March 5th Bracket Breakdown

Mitch Light's March 5th Bracket

Past Brackets:
Feb. 26th Bracket
Feb. 19th Bracket
Feb. 12th Bracket
Feb. 5th Bracket
Jan. 3rd Bracket
Preseason Bracket

ACC (7)
In: Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech

Worth a mention: Clemson, Florida State

Notes: Clemson and Florida State, left for dead about a week ago, will give the Committee something to chew on. The Tigers have a lot going for them, including an impressive season-ending win at Virginia Tech, but it’s hard to look past the fact that they went 4–9 after a 17–0 start. Like Clemson, Florida State won its final two regular-season games to finish 7–9 in the league. And the Seminoles have welcomed point guard Toney Douglas back to the lineup. The sophomore missed five-plus games with a fractured hand. Clemson and Florida State meet in the opening round of the ACC Tournament Thursday. The winner will keep hope alive. The loser is headed to the NIT.

America East (1)
In: Vermont

Atlantic 10 (1)
In: Xavier

Worth a mention: UMass

Notes: The Minutemen have won six straight and nine of 10 but still will likely need to win the A-10 Tournament to get into the field. A 1–4 mark against RPI Top 50 teams is UMass’ biggest wart.

Atlantic Sun (1)
In: Belmont

Big 12 (4)
In: Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech

Worth a mention: Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State

Notes: Kansas State was the last team out in this week’s field. A 10–6 record is impressive in the Big 12, but nine of those 10 wins came against teams with a losing record in league play. In addition, 17 of the Wildcats’ 21 wins came against teams ranked 100 or lower in the RPI.

Big East (7)
In: Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova

Worth a mention: Providence, West Virginia

Notes: Syracuse played its way into the field this week by splitting games with Georgetown (home) and Villanova (road). Beating the Wildcats on the road would have ended any doubt; now, however, the Orange could use at least one win at MSG to strengthen their resume. West Virginia has a 9–7 record in league play, but that won’t be enough for John Beilein’s club. With only three wins against RPI top 100 clubs, it’s tough to find a spot in the field for the Mountaineers. 

Big Sky (1)
In: Weber State

Big South (1)
In: Winthrop

Big Ten (5) (Updated on 3/7)
In: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin

Worth a mention: Michigan, Iowa, Purdue

Notes: Purdue was bumped from the field Tuesday night after Wright State beat Butler in the Horizon championship game. It’s very difficult to differentiate between the Boilers, Illinois, Drexel and Missouri State, but for now, Purdue was the odd team out. The Boilermakers only have two wins against the other five Big Ten teams that had winning records in league play. A win over Iowa in the Big Ten quarters on Friday could change things, however. Michigan could have made a huge statement by beating Ohio State, but now the Wolverines must make a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament.

Big West (1)
In: Long Beach State

Colonial (3) (Updated on 3/6)
In: Drexel, Old Dominion, VCU

Notes: This will likely be a three-bid league, with VCU getting the automatic bid and Drexel and ODU among the at-large invitees. The Rams would have been sweating on Selection Sunday, but Anthony Grant’s team made big plays during crunch time to beat George Mason Monday night.

Conference USA (1)
In: Memphis

Horizon (2) (Updated 3/7)
In: Butler, Wright State

Notes: Bubble teams were in agony watching Wright State steal a bid Tuesday night.

Ivy (1)
In: Penn

MAAC (1)
In: Niagara

MAC (1)
In: Toledo

Mid-Continent (1)
In: Oral Roberts

MEAC (1)
In: Delaware State

MVC (3)
In: Creighton, Missouri State, Southern Illinois

Worth a mention: Bradley

Notes: Could Missouri State be snubbed once again? It’s possible, but the Bears have probably done enough to be included in the field. They have nine wins vs. RPI top 100 teams, have 10 wins away from home, went 12–6 in a very solid MVC, and are the proud owners of a win over Wisconsin.

MWC (3)
In: Air Force, BYU, UNLV

Worth a mention: San Diego State

Notes: San Diego State’s at-large hopes took a big hit with the loss last week to Utah. The Aztecs need to win the MWC Tournament now.

Northeast (1)
In: Central Conn

OVC (1)
In: Eastern Kentucky

Pac-10 (6)
In: Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington State 

Notes: No multi-bid league is as cut and dry as the Pac-10. This league has no bubble.

Patriot (1)
In: Holy Cross

SEC: (4)
In: Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Worth a mention: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss

Notes: All five of the SEC’s bubble teams likely need to win at least two games in the league tournament this weekend. Mississippi State is probably the best team of the bunch. The Bulldogs closed with five wins in their final seven games and could be a team to watch in Atlanta. Arkansas, which beat Mississippi State and Vanderbilt (on the road) to end the regular season, has a pulse once again. The Hogs, which beat Southern Illinois in Orlando in November, could give the committee something to talk about with two wins.

Southern (1)
In: Davidson

Worth a mention: Appalachian State

Notes: App State’s bubble burst in the semifinals of the Southern Conference title game.

Southland (1)
In: Texas A&M - CC

Sun Belt (1) (Updated 3/7)
In: North Texas

SWAC (1)
In: Mississippi Valley State

WAC (1)
In: Nevada

WCC (1)
In: Gonzaga