Chris Dobbertean's NCAA Bracketology AMA: Key Insights and Projections
Chris Dobbertean, a bracketologist with experience since 2006 and writing for SB Nation's Blogging The Bracket since 2009, recently hosted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session. The AMA was conducted less than three weeks before Selection Sunday, with the first conference tournament games scheduled to begin shortly, offering timely insights into the men's college basketball landscape.
Discussion Topics
The session focused on various aspects of men's college basketball bracketology, including:
- Specific team selection or seeding prospects
- Notable conference tournaments
- The selection and seeding process, referencing a recent Bracket Preview show
- Anticipated performance of multi-bid conferences in the upcoming NCAA Tournament
Bracket Projections
Dobbertean provided detailed bracket projections across the four regions:
East Region (Washington, D.C.)
Top Seed: Duke (ACC)
Other Notables: Southeast Missouri/Bethune-Cookman, Kentucky, UCF, St. John’s, High Point, Vanderbilt, North Dakota State, Saint Louis, Texas, Texas Tech, ETSU, Villanova, UCLA, Purdue, Utah Tech.
South Region (Houston)
Top Seed: UConn
Other Notables: UMBC/Howard, Miami (Fla.), Georgia, Alabama, South Florida, Kansas, Liberty, Louisville, Santa Clara/Missouri, Nebraska, Navy, Utah State, Indiana, Houston, Portland State.
Midwest Region (Chicago)
Top Seed: Michigan (Big Ten)
Other Notables: LIU, Saint Mary’s, Clemson, Arkansas, Belmont, Virginia, Stephen F. Austin, North Carolina, TCU/California, Florida, Austin Peay, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Wright State.
West Region (San José)
Top Seed: Arizona (Big 12)
Other Notables: App State, SMU, Iowa, Tennessee, Yale, Michigan State, UNCW, BYU, Miami (Ohio), Gonzaga, UC Irvine, NC State, Auburn, Illinois, Merrimack.
Bracket Rundown
Chris Dobbertean provided a detailed look at the teams on the bubble and those just outside the projected field.
The teams making the field as the Last Four IN are Santa Clara, Missouri, TCU, and California.
- Last Four Byes: Indiana, Auburn, UCLA, Texas
- First Four OUT: New Mexico, USC, Virginia Tech, Ohio State
- Next Four Out: Cincinnati, West Virginia, San Diego State, VCU
- On Deck: Seton Hall, Akron, Boise State, Nevada
Changes from Previous Projections
Dobbertean's latest projections also highlighted several shifts from his prior assessments:
- Arrivals: App State (Sun Belt), California, TCU, Utah Tech (WAC)
- Departures: Cal Baptist (WAC), Ohio State, Troy (Sun Belt), USC