The Drive to 65 - First Pass

Well, well, well. Special props goes out to Penn The senior lead Ivy League champs are the first to punch their ticket for the NCAA Tourney. Great. Good luck smart kids.

Now, on to the rest of the field. . .

My #1 seeds:
UCLA - #1 overall
OSU
UNC
FL – Best starting 5 in the country and I can’t give it to Kansas. I just can’t.

This is the rest of who I have in (in no particular order) going into this weekend’s action:
PENN – AUTOMATIC out of the Ivy League
Vermont – Haven’t seen ‘em play this year, but 15-1 in conference and a win over BC in Boston
VA Tech - Don't believe in the Hokies. They'll be an early exit in any Tourney
UVA - Great backcourt. Could go far in NCAAs
BC - Jared Dudley will get them to the Sweet 16. After that, who knows??
Dook – I hate you
MD – Hottest team in college basketball
GT – Thanks to a big win over UNC Thursday night. Go Jackets!!
TX A&M – Acie Law IV is ridiculous.
KS – Never liked ‘em. Hope they fall out early in the Big 12 Tourney so we can stop talking about a #1 seed
TX - Uugh
G’Town – Tough, smart and, other than a stumble against a hot Syracuse team, playing great.
Pitt – Do we have to?
Louisville – Still smells like C-USA to me
WI – Ouch. Brian Butch injury hurts. Gotta look good against MSU Saturday. Win the Big 10 Tourney and you could be a #1 seed
Drexel - ok
Hofstra – why not
Memphis – Very athletic. Not very disciplined. Worst free throw shooting team in college basketball.
Butler – Are you kidding me?
SoILL – see: Butler
Creighton – see: SoILL
WA St – Great season. Early out in the NCAAs.
USC – Bad losses make for not-so-good seeds
KY – Not the same since Saul Smith left
UNLV - Vegas
AZ – Lots of great wins. Not much love for the ‘Cats this year. Go Lute.
TN – Playing well. Looking good.
Vandy – Enough good wins.
Nova – 8-7 in the Big East
BYU - Sure
Nevada – Top 25 so you gotta invite them right?
IN
MSU – Tom Izzo’s got his boys playing well. That kid Neitzel can kill a team by himself
OR – Aaron Brooks was amazing early in the year, but has cooled. As Brooks goes, so goes OR
Marquette – No comment
‘Cuse – Glad to see Jimmy Boeheim puttin’ his thing down

Ok, that’s 40 in, plus another 15 of the baby-majors that should only end up with their automatic bid getting in. That makes 55, leaving 10 spots for the rest.

Here’s the rest:
Florida State – Not likely Mr. Thornton. Sorry. You’re good though.
Xavier – Playing well at a good time
KS St – Better play real well in Big 12 Tourney
TX Tech – The committee loves Bobby. I think they’ll get in if they beat who they should beat
ND – I’d rather not, but I think they’ll get in
WV – see: ND, but less likely to get in
ILL – Gotta hold serve
Old Dominion – nothing clever to say
Air Force – You can put them in the Top 25, but I can’t pull the trigger yet
SDS – San Diego State – decent team in a 3 bid (probably) conf.
GA – SEC just isn’t that good
Santa Clara – Win the WAC Tourney. Don’t make me make the decision
Gonzaga – God, I hope they don’t get in
UMASS – Playing well
MI – Also playing well
Davidson – May still get in if they lose to CofC tomorrow for the SoCon champ.
Winthrop – Will probably get in. Playing in Big South Tourney champ. tomorrow vs. VMI
VMI – Only if they win the Big South Tourney. ONLY!
Providence – Playing well, may have played too poorly early on
Purdue – 8-7 in a good conference
St Joe’s
GW
DePaul
Siena
Oral Roberts
AL - SEC
MS - SEC
MS ST – SEC

28 teams for 10 spots and the horizon could still change. It’s a big weekend in college basketball and tourneys make for lots of movement so hold on.

I’ll get into seedings after this weekend’s action. Trust me.

Enjoy the festivities. I’ll probably be commenting on Saturday’s action throughout the day so check in for the latest and greatest.