BY MARCUS HENRY
It's time for an early projection of the NCAA Tournament. Of course things will change in the next few weeks. But if the tournament was held today, this is what it could look like.
SOUTH - HOUSTON
LITTLE ROCK
1. Memphis – Memphis should enter the tourney as the No.1 seed.
16. (Play-in teams) – SWAC/SOUTHLAND.
8. Purdue
9. Maryland
TAMPA
5. Butler
12. St. Joe’s
4. Pittsburgh
13. Davidson (Southern Conference winner)
ANAHEIM
6. Gonzaga
11. Syracuse
3. Texas
14. CS Northridge (Big West winner)
BIRMINGHAM
7. Florida
10. Dayton
2. Michigan State
15. UMBC (America East)
MIDWEST - DETROIT
OMAHA
1. Kansas – A shaky number one because of a weak non-conference schedule.
16. Austin Peay (OVC winner)
8. Southern Cal
9. Clemson
DENVER
5. Wisconsin
12. Miami
4. St. Mary’s
13. Utah State (WAC winner)
OMAHA
6. Notre Dame
11. BYU
3. Indiana
14. Marist (MAAC winner)
RALEIGH
7. Mississippi State
10. Ohio State
2. Georgetown – If Kansas loses again in the regular season or in the BIG 12 Tourney, the Hoyas will pounce.
15. Lafayette (Patriot winner)
WEST - PHOENIX
ANAHEIM
1. UCLA – The Bruins can’t afford a letdown, especially with UNC breathing down their neck.
16. Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun winner)
8. Baylor
9. West Virginia
TAMPA
5. Marquette
12. Illinois State
4. Stanford
13. UNC Asheville (Big South winner)
LITTLE ROCK
6. Louisville
11. UNLV
3. Xavier
14. Oral Roberts (Summit winner)
WASHINGTON D.C.
7. Mississippi
10. Houston
2. North Carolina – If the Heels can win the rematch against Duke, they could elevate to a top seed.
15. Morgan State (MEAC winner)
EAST - CHARLOTTE
RALEIGH
1. Duke – Arguably the hottest team in the land right now.
16. Wagner (Northeast winner)
8. Vanderbilt
9. Rhode Island
DENVER
5. Arizona
12. Kent State (MAC winner)
4. Drake
13. VCU (CAA winner)
WASHINGTON D.C.
6. Kansas State
11. South Alabama
3. Washington State
14. Cornell
BIRMINGHAM
7. Connecticut
10. Texas A & M
2. Tennessee – The Vols are on a serious roll. Beating Memphis and winning the SEC tourney could get them a 1 seed.
15. Northern Arizona (Big Sky winner)