Maneater Bracketology: Missouri a No. 8 seed
Despite an ugly game against Iowa State and a tough loss to Baylor, Missouri moves up one spot in this week's Maneater Bracketology. It's more so because of the parity we've seen in college hoops this season, especially in the last week.
That being said, the parity is occurring more with teams that seem to be fitting well into the bracket and not so much with the bubble teams; this week was the first time I had a harder time seeding teams than determining who's in and who's out.
Like every week of bracketing thus far I have seven Big 12 teams dancing, and they're the same seven teams. Before I get to Final Four predictions and my bracket, here are some movers and shakers:
Movers: New Mexico, Louisville, UTEP, Richmond
Shakers: Cornell, Siena, Tennessee
My Final Four predictions are much of the same, but with some caveats. Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State top the rankings, though MSU is falling a bit. I now have eight teams tied for the final spot, but I would put Purdue or Villanova in there if the season ended today.
My bracket is below. Agree or disagree? Leave a comment or e-mail me at sewall.michael@gmail.com.
MIDWEST (St. Louis)
Oklahoma City: 1. Kansas vs. 16. Jackson State/Belmont; 8. Louisville vs. 9. UTEP
Providence: 4. Wake Forest vs. 13. Florida; 5. Pittsburgh vs. 12. Oklahoma St.
Spokane: 3. New Mexico vs. 14. UCSB; 6. Baylor vs. 11. Marquette
Providence: 2. West Virginia vs. 15. Lehigh; 7. Richmond vs. 10. Virginia Tech
SOUTH (Houston)
Oklahoma City: 1. Kentucky vs. 16. Stony Brook; 8. Missouri vs. 9. Clemson
Spokane: 4. Wisconsin vs. 13. Kent St.; 5. Gonzaga vs. 12. Ole Miss
New Orleans: 3. Michigan State vs. 14. Sam Houston St.; 6. Texas A&M vs. 11. Old Dominion
Milwaukee: 2. Kansas State vs. 15. Morgan State; 7. Georgia Tech vs. 10. UAB
EAST (Syracuse)
New Orleans: 1. Villanova vs. 16. Middle Tennessee; 8. Illinois vs. 9. Cornell
San Jose: 4. Vanderbilt vs. 13. Northeastern; 5. BYU vs. 12. Maryland
Buffalo: 3. Ohio State vs. 14. Charleston; 6. Butler vs. 11. Mississippi St.
Jacksonville: 2. Duke vs. 15. Coastal Carolina; 7. Northern Iowa vs. 10. Charlotte
WEST (Salt Lake City)
Buffalo: 1. Syracuse vs. 16. Robert Morris; 8. Xavier vs. 9. California
San Jose: 4. Texas vs. 13. Oakland; 5. Temple vs. 12. Florida State
Jacksonville: 3. Georgetown vs. 14. Murray State; 6. Tennessee vs. 11. Siena
Milwaukee: 2. Purdue vs. 15. Weber State; 7. UNLV vs. 10. Utah State