CASUAL FRIDAY

Okay here is the field as of Friday, March 2nd:

(Automatic Bids / Conference Leaders in bold)

The 1s - Connecticut, Villanova, Duke, Memphis
The 2s - Ohio State, Illinois, Texas, Gonzaga
The 3s - Pittsburgh, Tennessee, LSU, North Carolina
The 4s - Iowa, West Virginia, UCLA, Michigan State
The 5s - George Washington, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Washington
The 6s - Boston College, Wichita State, Wisconsin, Florida
The 7s - Kansas, N.C. State, Nevada, Marquette
The 8s - Missouri State, George Mason, Northern Iowa, Alabama
The 9s - Creighton, Kentucky, Arkansas, Bucknell
The 10s - Michigan, Southern Illinois, UNC-Wilmington, Arizona
The 11s - UAB, Hofstra, Bradley, Cincinnati
The 12s - Indiana, Syracuse, San Diego State, Western Kentucky
The 13s - Seton Hall, Wisc.-Milwaukee, Kent State, Northwestern State
The 14s - Winthrop, Murray State, Manhattan, Pacific
The 15s - Penn, Northern Arizona, Delaware State, Albany
The 16s - Farleigh-Dickinson, Georgia Southern, Lipscomb, Southern, IUPUI

Conference Breakdown:

Big East - 9
Big Ten - 7
SEC - 6
Missouri Valley - 6
ACC - 4
Big 12 - 3
Pac 10 - 3
Colonial - 3
C-USA - 2
One Bid Conferences - 22

Last Four In: UNC-Wilmington, Seton Hall, Syracuse, UAB
First Four Out: California, Houston, Vanderbilt, Colorado
Next Four Out: Old Dominion, Air Force, BYU, Utah State

Notes:

- Interesting that Memphis' loss to UAB actually didn't hurt their numbers when you consider that their previous win over the Blazers now gets counted as a Top 50 win. However, our seeding formula takes voting polls into account, which obviously won't reflect the loss until Monday. Therefore don't expect to see them on the 1 line next week.

- Everyone needs to relax on Texas A&M and Florida State. Yes they each had gigantic wins this week. And while many experts have them in their bracket now, the numbers simply don't justify that. Both teams are definitely back in the picture and have positioned themselves for a run at the field over the next week, but both have work left to do.

- UAB finally does break into our bracket after the big win over Memphis. However they are the last team in according to the numbers, and games against mediocre C-USA foes over the next week won't help their RPI.

- Syracuse almost fell all the way out of the bracket after their latest debacle at DePaul. And while all three bubble Big East teams (Orange, Cinci and Seton Hall) are still in the field as of today, my guess is that at least one will play their way out before all is said and done.

- Arizona has finally fallen onto our bubble page and while they are as near to a lock as a bubble team can be, tney can't afford any disasters over the next week or Selection Sunday could be a nervous one for the 'Cats.

AV