Camdyn Ames Bracketology: Edition One
This year I will be doing a weekly edition of my very own NCAAM Basketball bracketology, where I choose my top four seeds for each region and explain why I put them there.
West:
1. Villanova
Nova is 12-0, but they haven’t beaten very many ranked teams. They defeated Tennessee at the “Battle 4 Atlantis” in November, and they also beat Gonzaga on December 5th in the Jimmy V Classic. The Wildcats open up Big East Conference play on Saturday at 4:00 PM vs 11-3 Butler.
2. West Virginia
The Mountaineers are 11-1 as they enter BIG 12 play on Friday vs Oklahoma State. WVU picked up a quality win on December 5th vs Virginia, and another good win vs Pitt on December 9th.
3. Texas A&M
The Aggies are currently 11-1 fresh off a win vs Buffalo on Thursday. The Aggies defeated USC on November 26th by 16 points. A&M opens SEC play on Saturday vs rival Alabama.
4. Xavier
Xavier is 13-1, but they just haven’t played as many ranked teams as some other schools. They did collect two huge wins vs Baylor, 76-63 in November and a win vs Cincinnati, 89-76 on December 2nd.
Midwest:
1. Michigan State
Sparty has picked up some huge wins this year, including a big win over 13th ranked UNC, where they held the Tar Heels to just 45 points in the PK80 tournament. In the B1G/ACC Challenge, MSU defeated Notre Dame 81-63 and showed how dominant their offense can be.
2. Arizona State
For now I will have to put ASU in at a 2-seed just because this is the first year that they are really in it and they don’t have that track record. They are 12-0, and have upset #2 ranked Kansas, and #15 ranked Xavier in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational.
3. TCU
TCU is one of the three remaining undefeated teams, at 12-0. The Horned Frogs are another team like ASU that doesn’t have that track record of being in it. They also haven’t really played anyone besides #22 Nevada in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. TCU will have a tough test entering BIG 12 Conference play when they face #12 ranked Oklahoma at home on Saturday.
4. Virginia
Virginia is currently #13 in the latest AP Polls and has a record of 11-1, their only loss coming to West Virginia. UVA enters ACC play on Saturday vs Boston College.
East:
1. Duke
Duke has played very well this year, despite losing to Boston College. Marvin Bagley III is a HUGE big time player on this team and dominates both sides of the floor. I think he will really help this team to capture that #1 seed.
2. Kansas
This Kansas team doesn’t have a huge superstar but they are still good, sitting at 10-2, the #11 ranked Jayhawks suffered losses to Washington and Arizona State. They enter BIG 12 play on Friday night at 9:00 PM vs Texas.
3. Oklahoma
The Sooners have been fantastic all year, led by freshman Trae Young. At 10-1 Oklahoma’s only loss was to Arkansas in the PK80 Tournament. They have a tough test coming up against TCU on Saturday.
4. Purdue
Purdue is 12-2 with their only two losses coming to Tennessee in the Battle 4 Atlantis and Western Kentucky. I still think they get the 4 seed as of now despite those two losses.
South
1. Wichita State
It may come as a surprise but this is a good team and I think they just slip in their as the final #1 seed. At 10-2 WSU suffered losses to Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
2. UNC
UNC is a very gritty team, they have a good mix of young guys and experienced guys. Their only two losses were to Michigan State and Wofford.
3. Kentucky
UK has been quite this year so far, at 9-2 the Wildcats lost to UCLA and Kansas. I don’t think they will go far this year but i Think they can make a nice run come tourney time.
4. Miami
Miami is my final team, at 11-1 the ‘Canes only loss was to New Mexico state in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
