ericd7633's First Edition Bracketology - 12.18.17

[ericd7633]

With non conference play winding down(for the most part), I wanted to take a crack at the first edition of Bracketology. With it being this early in the season, I didn't strictly look at just resume, because at this point there are still some huge outliers in the RPI(for example: Towson at 33, Lipscomb at 37, UC Santa Barbara at 45).

New to the selection process this season is the 4 quadrant breakdown as follows:
Quadrant 1: Home 1-30; Neutral 1-50; Away 1-75
Quadrant 2: Home 31-75; Neutral 51-100; Away 76-135
Quadrant 3: Home 76-100; Neutral 101-200; Away 136-240
Quadrant 4: Home 161-plus; Neutral 201-plus; Away 241-plus

This is essentially putting more weight on true road wins, and neutral wins. Basically the committee will go under the assumption that beating #74 on the road is better than beating #40 at home, which I think is a good thing with some merit.

Below is the first edition:

East Regional(Boston, MA)

1. VILLANOVA(BIG EAST)
16. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M(SWAC)/IONA(MAAC)
- PPG Paints Arena
8. Notre Dame
9. Florida

5. Purdue
12. MIDDLE TENNESSEE(C-USA)
- Taco Bell Arena
4. Wichita State
13. VERMONT(AM. EAST)

6. Florida State
11. NORTHERN IOWA(MVC)
- American Airlines Center
3. TCU(Big 12)
14. LIPSCOMB(A-SUN)

7. Seton Hall
10. Michigan
- Bridgestone Arena
2. Kentucky
15. BELMONT(OVC)

West Regional(Los Angeles, CA)

1. ARIZONA STATE(PAC 12)
16. SOUTHERN UTAH(BIG SKY)
-Viejas Arena
8. Syracuse
9. RHODE ISLAND(A-10)

5. Tennessee
12. Ohio State/Virginia Tech
- Taco Bell Arena
4. GONZAGA(WCC)
13. UC-SANTA BARBARA(BIG WEST)

6. Cincinnati
11. BOSTON COLLEGE(ACC)
- PPG Paints Arena
3. West Virginia
14. BUFFALO(MAC)

7. Arkansas
10. St. John's
- Bridgestone Arena
2. Miami
15. UTAH VALLEY(WAC)

South Regional(Atlanta, GA)

1. Duke
16. NAVY(PATRIOT)
- Spectrum Center
8. NEVADA(MTN. WEST)
9. Iowa State

5. Arizona
12. UT-ARLINGTON(SUN BELT)
- Viejas Center
4. Kansas
13. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN(SOUTHLAND)

6. Baylor
11. Auburn
- Little Caesars Arena
3. Xavier
14. WAGNER(NEC)

7. TEMPLE(AAC)
10. Louisville
- American Airlines Center
2. Texas A&M
15. MILWAUKEE(HORIZON)

Midwest Regional(Omaha, NE)

1. MICHIGAN STATE(B1G)
16. NORTH CAROLINA A&T(MEAC)/RADFORD(BIG SOUTH)
- Little Caesars Arena
8. Alabama
9. Clemson

5. Texas Tech
12. TOWSON(CAA)
- Intrust Bank Arena
4. Virginia
13. UNC-GREENSBORO(SOUTHERN)

6. Creighton
11. Minnesota/Boise State
- Intrust Bank Arena
3. Oklahoma
14. SOUTH DAKOTA(SUMMIT)

7. Missouri
10. SMU
- Spectrum Center
2. North Carolina
15. PENN(IVY)

Top 16 "Seed" Curve: Villanova, Arizona State, Duke, Michigan State, North Carolina, Miami, Texas A&M, Kentucky, TCU, Xavier, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Virginia, Kansas, Gonzaga, Wichita State
Last 4 BYES: St. John's, Louisville, SMU, Auburn
Last 4 IN: Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Boise State
First 4 OUT: Butler, USC, South Carolina, Texas
Next 4 OUT: Maryland, St. Mary's, Utah, St. Bonaventure
Bids By Conference: AAC(4), ACC(11), Big 12(7), Big East(5), B1G(5), Mtn .West(2), Pac 12(2), SEC(8)

Of note: Boston College wouldn't otherwise be in this field if not for leading the ACC.