NarbTom Bracketology 4.0.1

The Rev and I are tardy getting the latest edition of bracketology released to the masses, so we'll skip the nonsense.

ONTO THE BRACKET!

The (Non) Compromise

I was stupid to think Narber would ever do as I say. He's notably indecisive. He had Virginia as the fourth 1-seed despite this interaction early in the week...

I win.

The Curious Case of the Oregon Ducks

There are a couple things Narber and I disagree on this week. This biggest of which is probably Oregon. Narber had them a 5, which I thought was a little low (KenPom No. 15). I had them on the 3 line. After more thought on it, I bumped them up to 2 (which is not a compromise) for two reasons. The first is that their résumé is not as bad as I thought — 24-6 overall, 4th in the RIP*... errr... RPI... 9-3 against the RPI top 50, 5th best strength of schedule and only one loss outside the top 100.

The second is that the Spokane and Denver sites are desperate for *local* teams on the top four lines to fill spots. That's why you see Iowa State constantly thrown at those two sites when bracketologists put them on the 4-line. Just not enough good teams out west. With teams like Utah, Arizona and Cal all fighting on that 4/5 line, Oregon has to be 2/3 to avoid 2nd round matchups and place top four seeds close to home.

So, my money is on Oregon being the classically over-seeded team that stays close to home.

*Burn the RPI with the fire of a thousand suns

Last Four In

Oregon State, Tulsa, Syracuse, Colorado

First Four Out

Vaparaiso, Wichita State, Gonzaga, Monmouth

Next Four Out

Florida, Michigan, Princeton, Florida State

Conference Breakdown

ACC (7): Duke, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia
Big 12 (7): Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia
PAC 12 (7): Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Utah
B1G (6): Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Big East (5): Butler, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova, Xavier
American (4): Cincinnati, Temple, Tulsa, UConn
Atlantic 10 (4): Dayton, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, VCU
SEC (4): Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
America East (1): Stony Brook
Atlantic Sun (1): Florida Gulf Coast
Big Sky (1): Weber State
Big South (1): UNC Asheville
Big West (1): Hawaii
Colonial (1): UNC Wilmington
Conference USA (1): UAB
Horizon (1): Green Bay
Ivy (1): Yale
MAAC (1): Iona
Mid-American (1): Akron
MEAC (1): Hampton
Missouri Valley (1): Northern Iowa
Mountain West (1): San Diego State
Northeast (1): Wagner
Ohio Valley (1): Austin Peay
Patriot (1): Bucknell
Southern (1): Chattanooga
Southland (1): Stephen F. Austin
SWAC (1): Texas Southern
Summit (1): South Dakota State
Sun Belt (1): Arkansas Little Rock
WAC (1): New Mexico State
West Coast (1): Gonzaga

(Italicized teams have already clinched)