BracketBusters pairings were announced last night and they went pretty much to plan. I got 24 of the 26 teams in the TV games correct, and two that I missed make good sense.
ESPN went with "higher conference standing" over "higher RPI" by taking OVC leader Austin Peay and the WAC's Boise State over lower-tier MVC teams Indiana State and Evansville. Good for them. I think it's better that way.
I got 5 of the 13 matchups exactly right (note: ESPN actually announced 14 TV matchups, which is one more than was previously suggested. It seems that CS-Fullerton at Wright State was the "extra" matchup). These five matchups are listed in green. Correct teams are listed in black. Incorrect teams are listed in red. ESPN's matchups not in green are in parentheses.
Southern Illinois at Butler
Northern Iowa at Nevada
Bradley at VCU
Appalachian State at Wichita State
Kent State at George Mason
Utah State at Creighton (Drexel at Creighton)
Drexel at Missouri State (Winthrop at Missouri State)
Winthrop at Hofstra (Holy Cross at Hofstra)
Ohio at Oral Roberts (Utah State at Oral Roberts)
Holy Cross at Indiana State (Ohio at New Mexico State)
Old Dominion at New Mexico State (Old Dominion at Toledo)
Evansville at Toledo (Austin Peay at Akron)
Albany at Akron (Albany at Boise State)
BONUS!: (Cal State-Fullerton at Wright State)
Last Night's GOI
--at Appalachian State 67, College of Charleston 56. App St holds serve at home in this important SoCon contest.
--at Butler 71, Illinois-Chicago 45. Uhh...loss avenged, I guess.
--Pitt 65, at Villanova 59. Nova misses out on a signature win.
Tonight's GOI
--UNLV at Colorado State. Big Mt West matchup; Rams have been good at home (6-1, only loss to Air Force by 6).
--Maryland at Florida State. Two classic Bubble Boys and one will get a big leg up over the other tonight.
--Michigan State at Illinois. Illini need this one a lot more.
--Marist at Manhattan. Winner gets sole possession of 2nd in the MAAC.
--Wichita State at Northern Iowa. Shockers have a lot of work to do, but a road win here would help a bunch.
--Notre Dame at Syracuse. Irish need to prove themselves on the road. A loss here could boot the Orange from Bracketville.
