Final Preseason Field of 68 Projection

[SelectionSunday]

ROAD TO NEW ORLEANS, U.S.A. -- Here we go. Here’s a look at my final “Preseason Field of 68” projection. Can’t wait for the season to get started Nov. 9, this time with fans in the stands. It will be great to have the normalcy of raucous arenas back in play. Fire away, thoughts and comments are encouraged!

Automatic qualifiers in multiple-bid conferences are noted in bold.

FINAL PRESEASON FIELD OF 68 PROJECTION (10/7/21)
America East (1): Vermont

American (3): Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis

ACC (6): Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech

ASUN (1): Liberty

Atlantic 10 (2): Saint Bonaventure, VCU

Big East (4): Saint John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova, Xavier

Big Sky (1): Montana

Big South (1): Winthrop

Big Ten (8): Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers

Big XII (6): Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas, West Virginia

Big West (1): UCSB

Colonial (1): UNC-Wilmington

Conference USA (1): Western Kentucky

Horizon (1): Milwaukee

Ivy (1): Penn

MAAC (1): Iona

MAC (1): Kent

MEAC (1): NCCU

Missouri Valley (1): Northern Iowa

Mountain West (2): Colorado State, Utah State

NEC (1): Mount Saint Mary’s

OVC (1): Belmont

Pac 12 (5): Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington State

Patriot (1): Bucknell

SEC (7): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee

SoCon (1): East Tennessee

Southland (1): Northwestern State

SWAC (1): Texas Southern

Summit (1): North Dakota State

Sun Belt (1): Georgia State

WCC (3): BYU, Gonzaga, LMU

WAC (1): New Mexico State

Last 4 In: Kansas State, LMU (last team in), Utah State, Washington State

First 4 Out: Florida, Nevada (1st team out), Richmond, Utah

12 Others to Watch: Cleveland, Drake, Louisville, Loyola-Chicago, Oklahoma, Penn State, San Diego State, Texas Tech, UAB, UConn, Wichita, Wisconsin

Non-Power 6 At-Large Bids (6): BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, LMU, Utah State, VCU
______________________________

Repeats from 2020-2021 Field (38): Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, BYU, East Tennessee, Florida State, Gonzaga, Houston, Illinois, Iona, Kansas, Liberty, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Mount Saint Mary’s, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, Saint Bonaventure, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Southern, UCLA, UCSB, USC, Utah State, Villanova, Virginia, VCU, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Winthrop

Ineligible for NCAA Tournament (8): Bellarmine, Cal Baptist, Dixie, Merrimack, North Alabama, Saint Thomas, Tarleton, UC-San Diego

Preseason Big Ten Projection
1 Purdue
2 Michigan
3 Ohio State
4 Michigan State
5 Illinois
6 Maryland
7 Indiana
8 Rutgers
9 Wisconsin
10 Penn State
11 Iowa
12 Nebraska
13 Northwestern
14 Minnesota

Sweet 16 Sleepers: Belmont, Colorado State, Iona, Saint Bonaventure

Final 4: Kentucky, Memphis, Purdue, Texas

One Shining Moment: Texas

 

[El Amin Fan]

Love that you do these. 1 from the MVC seems low historically, or maybe not. Will they be down this season?

 

[SelectionSunday]

Love that you do these. 1 from the MVC seems low historically, or maybe not. Will they be down this season?

MVC actually looks pretty strong at the top this season. UNI, Drake, Loyola, and Missouri State all should contend. Definitely a league that could get multiple bids if one of ‘em wins the right non-conference games on their schedule.

 

[dlnavra]

I think Hoiberg turns the corner this year. McGowens (the younger of the two brothers) and guys like Keisei Tominaga will be the surprise of the Big Ten. We will see. . .

 

[Lion King]

Big Mistake !!!

Leaving the Badgers out