NCAA projections: 10 days out

We're only 10 days from Selection Sunday, when the discussion over brackets and seedings and locations are rendered meaningless. Of course, all of this below is meaningless, too, but it's fun and interesting to project where teams will play to open the NCAA tournament.

Here's a look at a possible bracket, based on a combination of records, rankings, RPI and strength of schedule.

CLEVELAND REGION

1. Kentucky vs. 16. Albany-Texas Southern winner, Louisville, Ky.

8. Cincinnati vs. 9. Purdue, Louisville, Ky.

4. Utah vs. 13. UC-Davis, Portland, Ore.

5. Louisville vs. 12. BYU, Portland, Ore.

3. Iowa State vs. 14. Central Michigan, Omaha, Neb.

6. SMU vs. 11. Wofford, Omaha, Neb.

2. Villanova vs. 15. High Point, Pittsburgh

7. Oregon vs. 10. Indiana, Pittsburgh

SYRACUSE REGION

1. Virginia vs. 16. Georgia Southern, Charlotte, N.C.

8. Ohio State vs. 9. Oklahoma State, Charlotte, N.C.

4. Arkansas vs. 13. Stephen F. Austin, Jacksonville, Fla.

5. North Carolina vs. 12. Boise State-Davidson, Jacksonville, Fla.

3. Wichita State vs. 14. Valparaiso, Louisville, Ky.

6. Butler vs. 11. Iona, Louisville, Ky.

2. Kansas vs. 15. North Dakota State, Omaha, Neb.

7. Iowa vs. 10. Ole Miss, Omaha, Neb.

HOUSTON REGION

1. Wisconsin vs. 16. North Florida-St. Francis (N.Y.) winner, Columbus, Ohio

8. Georgia vs. 9. Dayton, Columbus, Ohio

4. Notre Dame vs. 13. Murray State, Columbus, Ohio

5. West Virginia vs. 12. UCLA-Xavier winner, Columbus, Ohio

3. Baylor vs. 14. N.C. Central, Jacksonville, Fla.

6. Providence vs. 11. Temple, Jacksonville, Fla.

2. Arizona vs. 15. Eastern Washington, Portland, Ore.

7. Michigan State vs. 10. Colorado State, Portland, Ore.

LOS ANGELES REGION

1. Duke vs. 16. Bucknell, Charlotte, N.C.

8. VCU vs. 9. St. John's, Charlotte, N.C.

4. Oklahoma vs. 13. Louisiana Tech, Seattle

5. Northern Iowa vs. 12. Harvard, Seattle

3. Maryland vs. 14. Northeastern, Pittsburgh

6. Georgetown vs. 11. Texas, Pittsburgh

2. Gonzaga vs. 15. New Mexico State, Seattle

7. San Diego State vs. 10. N.C. State, Seattle

The Thursday-Saturday (March 19-21) locations include: Louisville, Jacksonville, Portland and Pittsburgh. The Friday-Sunday locations (March 20-22) include: Omaha, Seattle, Columbus, Charlotte. The Cleveland and Los Angeles regionals are March 26 and 28, while the Houston and Syracuse regionals are March 27 and 29. The Final Four is held in Indianapolis April 4 and 6.

Here are some key principles in building the bracket (published last week):

n The first four teams selected from a conference shall be placed in different regions if they are seeded on the first four lines.

n Teams from the same conference shall not meet before the regional final (Elite Eight) if they played each other three or more times during the regular season and conference tournament.

n Teams from the same conference shall not meet before the regional semifinals (Sweet Sixteen) if they played each other twice during the regular season and conference tournament.

n Teams from the same conference may play each other as early as the third round (round of 32) if they played no more than once during the regular season and conference tournament.

n Any principle can be relaxed if two or more teams from the same conference are among the last four at-large teams selected to the field to participate in the First Four.

Other key notes:

n Teams will remain in or as close to their areas of natural interest as possible.

n Teams seeded on first four lines shall not experience a 'home-crowd disadvantage” in the second round. (Like a 5th-seeded Northern Iowa playing a 12th-seeded Oregon in Portland, for instance)

n Teams cannot play in a facility in which it has played more than three games, not including league tournaments.

n A host institution team cannot play at the same site. (Louisville can't play in Louisville, Ohio State can't play in Columbus)

n Teams can move up or down one or (worst case scenario) two seed lines to meet the bracket principles. (Iowa could move from a 9 to a 10 to avoid playing Wisconsin in round of 32, for instance)

n Rematches of non-conference regular-season games should be avoided in first four or second round. (Iowa could play Northern Iowa, for instance, in round of 32)

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com