There are teams populating this bracket because, somehow, some way, 65 teams had to make the tournament.
As some coaches beg for tournament expansion, maybe contraction is a better idea.
The resumes aren't complete, and there are some quick rising teams (Wake Forest comes to mind) that could still do some damage. And it's inevitable some surprise team will beat Butler or Drake or St. Mary's/Gonzaga or Memphis and steal a berth away from someone else.
But to be including teams reeling like Baylor and Dayton (Mississippi was left out), or with resumes as thin as Florida and Miami (Houston was one of the final five out) is unsettling.
Onto the bracket, where South meets West and East meets Midwest:
EAST REGION
Birmingham, Ala.
(1) SEC/Tennessee vs. (16) MEAC/Morgan State
(8) Arizona vs. (9) Oklahoma
Tampa, Fla.
(4) Indiana vs. (13) CAA/Virginia Commonwealth
(5) Notre Dame vs. (12) South Alabama
Washington, D.C.
(3) ATLANTIC 10/Xavier vs. (14) AMERICA EAST/UMBC
(6) Clemson vs. (11) UNLV
Little Rock, Ark.
(2) Texas vs. (15) PATRIOT/American
(7) Marquette vs. (10) Arizona State
SOUTH REGION
Little Rock, Ark.
(1) CONFERENCE USA/Memphis vs. (16) SWAC/Alabama State-SOUTHLAND/Lamar
(8) Maryland vs. (9) Mississippi State
Denver
(4) HORIZON/Butler vs. (13) SUMMIT/Oral Roberts
(5) Michigan State vs. (12) Syracuse
Tampa, Fla.
(3) BIG EAST/Georgetown vs. (14) BIG WEST/CS Northridge
(6) WCC/St. Mary's vs. (11) Miami
Anaheim, Calif.
(2) Stanford vs. (15) ATLANTIC SUN/Belmont
(7) Texas A&M vs. (10) Ohio State
MIDWEST REGION
Omaha, Neb.
(1) BIG 12/Kansas vs. (16) BIG SKY/Portland State
(8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Arkansas
Birmingham, Ala.
(4) Louisville vs. (13) SUN BELT/Western Kentucky
(5) Washington State v. (12) SOUTHERN/Davidson
Denver
(3) Wisconsin vs. (14) WAC/Boise State
(6) MVC/Drake vs. (11) Florida
Raleigh, N.C.
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) OHIO VALLEY/Austin Peay
(7) Pittsburgh vs. (10) Baylor
WEST REGION
Raleigh, N.C.
(1) ACC/Duke vs. (16) NEC/Wagner
(8) Southern California vs. (9) Rhode Island
Washington, D.C.
(4) Connecticut vs. (13) MAAC/Siena
(5) Kansas State vs. (12) MAC/Kent State
Omaha, Neb.
(3) BIG TEN/Purdue vs. (14) IVY/Cornell
(6) Vanderbilt vs. (11) Dayton
Anaheim, Calif.
(2) PAC-10/UCLA vs. (15) BIG SOUTH/Winthrop
(7) MOUNTAIN WEST/Brigham Young vs. (10) West Virginia
Last four in: Miami, Dayton, Syracuse, South Alabama
Last four out: Saint Joseph's, Mississippi, Oregon, Wake Forest
Next four out: Houston, Massachusetts, George Mason, New Mexico
Moving in: Boise State, Miami, South Alabama, Syracuse, Winthrop
Moving out: Mississippi, Oregon, Saint Joseph's, UNC Asheville, Utah State
--- Patrick Stevens
