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The NCAA Division I Selection Show will air at 9:00 PM on Sunday evening on ESPNU. But ya know, if softball or E:60 run long I’m sure we’ll go to ESPNEWS. Below is my bracketology, but leave your comments on the seeding and thoughts from the bracket when it is released.
Unless we have a crazy surprise, tonight will be all about seeding. Right now I have two ACC Teams seeded and four seeded Big Ten programs. Albany’s quality wins are a bit lacking but its RPI is third so, historically, the Great Danes are essentially guaranteed a seed.
The team, which is getting screwed? Rutgers. The Denver Pioneers lost its conference tournament and will not get the AQ but will still make the Tourney. Therefore, they take away an at-large bid from Rutgers. Army had another good win over Notre Dame this weekend and now has two top five RPI wins (SU, UND) along with three other top 20 RPI wins (BU, BU, UMass). Nevertheless, the Black Knights should not get a spot this year.
Here are your conference tourney winners
America East: Albany Great Danes
Big East: Marquette Golden Eagles
Big Ten: Maryland Terrapins
Colonial: Towson Tigers
Ivy League: Yale Bulldogs
MAAC: Monmouth Hawks
Northeast Conference: Bryant Bulldogs
Patriot League: Loyola Greyhounds
SoCon: Air Force Falcons
…and your probable at-large bids
Syracuse Orange
Duke Blue Devils
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
North Carolina Tar Heels
Ohio State Buckeyes
Denver Pioneers
Penn State Nittany Lions
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
Unofficial RPI Rankings from @laxfilmroom.
1. Maryland
2. Syracuse
3. Albany
4. Notre Dame
5. Penn State
6. Ohio State
7. Johns Hopkins
8. Denver
9. Duke
10. UNC
11. Towson
12. Rutgers
13. Yale
14. Army
15. Hofstra
16. Villanova
17. Loyola
18. Boston University
19. UMass
20. Binghamton
21. Marquette
24. Air Force
35. Bryant
38. Monmouth
Based on the unofficial RPI, below are the teams who’s seeding is up in the air.
Albany
RPI: 3
Top Five Wins: None
Top 10 Wins: None
Top 20 Wins: UMass, Binghamton, Binghamton, Yale
Notre Dame
RPI: 4
Top Five Wins: Maryland
Top 10 Wins: Ohio State, North Carolina, Duke
Top 20 Wins: None
Penn State
RPI: 5
Top Five Wins: Maryland
Top 10 Wins: Ohio State
Top 20 Wins: Villanova, Rutgers
Ohio State
RPI: 6
Top Five Wins: Maryland
Top 10 Wins: Denver, Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins
Top 20 Wins: UMass, Towson
Johns Hopkins
RPI: 7
Top Five Wins: Penn State
Top 10 Wins: North Carolina
Top 20 Wins: Loyola, Rutgers
Denver
RPI: 8
Top Five Wins: Notre Dame
Top 10 Wins: Duke
Top 20 Wins: Towson, Villanova
Duke
RPI: 9
Top Five Wins: Notre Dame
Top 10 Wins: North Carolina
Top 20 Wins: Loyola, Boston University
The seeding is completely up in the air. Below is how I would seed the teams, but there are a lot of arguments to be made, especially with Denver, Notre Dame, and Albany.
1. Maryland
2. Syracuse
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. Penn State
6. Denver
7. Albany
8. Johns Hopkins
Here is my bracket. Remember, the first round matchups are based on geography and the Committee tries to avoid conference matchups in the first round if possible.
1. Maryland vs. Monmouth/Bryant
8. Johns Hopkins vs. Duke
5. Penn State vs. Loyola
4. Notre Dame vs. Air Force
3. Ohio State vs. Marquette
6. Denver vs. UNC
7. Albany vs. Towson
2. Syracuse vs. Yale
Leave your comments below and watch the Selection Show at 9 PM on ESPNU.