Selection Sunday: Bracket Revealed; Kentucky Earns No. 1 Overall Seed

• over 1 year ago
• Update
• 0 comments

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

NCAA Tournament 2012 Schedule And Bracket: First Four Begins Tuesday

The 2012 NCAA Tournament's First Four will pit eight of the most marginal teams selected to the 68-team field against each other for four spots in the second round of 64 teams, and it will take place in Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, March's madness truly tips off with Western Kentucky taking on Mississippi Valley State and Iona matching up with BYU.

The Hilltoppers and Delta Devils are No. 16 seeds, and maybe most notable for their outstanding match-up of monikers. Even with a win on Tuesday, neither team is likely to be the first No. 16 to topple a No. 1 on Thursday, especially considering that No. 1 is top overall seed Kentucky.

The second First Four game on Tuesday is likely to be one of the most fast-paced contests of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Both No. 14 Iona and No. 14 BYU love to run, and then run, and possibly run a bit more, and each could conceivably threaten triple digits in points on the night.

Here's the full 2012 NCAA Tournament schedule for Tuesday:

First Four

South Region

No. 16 Western Kentucky vs. No. 16 Mississippi Valley State, 6:40 p.m. Eastern (truTV). Winner plays No. 1 Kentucky on Thursday.

West Region

No. 14 Iona vs. No. 14 BYU, 9:10 p.m. Eastern (truTV). Winner plays No. 3 Marquette on Thursday.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

• over 1 year ago
• Update
• 0 comments

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

NCAA Bracket 2012 Reactions: Seton Hall Was Snubbed, But Still Keeps It Classy

The 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket was released on Sunday evening with the Big East securing the most bids of any conference. It wasn't particularly surprising, but considering the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences were second-best with six teams apiece, that's a pretty solid performance.

The Big East could have made a case to put 11 teams into the bracket, however, as the Seton Hall Pirates had a solid shot at making it after being on the bubble for most of the past month. That didn't stop our Seton Hall bloggers over at South Orange Juice from being classy upon finding out their team wouldn't be in the Big Dance.

I think I speak for all of us at South Orange Juice in saying that although we're all extremely disappointed, we're still very proud of what the Pirates accomplished this season in just Kevin Willard's second year at the helm. Willard brought this program an incredible way in just two years at Seton Hall, to even be in the, "bubble" discussion everyday of the last week.

Despite failing at the ultimate goal of making the NCAA Tournament, Seton Hall University has been in the national spotlight and discussion for much of the last three weeks, certainly a better position than where we found our name two years ago.

It's good to see that even though the Pirates were snubbed, the fans are keeping it cool and not burning couches or whatever the college kids do these days. Bravo, Seton Hall.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

• over 1 year ago
• Article
• 0 comments

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

NCAA Tournament Selection Show GIFs: Where Babies Are In Harm's Way

• over 1 year ago
• Update
• 0 comments

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

Bracket Reaction: 5 Thoughts On The NCAA Tournament Field Of 68

The South is Loaded

Kentucky is the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, so it stands to reason that UK’s road to the Final Four should be the smoothest. That certainly doesn’t appear to be the case, as the Wildcats have drawn a region oozing with talented teams capable of giving them fits.

Having Baylor (which is loaded with NBA prospects) and Duke (which is Duke) at the top is bad enough, but the strength of this region is most apparent in the middle. There is no better 8/9 matchup than the South’s of Royce White and Iowa State going up against the defending national champions from Connecticut. Either of those squads could give UK trouble in the third round, but the Huskies – who boast likely lottery picks in Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond and have a handful of players who were part of a win over the Wildcats in the 2011 Final Four – are particularly worthy of fear.

A look elsewhere in the region reveals the team most have considered to be the strongest mid-major (Wichita State), another that knocked off North Carolina by ten (UNLV), and then, of course, the only team to defeat Kentucky during the regular season (Indiana).

You’re not going to win a national championship without defeating elite teams, but the teams Kentucky will have to face on their way to New Orleans are probably a tad more elite than Big Blue Nation would have preferred.

Seton Hall Snubbed

It was a disappointing Sunday for a number of teams hoping to hear their name called during the selection special, but it was especially brutal for a Seton Hall team that most "Bracketologists" had penciled into the field of 68.

The Pirates’ lone non-conference loss was to Northwestern, and their computer numbers appear to be at-large worthy enough. They had a chance to help themselves by earning a couple of quality wins in the Big East Tournament, but they fell to eventual champion Louisville in the second round.

"I believe this team deserves to be playing and have its name called on Sunday," said head coach Kevin Willard after the loss to the Cardinals. "I’ve always been under the belief that it’s the total year, it’s not just two games that you played bad at the end of the year."

Still, it was a late-season slide that included ten losses in 15 games that will result in SHU’s relegation to the NIT.

Iona Sneaks In

It was a widely held belief that Iona’s NCAA Tournament dreams were dashed when the Gaels fell to Fairfield in the MAAC Tournament semifinals. Their inclusion in the field of 68 is already proving to be the most hotly contested, that that will almost certainly remain the case until they tip-off against BYU in the tournament’s opening round on Tuesday.

While Iona’s resume certainly can't be scrutinized, their benefit to the tournament’s opening night cannot. The Gaels score more points than anyone in the country and possess three players – Scott Machado, MoMo Jones and Mike Glover – who would play significant minutes for any team in the country. They are fully capable of beating BYU and then giving Marquette all it can handle in round two.

Iona’s situation is eerily reminiscent of VCU’s inclusion last year. The Rams were lambasted by national analysts and fans alike before winning five games and making a shocking appearance in the Final Four. I’m not saying the Gaels fans should be making travel plans for New Orleans, I’m just saying that Iona’s shaky resume doesn’t mean they aren’t a team that should be taken seriously this week.

Must-See Matchups in the Second Round

I’m contractually obligated to refer to the games on Thursday/Friday as "second round" matchups, but just know that I don’t like it. Anyway, here are the five best:

1. 8) Iowa State vs. 9) Connecticut (South)

There will be a plethora of NBA talent on the floor at the same time with Royce White, Andre Drummond and Jeremy Lamb.

2. 5) New Mexico vs. 12) Long Beach State (West)

The Beach doesn’t have an answer for Drew Gordon inside, but it’s going to be equally difficult for the Lobos to slow Casper Ware and company.

3. 5) Vanderbilt vs. 12) Harvard (East)

The ‘Dores have made a habit of being early upset victims in recent years. If it happens again this week, the result will be Harvard’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.

4. 3) Marquette vs. 14) Iona (West)

If Iona beats BYU on Tuesday and this matchup comes to fruition, I’m telling you, you’re going to want to watch. The Gales get up-and-down more than any other team in the field, and Marquette probably isn’t going to try to do a lot to slow them down.

5. 4) Michigan vs. 13) Ohio (Midwest)

D.J. Cooper and the Bobcats are extremely enjoyable to watch, and they have all the necessary assets to give Michigan all it can handle.

North Carolina Walks to the Elite Eight

The top half of the Midwest bracket appears to be the weakest in the tournament, and North Carolina gets to reap the benefits. Even though the Heels have been prone to seeming bored at times this season, there’s no one they’ll face before the regional final who is capable of throwing them off the road to New Orleans.

In the Elite Eight, UNC could potentially face one of two programs which has handed the Heels painful tournament losses in recent years. Second-seeded Kansas blasted Carolina in the ’08 Final Four, and No. 3 Georgetown upset them in the 2007 regional finals.

• over 1 year ago
• Article
• 1 comment

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

VIDEO: Charles Barkley Goes After NCAA Tournament Selection Committee

• over 1 year ago
• Update
• 0 comments

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

NCAA Bracket 2012: Overall Seeding Revealed By Selection Committee

Following the announcement on Selection Sunday of the pairings and brackets for the 2012 NCAA Tournament, the selection committee revealed the overall seeding of the teams. You can see the rankings in the photos below.

The top four selections represent the No. 1 seeds in the four regional brackets. No. 1 overall is the Kentucky Wildcats, followed by the Syracuse Orange, the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan St. Spartans.

The final teams to be included as at-large selections were California, South Florida, Iona and BYU. The first four out are Oral Roberts, Miami, Nevada and Drexel, all four teams just missing the cut.

What do you think of these rankings? Who do you think will win it all? Let us know in the comments below.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick'em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

• over 1 year ago
• Update
• 1 comment

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

NCAA Bracket 2012: No. 1 Seeds Are Kentucky, Syracuse, North Carolina, Michigan State

More: The printable NCAA bracket is here.

On Selection Sunday, the No. 1 seeds for the four brackets of the 2012 NCAA Tournament were announced.

The Kentucky Wildcats were named as the No. 1 seed overall and will be the top seed in the South Region bracket. They finished 2012 with a 32-2 record, going a perfect 16-0 in the SEC.

The Syracuse Orange were named as the top seed in the East Bracket, capping off a season where they finished with a 31-2 overall record and were 17-1 in the Big East.

In the Midwest Bracket, the North Carolina Tar Heels took the top seed, going 29-5, with a ACC record of 14-2.

The last No. 1 seed in the Tournament is the Michigan St. Spartans, who will headline the West Bracket. The Spartans went 27-7, 13-5 in the Big Ten and captured their conference championship.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick'em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

• over 1 year ago
• Update
• 0 comments

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

Big Ten Tournament Championship: Michigan State Defeats Ohio State, 68-64

The 2012 Big Ten Tournament came down to the No. 1 seed Michigan St. Spartans against the No. 3 seed Ohio St. Buckeyes. In Sunday afternoon's championship game, the Spartans prevailed in a close one with a 68-64 win to remove any doubt about their place in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State tooka slim 34-32 lead into halftime and held on for the win to cap off their dominant season in the conference. Brandon Wood's 21 points for the Spartans led all scorers.

Draymond Green sunk this dagger of a three-pointer to help seal the win for the Spartans.

Jared Sullinger led the Buckeyes with 18 points in the game.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, head over to Along The Olentangy. For updates on the MIchigan State Spartans, visit The Only Colors. For more on the entire tournament, stay with our Big Ten Tournament StoryStream. For wall to wall coverage of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated college hoops hub.

• over 1 year ago
• Update
• 1 comment

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

St. Bonaventure Vs. Xavier Final Score: Bonnies Win Atlantic 10 Tournament, Punch Tournament Ticket

Bid thief! St. Bonaventure earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 67-56 win against Xavier in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

The win is bad news for bubble teams, as the Bonnies (20-11), who were unlikely to receive real consideration for an at-large bid, now are assured a spot in the 68-team field. It will be St. Bonaventure's first trip to the big dance since 2000.

Despite the loss, SB Nation's bracket expert Chris Dobbertean still expects that Xavier locked up a spot in the NCAA tournament with its win against St. Louis in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinal on Saturday.

Andrew Nicholson led the Bonnies with 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight (!) blocks. He made all 10 free throws he shot and was the only player on St. Bonaventure to finish in double digits.

Meanwhile, the Musketeers backcourt of Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons combined to score 33 points. But it wasn't enough as Xavier shot just 33 percent from the field (2-for-13 from three-point land).

For more on the the Atlantic 10 tournament, be sure to check out our comprehensive Atlantic 10 tournament StoryStream.

• over 1 year ago
• Article
• 0 comments

1. Link
2. Facebook
3. Twitter

Selection Sunday 2012: Time, TV Schedule And More

Selection Sunday is finally here. Looking for all the coverage information for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show? We've got you covered.