four Out: Kentucky, Oregon, UAB, St Josephs

This bracket is good for games thru Sunday March 2, 2008

SOUTH
1.Memphis16.Lamar/Alabama St Little Rock, AR
8.Miami(FL)9.Arkansas
5.Indiana12.Virginia Commonwealth Washington, DC
4.UConn13.Texas Tech
6.Drake11.West Virginia Washington, DC
3.Xavier14.Portland St
7.Mississippi St10.Kent St Anaheim, CA
2.Stanford15.Robert Morris
MIDWEST
1.Tennessee16.UNC-Asheville Birmingham, AL
8.UNLV9.Texas A&M
5.Marquette12.Southern Illinois Denver, CO
4.Purdue13.Oral Roberts
6.Butler11.Arizona St Birmingham, AL
3.Louisville14.Siena
7.Clemson10.UMass Omaha, NE
2.Kansas15.UMBC
WEST
1.UCLA16.Morgan St Anaheim, CA
8.Baylor9.South Alabama
5.Vanderbilt12.Maryland Tampa, FL
4.Michigan St13.Villanova
6.Gonzaga11.Illinois St Tampa, FL
3.Georgetown14.Cornell(Ivy)
7.USC10.Kansas St Raleigh, NC
2.Duke15.Austin Peay
EAST
1.North Carolina16.American Raleigh, NC
8.St. Mary’s9.Oklahoma
5.Washington St12.Florida Denver, CO
4.Notre Dame13.Boise St
6.BYU11.Davidson Omaha, NE
3.Wisconsin14.Cal St Northridge
7.Pittsburgh10.Arizona Little Rock, AR
2.Texas15.Belmont