March Madness: Selection Sunday Mayhem

On Sunday, March 17th, 68 teams were selected to be in the biggest NCAA basketball tournament of the year. The first four games are played on Tuesday, March 19th and Wednesday, March 20th to see the official 64-team bracket. Then, the rest of the tournament starts on Thursday, March 21st.
by Jayden Barwick

On Sunday, March 17th, 68 teams were selected to be in the biggest NCAA basketball tournament of the year. The first four games are played on Tuesday, March 19th and Wednesday, March 20th to see the official 64-team bracket. Then, the rest of the tournament starts on Thursday, March 21st.

Here are the teams: 
East Region:
#1 UConn vs. #16 Stetson
#8 FAU vs. #9 Northwestern
#5 San Diego St. vs. #12 UAB
#4 Auburn vs. #13 Yale
#6 BYU vs. #11 Duquesne
#3 Illinois vs. # 14 Morehead St.
#7 Washington St. vs. #10 Drake
#2 Iowa St. vs. #15 South Dakota St.

South Region:
#1 Houston vs. #16 Longwood
#8 Nebraska vs. #9 Texas A&M
#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 James Madison
#4 Duke vs. #13 Vermont
#6 Texas Tech vs. #11 NC State
#3 Kentucky vs. #14 Oakland
#7 Florida vs. #10 Boise St./Colorado
#2 Marquette vs. #15 Western Kentucky

West Region:
#1 North Carolina vs. #16 Howard/Wagner
#8 Mississippi St. vs. #9 Michigan St.
#5 Saint Mary’s vs. #12 Grand Canyon
#4 Alabama vs. #13 Charleston
#6 Clemson vs. #11 New Mexico
#3 Bayor vs. #14 Colgate
#7 Dayton vs. #10 Nevada
#2 Arizona vs. #15 Long Beach St.

Midwest Region:
#1 Purdue vs. #16 Montana St./Grambling
#8 Utah St. vs. #9 TCU
#5 Gonzaga vs. #12 McNeese
#4 Kansas vs. #13 Samford
#6 South Carolina vs. #11 Oregon
#3 Creighton vs. #14 Akron
#7 Texas vs. #10 Virginia/Colorado St.
#2 Tennessee vs. #15 Saint Peter’s

Selection Difficulties
This year was exceptionally difficult for the selection committee in constructing this bracket. This year there were five teams that were not going to make it to the tournament, but got the autobid by winning their conference championship. As a result, 5 teams who would have made the tournament were knocked out. The first four teams out include Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Indiana State and Pittsburgh. All of which would have been in the tournament if it was not for the 5 unexpected champions. 

Upset Alert?
Confidently, Devan Cape speaks on his big upset prediction, “I’m going to take Grand Canyon over Saint Mary’s. I think Grand Canyon can make it all the way to the Sweet 16.” According to ESPN, Grand Canyon only has a 23% chance of beating Saint Mary’s. Cape also spoke on who he thought could win it all, saying, “I think the Champions will be Iowa State.”