- Ky McKeon

It’s been awhile! This is the latest I’ve done bracketology since 3MW started back in 2015. As is always the case with these first iterations, this bracket serves more as a baseline instead of a hyper-accurate exercise.

This season’s Field of 68 is a Rorschach test at this point with COVID shutdowns affecting everything from NET rankings to quantity / quality of wins.

BRACKET

BUBBLE

INKLINGS

• The Ivy League’s absence this season opens up an extra at-large spot. This means a couple things: 1) we’re going to see stronger “low” seeds (13-15) as every team gets pushed down a spot, 2) we’re going to see some suspect resumes earn a bid; the bubble is weak in its current state but that usually gets ironed out as we inch closer to March

• Arizona’s ineligibility opens up another at-large spot for a “more undeserving” squad

• Oklahoma State’s eligibility is currently under appeal, so they get included here

• The Big Ten makes seeding a nightmare. Theoretically this should be the most even bracket we’ve ever had with no regionality, but the bracketing guideline that says the top four seeds in each bracket should not be from the same league is throwing a wrench in the process (I still had to break it in Region 2)

• Kansas is a 7-seed - that is shocking… here’s hoping they’re in Mizzou’s bracket next iteration

• Four bids for the Mountain West, three bids for the A-10, two bids for the WCC, and two bids for the MVC - it’s the year of the mid-major

• Note: All current conference leaders were given an auto-bid
  

S CURVE