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Indiana tops our preseason NCAA tournament projections

spt-121106-zeller1

Mike Miller

Make way for the Big Ten. Led by No. 1 overall seed Indiana, four teams - including Michigan State, Ohio State, and Michigan - grab top three seeds in our 2013 NCAA Tournament preseason bracket projection. Will that be true come March? Nobody knows. Crystal balls are always a little cloudy this time of year.

Here’s what we do anticipate:

The Big Ten should be very strong at the top. Wisconsin and Minnesota also appear to be tournament teams. If a seventh team emerges, it could be Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois, or Purdue. The Hawkeyes made a late push last season and make our initial bracket as a First Four participant.

spt-121106zeller2

Mike Miller

Duke, NC State, and North Carolina will wage a war in the ACC. Any of the three could win it. Florida State could also be a Top 25 team.

With the additions of VCU and Butler, the Atlantic 10 will be a deep, competitive league. Best guess: four to six teams will be in good position for at-large consideration by season’s end. Seeding will be interesting. In our opening bracket, five A-10 teams make the field but all are seeded between lines 7-10.

Arizona and UCLA will lift the Pac-12. Both are capable of long runs in the NCAA Tournament. Another three or four teams will likey be in the at-large picture: Stanford, USC, California, and Washington are among those.

Staying West, how about UNLV and San Diego State? Both are Top 20 teams.

Kentucky has reloaded with another stellar recruiting class. Challengers include Florida and league newcomer Missouri. Don’t overlook Tennessee, either. The Volunteers begin at No. 21 on the s-curve.

All Kansas does is win Big 12 titles and earn high seeds in March. No reason for that to change. Baylor will be in the hunt, too.

And then there’s Louisville, Syracuse, and a host of Big East teams. Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Marquette, and Pittsburgh will make life interesting for the Cardinals and Orange.

The Road to Atlanta begins Friday. Here’s to a great season of college hoops.
Find all of our season previews here | The year’s burning questions | The Twitter must-follow list

Teams in CAPS represent the projected AUTOMATIC bid. Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (UTEP, BYU, etc). Records are for games against Division I teams only.

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Northern Iowa vs. Colorado | East Region
  • Arkansas vs. Iowa | West Region
  • STONY BROOK vs. SAVANNAH STATE | South Region
  • VMI vs. PRAIRIE VIEW | Midwest

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - Washington, DC MIDWEST - Indianapolis
LexingtonDayton
1) LOUISVILLE1) INDIANA
16) MERCER16) VMI / PRAIRIE VIEW
8. Minnesota8. St. Joseph’s
9) Kansas State9) Miami-FL
Salt Lake CitySan Jose
5) San Diego State5) Baylor
12) No. Iowa / Colorado12) South Florida
4) Missouri4) UCLA
13) DREXEL13) ORAL ROBERTS
Kansas CityAustin
6) Tennessee6) Notre Dame
11) Saint Louis11) Colorado State
3) NC State3) Florida
14) MONTANA14) UTAH STATE
Auburn HillsPhiladelphia
7) Pittsburgh7) Wisconsin
10) St. Mary’s10) West Virginia
2) Michigan State2) DUKE
15) LIU BROOKLYN15) MANHATTAN
WEST - Los AngelesSOUTH - Dallas
Kansas CityDayton
1) KANSAS1) KENTUCKY
16) PRINCETON16) STONY BROOK / SAVANNAH ST
8. Marquette8. Texas
9) Temple9) Georgetown
Salt Lake CityAustin
5) GONZAGA5) MEMPHIS
12) Arkansas / Iowa12) MURRAY STATE
4) UNLV4) North Carolina
13) LONG BEACH13) DAVIDSON
Auburn HillsLexington
6) Cincinnati6) CREIGHTON
11) Oklahoma State11) OHIO
3) Michigan3) Ohio State
14) VALPARAISO14) LEHIGH
San JosePhiladelphia
7) Florida State7) VCU
10) Butler10) Stanford
2) ARIZONA2) Syracuse
15) SOUTH DAKOTA ST15) NORTH TEXAS

NOTES on the BRACKET: Indiana is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Louisville, Kentucky and Kansas.

Last Five teams in (at large): South Florida, Arkansas, Colorado, Northern Iowa, Iowa

First Five teams out (at large): Massachusetts, Maryland, USC, Iowa State, BYU

Next Five teams out (at large): Marshall, New Mexico, Illinois State, Northwestern, Alabama

Also considered: California, Oklahoma, Illinois, Virginia, La Salle, UTEP, Houston, Washington, Nevada, Purdue, Delaware, St. Bonaventure, Evansville

Here is the team breakdown by Conference ...

Big East (8): Louisville, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Marquette, Georgetown, South Florida

Big Ten (7): Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa

Big 12 (6): Kansas, Baylor, Texas, Kansas State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State

SEC (5): Kentucky, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas

ACC (5): Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Florida State, Miami

Atlantic 10 (5): VCU, St. Joseph’s, Temple, Butler, Saint Louis

Pac 12 (3): Arizona, UCLA, Stanford

Mountain West (3): UNLV, San Diego State, Colorado State

West Coast (2): Gonzaga, St. Mary’s

Missouri Valley (2): Creighton, Northern Iowa

Conference USA (1): Memphis

Conference leaders/champions ... DREXEL (Colonial), DAVIDSON (Southern), OHIO (MAC), ORAL ROBERTS (Southland), LONG BEACH (Big West), MURRAY STATE (OVC), MANHATTAN (MAAC), MONTANA (Big Sky), UTAH STATE (WAC), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit), LEHIGH (Patriot), LIU BROOKLYN (NEC), MERCER (Atlantic Sun), PRINCETON (Ivy), VMI (Big South), SAVANNAH ST (MEAC), VALPARAISO (Horizon) STONY BROOK (America East), NORTH TEXAS (Sun Belt), PRAIRIE VIEW (SWAC)