College Basketball Bracketology 2018: Feb. 26

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KINGSTON, RI – FEBRUARY 23: Rhode Island Rams forward Andre Berry (34) and Rhode Island Rams forward Ryan Preston (5) pose with the trophy at the conclusion of the college basketball game between Dayton Flyers and Rhode Island Rams on February 23, 2018, at the Ryan Center in Kingston, RI. Rhode Island defeated Dayton 81-56 and wins the Atlantic 10 regular season title. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Bracketology: East Region (Bold indicates automatic berth)

(1) Virginia ACC vs. (16)Savannah St MEAC/Penn Ivy

(2) Xavier Big East vs. (15) Bucknell Patriot

(3) Rhode Island Atlantic vs. (14) Buffalo MAC

(4) Tennessee vs. (13) Charleston Colonial

(5) Ohio State vs. (12) Virginia Tech/Providence

(6) St. Mary’s vs. (11) Texas/Missouri

(7) Loyola (Chicago) Missouri Valley vs. (10) Louisville

(8) West Virginia vs. (9) USC

Virginia is a sure lock for a No. 1 seed, after dominating the ACC this season. Even though their style of play is a thing of beauty, it’s one that has not translated into a final four appearance. Will the Cavaliers break that trend in 2018? I believe so.

The final four sleeper of this group is Rhode Island, who somehow have flown under the radar this season. Jared Terrell is good, like NBA good, with a balanced roster to go with it. The Rams are a team you do not want to see come March. Don’t sleep on St. Mary’s or Loyola, either.

Bracketology: West Region

(1) Michigan St. Big 10 vs. (16) UNC-Ashville Big South

(2) Texas Tech vs. (15) UC Irvine Big West

(3) Gonzaga West Coast vs. (14) Montana Big Sky

(4) Nevada Mountain West vs. (13) South Dakota St. Summit

(5) Middle Tennessee C-USA vs. (12) New Mexico St. WAC

(6) Alabama vs. (11) Florida St.

(7) Houston vs. (10) St. Bonaventure

(8) UCLA vs. (9) Texas A&M

Michigan State won their first Big 10 title in nearly ten years, and the NCAA Selection Committee will likely find a way to under-seed them come Selection Sunday. Texas Tech lost a heart-breaker at home to Kansas, all but assuring a No. 2 or 3 seed. Meanwhile, Gonzaga continues to roll in WCC play, with their lone loss in conference play coming to St. Mary’s at the beginning of the year.

Middle Tennessee is virtually a lock to make the NCAA tournament and is a team who is looking to build on their round of 32 appearance from a season ago. Nevada was thought to be dead in the water with the season-ending injury to Caleb Martin, but once again, Eric Musselman proves his he’s worthy of every single penny he earns.

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