Crashing the Dance

Precious cargo

PSA: Here is the official best printable bracket you'll find: tip times, channels, dates AND cities for all the regions/pods.

It is flawless. It is a beautiful.

The best week of the year has arrived. Repost/share and help make a friend's day better. PDF/download here: white-theressa-93.tiiny.site

Building the brackets: A deep dive on the NCAA tournament selection and seeding process - NCAA.org How do teams get selected and seeded for the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships? Take a deep dive into the March Madness selection process,

The West Virginia governor and AG might find this to be a useful reference: www.ncaa.org/news/2025/3/...

UConn is too good of a team and Hurley is too good of a coach for him to act like such a jerk on the sidelines. The tech was absolutely deserved and likely cost them the game.

🏀 As promised, here's a men's college hoops Bluesky starter pack 🏀

The first offering is a roll call of 68 accounts, some much more college basketball-leaning than others. Dive in and share far and wide.

go.bsky.app/TnXWBmf

I was told the ACC was having a down year.

Darling Niko!

🤦‍♂️ That’s what I get for speed reading. How could I miss Darling Niko!

My bad, missed Sprinkle. Now my favorite coach.

0 Prince = 0 Respect

Interesting that St. John's was not even in the first four out. (Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Indiana State, Pitt)

More analysis later, but the big picture is 66 of 68 correct, 58 of 68 within 1 seed line of correct.

Misses:

Had Pitt and St. John's in
Had Michigan State and Virginia out

Through 2 regions, still doing well. 33 for 33 correct, 29 of 33 within 1 seed line of correct. Still waiting to hear about Pitt and St. John's (CTD has in, consensus has out) and Michigan State and Oklahome (CTD has out, consensus has in).

Through 1 region, so far so good. 16 for 16 correct, 14 within 1 seed of the correct line.

And that's it for the automatic berths. We'll see who fills in the other 36 spots shortly. Here's what the Crashing the Dance selection model thinks.

crashingthedance.com/selection

Welcome, Illinois. 32 down, 36 to go. Fourth straight trip for the Fighting Illini and the 34th time they'll go dancing.

Welcome, UAB. 31 down, 37 to go. Second appearance in the last three tournaments and 17th overall for the Blazers.

Welcome, Duquesne. 30 down, 38 to go. The Dukes are dancing for the first time since 1977 and the sixth time overall.

Welcome, Auburn. 29 down, 39 to go. That makes five trips in the last six tournaments for the Tigers, and 13 overall.

Welcome, Yale. 28 down, 40 to go. Seventh trip for the Bulldogs, with four of those coming in the last eight tournaments. Their lone win came in 2016, when they upset Butler in a 5-12 seed first round game.

Welcome, Grand Canyon. 27 down, 41 to go. Third trip for the Antelopes, with all coming in the last four seasons.

Welcome, Long Beach State. 26 down, 42 to go. The Beach showed some major Kenergy in clinching their tenth appearance in the field and first since 2012.

Welcome, Grambling. 25 down, 43 to go. The Tigers are in the field for the first time.

🤷

Welcome, Oregon. 24 down, 44 to go. The Ducks are back after missing the field the last two seasons. Making their 18th appearance overall.

Welcome, Western Kentucky. 23 down, 45 to go. The Hilltoppers are in the field for the 24th time and the first time since 2013.

Welcome, NC State. 22 down, 46 to go. The Cardiac Pack are back in for the second straight season and 29th time overall. Amazing five day run in the ACC Tournament clinches the automatic berth.

Welcome, Saint Peter's. 21 down, 47 to go. Peacocks are back in the field after their unprecedented run to the Regional Final as a 15 seed. 5th trip overall and second in the last three seasons.

Welcome, Akron. 20 down, 48 to go. Second appearance in the last three seasons for the Zips and sixth overall.

Welcome, UConn. 19 down, 49 to go. 37th time in the dance for the defending champs.

Welcome, New Mexico. 18 down, 50 to go. 16th appearance for the Lobos and first under Richard Pitino. No worries about that pesky bubble.