:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47519447/KenPom_Preseason.0.0.jpg)
I know the season hasn't technically even started yet, but - with the announcement of the KenPom preseason rankings - I can hear you all clamoring with the same question: "What if the season ended today?" It's a valid query. Everyone wants to know if his or her team's 0-0 record is worthy of consideration for an at-large entry to the tournament or if the auto bid is the only remaining road to potential glory (or first-round exit on national TV). Well, fret no more, friends. I've taken KenPom's numbers and run them through the bracketology machine (which is just a spreadsheet that I created a macro for). Here, in all its glory, is the first run of KenPom Bracketology for the 2016 season.
First the s-curve:
| The | KenPom s-curve | 10/26 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DUKE | KENTUCKY | Virginia | KANSAS |
| 2 | GONZAGA | North Carolina | ARIZONA | VILLANOVA |
| 3 | WISCONSIN | Baylor | Oklahoma | Utah |
| 4 | Notre Dame | WICHITA ST. | CINCINNATI | Indiana |
| 5 | Michigan | Michigan St. | Iowa St. | Vanderbilt |
| 6 | Maryland | SMU | Purdue | Miami FL |
| 7 | Louisville | Oregon | Georgetown | West Virginia |
| 8 | Connecticut | Xavier | Pittsburgh | Butler |
| 9 | Syracuse | Texas | VALPARAISO | Iowa |
| 10 | SAN DIEGO ST. | Texas A&M | UCLA | Florida St. |
| 11 | North Carolina St. | Ohio St. | Oregon St. | Florida |
| 12 | South Carolina | California | DAVIDSON | Tulsa |
| 12 | STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | AKRON | ||
| 13 | UAB | PRINCETON | IONA | NORTH DAKOTA ST. |
| 14 | BELMONT | HOFSTRA | HAWAII | STONY BROOK |
| 15 | LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE | NORTH FLORIDA | LEHIGH | CHATTANOOGA |
| 16 | MOUNT ST. MARY'S | MONTANA | NEW MEXICO ST. | COASTAL CAROLINA |
| 16 | NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL | TEXAS SOUTHERN | ||
| First 4 out | LSU | Rhode Island | Northwestern | Georgia |
| Next 4 out | VCU | Marquette | USC | Clemson |
And the bracket itself:
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4198371/KenPom_Preseason.0.jpg)
-KenPom loves the ACC, giving them 10 bids. These things tend to smooth out over time; the Big 10 was getting ten bids when we started doing this last year and was down to a handful on Selection Sunday.
-The Big East has four teams in the top of the bracket, then a big gap to Marquette on the bubble. This kind of runs in line with most people's opinion on the league right now, but it would be nice to see a couple more teams step up as the season rolls.
-Of the 25 one-bid leagues, only the A10 places anyone on the bubble.
-NJIT really threw a wrench in things as an independent last year; now they're only 30 spots from grabbing that Atlantic Sun auto bid.
-Man am I ready for March. I love grabbing a couple pounds of hot wings and posting up in front of the TV for the first Thursday of the tournament. The season needs to start already.