November 25, 2016 *Practice Bracket #3*

After the Turkey Day games, we're down to 40 undefeated teams.  Although the bracket is starting to look more realistic every day, there are still 85 teams who have played three or fewer Div. 1 games, including eleven in today's bracket and North Dakota, who plays their very first D1 game this afternoon.  (It is quite challenging to rank a team with no games played)

Of the 40 undefeated teams, just two sit at 6-0: North Carolina & Villanova.  Tonight the Gophers will try and join that club against the Southern Illinois Salukis.  Seven other 5-0 teams play tonight, including two big-time match-ups.  Ohio State and Kentucky will likely reach 6-0, while Florida has a tough test against 4-0 Gonzaga.  The big match-ups to watch tonight will be Baylor vs. Louisville in the Battle 4 Atlantis and Butler vs. Arizona in the Vegas Invitational.

Reminder:

• This bracket is created as if today were Selection Sunday, and is not a projection of where I think teams will be in March.  See the last two posts for more regarding my early season bracketing methodology.
• Please do not include this in the Bracket Matrix.

1's: Xavier, Villanova, Creighton, Florida
2's: Louisville, Baylor, Gonzaga, Ole Miss
3's: Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Minnesota
4's: Purdue, Duke, Ohio, UNC Wilmington
5's: Arizona, Boston University, Saint Mary's College, Miami (FL)
6's: Notre Dame, Virginia, North Dakota State, UCLA
7's: UCF, Northern Iowa, Arkansas, Kentucky
8's: VCU, Auburn, Stanford, Houston
9's: South Alabama, Tennessee State, Butler, Nebraska
10's: Clemson, San Diego State, Virginia Tech, Charlotte
11's: Ohio State, Middle Tennessee, Massachusetts, Michigan
12's: Arkansas State, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati
13's: Long Island, Saint Joseph's, Wake Forest, Providence
14's: Syracuse, West Virginia, Florida State, Wichita State, Winthrop, East Tennessee State
15's: Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Yale, Valparaiso, Jacksonville
16's: South Carolina State, Weber State, Monmouth, Albany, Cal State Northridge, Texas Southern

FFO: LSU, Davidson, USC, Seton Hall
NFO: Maryland, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma