Road to the Final Four at Ford Field: Preseason Bracketology

During the 2008-2009 season, I'll be putting up a new bracket probably every week or every other week. My bracket will be a part of the Bracket Matrix, one of the most impressive undertakings on the web.

The Bracket Matrix is pretty self-explanatory—it's a matrix that holds dozens of mock brackets from across the Internet and allows fan to get a good gauge where his or her team stands in the national landscape.

Last year's Bracket Matrix featured 53 different brackets with every bracket selecting at least 61 of 65 teams to make the NCAA Tournament.

My preseason bracket will be a projection for the end of the year. I haven't decided yet whether my bracket during the regular season will be based on whether the season ended that day, or a projection of how the teams will finish.

Conference winners will have their conference in parentheses after their name.

Without further ado, here's my bracket.

East (Boston)

1) UConn (Big East) vs.

16) Mount St. Mary's (Northeast)

8) Xavier (Atlantic 10) vs.

9) Wisconsin

5) Memphis (Conference USA) vs.

12) Washington

4) Davidson (Southern) vs.

13) Cornell (Ivy League)

6) Syracuse vs.

11) Temple

3) Duke vs.

14) Winthrop (Big South)

7) Florida vs.

10) San Diego

2) Oklahoma (Big 12) vs.

15) Cal State-Northridge (Big West)

West (Glendale, Arizona)

1) UCLA (PAC-10) vs.

16) Portland State (Big Sky)

8) West Virginia vs.

9) UAB

5) Miami vs.

12) Texas A&M

4) Marquette vs.

13) Cleveland State (Horizon)

6) Baylor vs.

11) Virginia Commonwealth (Colonial)

3) Gonzaga (WCC) vs.

14) Kent State (MAC)

7) Siena (MAAC)

10) Alabama

2) Louisville vs.

15) Nevada (WAC)

Midwest (Indianapolis)

1) Notre Dame vs.

16) Stephen F. Austin (Southland)

8) Ohio State vs.

9) Virginia Tech

5) UNLV (Mountain West) vs.

12) Ole Miss

4) Arizona State vs.

13) Belmont (Atlantic Sun)

6) USC vs.

11) Creighton (Missouri Valley)

3) Texas vs.

14) Vermont (America East)

7) Georgetown vs.

10) Clemson

2) Purdue (Big 10) vs.

15) Middle Tennessee State (Sun Belt)

South (Memphis)

1) North Carolina (ACC) vs.

16) Play-In Winner: Alabama St. (SWAC) vs. Hampton (MEAC)

8) St. Mary's College vs.

9) LSU

5) Villanova vs.

12) Arizona

4) Michigan State vs.

13) American (Patriot League)

6) Wake Forest vs.

11) Kansas

3) Tennessee (SEC) vs.

14) UT-Martin (Ohio Valley)

7) Kentucky vs.

10) BYU

2) Pittsburgh

15) North Dakota State (Summit)

Last Four In

Arizona, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Washington

Last Four Out

Providence, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, St. Joe's