2009 NCAA Tournament Projection: Post-Decision Update

2009 Final Four

One day after the National Title Game, I took an early stab at projecting the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Now that pro prospects have officially decided their NBA Draft fate, and with our 2008-09 Preview starting in a couple weeks, its a good time to once again take a look at next year's Dance.

Changes Are in Red: The return of Lawson, Ellington, and co. pushes UNC into first place in the ACC. In the MWC, there's also a switch in position as UNLV takes the lead due to Trent Plaisted's departure (these two teams are very close still). Surprisingly, the only change in the Field of 65 is Mississippi State dropping out due to Jamont Gordon's departure, and being replaced Missouri. More movement will take place in a new Preseason Top 50 I'm working on now..

Multi-Bid Leagues (46)
Big East (9) - UCONN - (Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia)
ACC (6) - UNC - (Clemson, Duke, Miami, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest)
Pac-10 (5) - UCLA - (Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, USC)
Big 12 (5) - Kansas - (Baylor, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M)
Big Ten (4) - Purdue - (Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin)

SEC (4) - Florida (Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee)
Mountain West (2) - UNLV - (BYU)
A-10 (2) - Xavier - (Dayton)
Missouri Valley (2) - Creighton - (Drake)
Conference USA (2) - Memphis - (UAB)
WCC (2) - Gonzaga - (Saint Mary's)
WAC (2) - Nevada - (New Mexico State)

One-Bid Leagues (19)
America East - Vermont
Atlantic Sun - Belmont
Big Sky - Portland State
Big South - Winthrop
Big West - Pacific
CAA - VCU
Horizon - Wright State
Ivy - Cornell
MAAC - Siena
MAC - Kent State
MEAC - Morgan State
Northeast - Robert Morris
Ohio Valley - Murray State
Patriot - American
Southern - Davidson
Southland - Stephen F Austin
SWAC - Alabama State
Summit - IUPUI
Sun Belt - MTSU

Out: Mississippi State

Last Five In: New Mexico State, Missouri, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Drake

Next In Line: Washington, Temple, Washington State, San Diego, San Diego State

Also: Check out last year's projection which had some good, bad, and ugly picks.