3-11 Committee Meeting:

With it now less than 24 hours away from Selection Sunday, the committee went into full throttle tonight, rounding out the at large field, and filling a good chunk of the S Curve.

The first order of business was to fill the slots that opened on the at large board. In the initial vote, Cal and Texas A&M jumped from the nomination board into the field of 65, a sentiment echoed by all committee members.

After five more spots opened during the day, Bradley. Cincinnati, Missouri State, Seton Hall and UAB joined the at large board.

Missouri State has been a real conundrum throughout the week. Basically, it's a #19 RPI competing with the fact they are just 5-8 vs top 100 teams. In the end, the committee agreed they belonged in the field, as an 8-6 road and neutral record and 8-2 record in their last ten games overshawed mediocre mark vs top 100 teams.

With South Carolina, a team that has no hope for an at large bid, playing in the SEC Finals, the last spot in the field is currently unavailable, but should Florida prevail tomorrow, Creighton currently sits in the perilous position of last team in the field, or possibly first team out of the field. The other team in competition for that final spot appears to be Michigan, and this debate will continue on tomorrow.

Now, some changes were made to the S Curve, with the most notable being Iowa jumping up onto the 2 line at #8 on S Curve. Personally, I believe either UNC or UCLA to be more deserving of the final two seed, but my claims fell on deaf ears. On the other hand, we boldly believe Ohio State to be more deserving on the last one seed than Memphis or Texas, and I agree with this.

Here is the current S Curve, 1-16:
1. UConn
2. Duke
3. Villanova
4. Ohio State
5. Memphis
6. Texas
7. Illinois
8. Iowa
9. North Carolina
10. LSU
11. UCLA
12. Pitt
13. Gonzaga
14. West Virginia
15. Tennessee
16. Florida

I would have Boston College on the 4 line ahead of West Virginia, who has gone just 4-6 down the stretch, admittedly against a difficult schedule. Also, while I believe Pitt to be the better overall team, I would probably flip them and Gonzaga.

Now, I think for most part, 17-40 on the S Curve looks to be very well done.

17. Boston College
18. Kansas
19. Georgetown
20. Michigan State
21. Washington
22. Marquette
23. George Washington
24. Oklahoma
25. Nevada
26. Indiana
27. Syracuse
28. Wichita State
29. Wisconsin
30. Northern Iowa
31. Arkansas
32. Kentucky
33. NC State
34. Arizona
35. Southern Illinois
36. Alabama
37. Texas A&M
38. California
39. Bradley
40. Bucknell

We have also started seeding the bottom the bracket, 61-65.
61. Belmont
62. Albany
63. Monmouth
64. Southern
65. Monmouth

Tonight, the following teams gained automatic bids:
Xavier-Atlantic 10
Albany-America East
Syracuse-Big East
Pacific-Big West
Memphis-Conference USA
Kent State-MAC
Hampton-MEAC
San Diego State-Mountain West
UCLA-Pac Ten
Southern-SWAC
Nevada-WAC

Later today, we will meet to discuss the potential of selecting the final at large bid, and fill and make whatever changes necessary on the S Curve.