Friday, February 27, 2009

Bracket guess has Boilers heading West

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For Purdue men's basketball fans, the primary focus is on tonight's game at Michigan.
But anyone who enjoys the college game is watching ESPN's Bracketology, compiled by Joe Lunardi.

Certainly, all of this will change by the time you refresh your computer browser, but Lunardi has six Big Ten teams in the NCAA tournament.

He has Matt Painter and the Boilermakers in Portland, Ore. for first- and second-round action, then staying in the West Regional (Phoenix) if they advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

Lunardi has Purdue as the West's No. 4 seed facing No. 13 seed Nevada in the first round, opposite No. 5 seed Washington and No. 12 seed Maryland.

He has Minnesota as the No. 11 seed in the West.

The South (Memphis) would include 3 seed Michigan State and 9 seed Ohio State. The East (Boston) would have Wisconsin as the 11 seed.

Lunardi seems to like Bruce Weber and Illinois. Bracketology has the Fighting Illini as the Midwest Regional's 7 seed, traveling to Kansas City for first- and second-round action.

If Illinois would reach the Sweet Sixteen, it's off to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Bracketology in no way reflects what the NCAA tournament selection committee will do on March 15. But it's still fun.
http://www.jconline.com/article/20090226/SPORTS06/902260323