Bracket Breakdown/Key Games

AS OF FEBRUARY 5TH, 2006

Breakdown by Conference

ACC (6): Duke, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Boston College, Maryland, Miami (Fl.)
Big East (8): Connecticut, Villanova, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, West Virginia, Marquette, Syracuse, Seton Hall
Big Ten (7): Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin
Big Twelve (4): Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa State
Pac-10 (5): UCLA, Washington, California, Arizona, Stanford
SEC (5): Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Kentucky, Alabama
Missouri Valley (4): Creighton, Northern Iowa, Wichita State, Southern Illinois
Conference-USA (2): Memphis, UAB
WAC (2): Utah State, Nevada

One-Bid Conferences (22): America East (Albany); Atlantic Sun (Lipscomb); Atlantic-10 (George Washington); Big Sky (Northern Arizona); Big South (Birmingham Southern); Big West (UC-Irvine); Colonial (George Mason); Horizon (Wisconsin-Milwaukee); Ivy (Penn); MAAC (Manhattan); MAC (Kent State); MEAC (Delaware State); Mid-Continent (IUPUI); Mountain West (San Diego State); Northeast (Fairleigh Dickinson); Ohio Valley (Murray State); Patriot (Bucknell); Southern (Elon); Southland (Northwestern State); Sun Belt (Western Kentucky); SWAC (Southern); West Coast (Gonzaga)

Last Four In: Iowa State, Stanford, Arizona, Southern Illinois
Last Four Out: Colorado, Cincinnati, Missouri State, UNC-Wilmington
Next Four Out: Arkansas, Florida State, Virginia, Bradley

Key Games this Week
Charleston at Elon (Monday)- Two of the top teams in the Southern battle it out.
Louisville at Cincinnati (Monday)- Is Louisville moving towards the bubble? Can Cincinnati rekindle its NCAA hopes?
Robert Morris at Fairleigh Dickinson (Monday)- FDU is hot and in first in the NEC; RMU trying to catch them.
Florida A&M at Coppin State (Monday)- Both teams trying to stay near Delaware State in the MEAC.
Southern at Jackson State (Monday)- Southern tied for first; with a win, JSU will be too.
Texas at Texas Tech (Monday)- Longhorns contending for a #1 seed.
Duke at North Carolina (Tuesday)- Do I really have to explain this one?
Tennessee at Kentucky (Tuesday)- Volunteers trying to take the "team to beat" tag from Wildcats.
Wichita State at Northern Iowa (Tuesday)- Is anyone going to distinguish themselves as the MVC's best?
Missouri State at Southern Illinois (Tuesday)- Two bubble teams in the MVC in need of a win.
Virginia at Maryland (Tuesday)- Cavaliers trying to make a late push for the NCAA; Terps need to get out of a slump.
St. Joseph's vs. Villanova (Tuesday)- Great rivalry game. Isn't every game in Philly a "great rivalry game"?
North Carolina State at Miami (Fl.) (Wednesday)- Two teams behind Duke in the ACC battle for second place.
Indiana at Wisconsin (Wednesday)- Both are slumping lately; Badgers need a win to get off the bubble.
Colorado at Texas A&M (Wednesday)- Buffaloes could get a big win for the committee on the road vs. Aggies.
Iowa State at Kansas State (Wednesday)- ISU needs to win on the road to boost their profile
Kansas at Nebraska (Wednesday)- Jayhawks are one of the hottest teams in the country; NU needs a quality win.
Vanderbilt at Alabama (Wednesday)- 'Bama's NCAA hopes are rising, while Commodores are fading fast.
Arkansas at LSU (Wednesday)- Razorbacks need a quality win to get on the radar, while LSU is striving for an SEC title.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Wednesday)- Outstanding rivalry game. Will OSU get back on the bubble soon?
Syracuse at Connecticut (Wednesday)- Looked much better in January. 'Cuse could use a big road win to enhance resume.
UAB at UTEP (Wednesday)- Both teams one game back of Memphis. Neither is likely to keep Tigers up at night.
Air Force at San Diego State (Wednesday)- Battle in the Mountain West. SDSU is extremely hot right now, while AF is slumping somewhat.
Ohio State at Michigan (Thursday)- Two of the Big Ten's top teams fight for NCAA and Big Ten Tournament seeding.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh (Thursday)- WVU still undefeated in the Big East. Pitt needs to break through against a top team.
George Mason at Virginia Commonwealth (Thursday)- GMU leading the Colonial. VCU one of five teams within 2 games.
Stanford at California (Thursday)- Might be the biggest bubble game of the week. Loser could be out of next week's bracket.