In my first Friday post, I took a look at how the race for bids among the mid-majors was shaping up in the East. Now, it's time to see which teams have started well in the Midwest and South, and which conference races may bring the most drama in the coming months. Right now, two of this region's mid-majors have made a decent case for selection, or at least respectable seeding, while there is one conference that you can already pencil in for the First Four.

Western mid-major fans, your post is coming up at 2 p.m. Mountain/1 p.m. Pacific.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »

The final post of this series wraps up both the mid-major and overall national picture, as it's a look at the teams and league races out West. If you haven't been paying attention, realignment is affecting the region significantly this season (and even moreso in 2012-13 and beyond), and Gonzaga is no longer the only mid-major power in the region.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »

We've finally reached the Friday of exam week, which means that action is about to get going again, thanks to a very full Saturday slate. It's also time to close this particular series, and over these final three posts, I'm going to take a very early look at the races in the remaining conferences. While most of these conferences will likely earn just a single bid to the NCAA Tournament, I'm going to pay special attention to a few mid-majors who have a great chance of securing either an unexpected at-large or surprisingly high seed. This first entry will focus on teams and conferences that are primarily along the Eastern Seaboard, with looks at the Central part of the country and the West to come.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »

Ever since Conference USA lost eight teams to the Atlantic 10, Big East, and Mountain West after the 2004-05 season, the league has struggled to gain national respect and NCAA bids. Thanks to some poor scheduling choices, the majority of the loop's 12 teams will likely have to rely on the conference tournament championship to get in, even if the Selection Committee seems to like handing 11 and 12 seeds out to C-USA teams with questionable profiles. Yet, there are three teams who have the ability to build a decent case here in mid-December. More on them and the remainder of Conference USA after the jump.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »

Over the past two seasons, the SEC East has dominated the West, claiming all of the conference's nine NCAA bids in that span. Thanks to the resurgence of Alabama and Mississippi State, that trend may be ending, especially with the bottom half of the East struggling early. Remember that even though the divisions are gone from the SEC standings and tournament bracket, they still impact the schedule. Look for that to change when Missouri and Texas A&M join next season.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »

Heading into the 2011-12 season, it was expected that Xavier and Temple would dominate the Atlantic 10, as is now expected. A month into the season, it's clear the Musketeers and Owls may face significant challenges from Saint Louis, Dayton, and probably St. Joseph's. However, note my use of the verb "may" in that previous sentence. As we head into the conference season, it's important to remember that the 16-game Atlantic 10 grind is one of the most unpredictable league campaigns in the country--one that's perfectly capable of turning potential contenders into pretenders. After the jump, I'll look at what the 14 teams in the A-10 have accomplished since November--things they all hope are not forgotten come Selection Sunday.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »

The Big 12 owns an impressive combined record of against Division I competition so far this season, which bodes well for both a competitive conference season and NCAA bid total. Let's take a look at who has the best chance to go dancing here in mid-December.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »

Last season, the Big East annoyed its detractors by grabbing 11 NCAA bids. However, it wasn't all sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows for the biggest conference in all of the land, even if UConn managed to claim the national title. The Huskies claimed half of the league's 12 NCAA wins.

A little more than a month into the season, it's apparent that the Big East will struggle to match that ridiculous bid total in 2012, but the decreased contingent might just be of higher quality.

For other posts in this series, visit the Bracketology 101 Exam Week 2011-12 section.

Continue reading this post »