DAN HAUPTMAN
DAN HAUPTMAN
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Position: Guard
College: North Carolina
Dan Hauptman is a Hoopville Senior writer living in New York City. A North Carolina alum, he can take down that NCAA Championship banner from the Hoopville break room any time. Really. Take it down.
NCAA Tournament Crystal Ball

by Dan Hauptman and Michael Protos

March 16, 2008

Selection Sunday is finally here, and March Madness is already at full tilt. Surprises in conference tournaments have whittled down the number of at-large bids available to bubble teams as Xavier, South Alabama, Gonzaga and St. Mary's, for example, could not secure their conferences' automatic bids.

That's fine with Dan Hauptman and Michael Protos, who are glad that the conference tournaments ended the debate for several teams that just don't smell like they deserve NCAA Tournament bids. Entering the final day, Hauptman and Protos finally see a similar field. The only difference in the teams they put in their fields is that Hauptman has Ohio State and Virginia Tech while Protos chooses Villanova and VCU. Those teams might be in trouble if Illinois and Georgia win their respective conference titles and automatic bids, making the bubble even thinner because Wisconsin and Arkansas are locks.

Hauptman believes Kansas will replace Texas as a No. 1 seed if the Jayhawks win. And Protos believes the same of Texas. Wihtout further ado, here are their final picks.

Hauptman's Hoops Horoscope Protos' Prognostications
North Carolina
Memphis*
UCLA*
Texas		 North Carolina
Memphis*
UCLA*
Kansas
Tennessee
Kansas
Wisconsin
Duke		 Texas
Tennessee
Duke
Wisconsin
Georgetown
Vanderbilt
Stanford
Louisville		 Georgetown
Stanford
Louisville
Pittsburgh*
Michigan State
Connecticut
Washington State
Indiana		 Xavier
Marquette
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh*
Xavier
Clemson
Purdue		 Drake*
Clemson
Connecticut
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Drake*
Arkansas
UNLV*		 Butler*
Washington State
USC
Arkansas
USC
Butler*
Marquette
Gonzaga		 Indiana
Oklahoma
West Virginia
Purdue
Kansas State
Kent State*
BYU
Oklahoma		 Gonzaga
BYU
Miami
Kent State*
West Virginia
Mississippi State
Texas A&M
Miami		 Mississippi State
Arizona
UNLV*
Texas A&M
Temple*
Ohio State
Arizona
Kentucky		 Davidson*
Kentucky
Baylor
Temple*
Western Kentucky*
Illinois State
St. Mary's
Virginia Tech		 Kansas State
St. Mary's
Saint Joseph's
South Alabama
San Diego*
Baylor
Saint Joseph's
Davidson*		 Villanova
VCU
Illinois State
George Mason*
South Alabama
George Mason*
Oral Roberts*
Boise State*		 San Diego*
Western Kentucky*
Cornell*
Boise State*
Cornell*
Winthrop*
Cal State Fullerton*
Austin Peay*		 Oral Roberts*
Siena*
Winthrop*
Cal State Fullerton*
Siena*
Portland State*
Northwestern State
UMBC*		 UMBC*
Austin Peay*
Belmont*
American*
Belmont*
American*
Mississippi Valley State*
Mount St. Mary's*
Coppin State*		 Portland State*
Northwestern State
Mississippi Valley State*
Mount St. Mary's*
Coppin State*
Last 4 In:
Virginia Tech
Baylor
Saint Joseph's
South Alabama		 Last 4 In:
Saint Joseph's
Villanova
VCU
Illinois State
First 4 Out:
Villanova
Massachusetts
Florida
Southern Illinois		 First 4 Out:
Massachusetts
Syracuse
Arizona State
Mississippi
Shooting Stars:
UCLA
Pittsburgh
Arkansas
Western Kentucky		 Shooting Stars:
Pittsburgh
North Carolina
UCLA
Wisconsin
Sinking Ships:
Duke
Kansas State
Arizona
Baylor		 Sinking Ships:
Baylor
Kansas State
Indiana
Purdue
Conference Breakdown:
Big East: 7
Big 12: 6
ACC: 5
Big Ten: 5
Pac-10: 5
SEC: 5
Atlantic 10: 3
West Coast: 3
Missouri Valley: 2
Mountain West: 2
Sun Belt: 2
20 one-bid conferences
 Conference Breakdown:
Big East: 8
Big 12: 6
Pac-10: 5
SEC: 5
ACC: 4
Big Ten: 4
Atlantic 10: 3
West Coast: 3
CAA: 2
Missouri Valley: 2
Mountain West: 2
Sun Belt: 2
19 one-bid conferences


* denotes an automatic bid.

Whose field looks more accurate to you? Or are both Hauptman and Protos off target? E-mail us your comments on the Crystal Basketball or give us your own NCAA Tournament prognostications. Today is the big day when all will be revealed.



Dan Hauptman is a Hoopville Senior Writer living in New York. He can be contacted by clicking here.
Michael Protos is Hoopville's News Editor and lives in Washington, D.C. He can be contacted by clicking here.

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Happy Selection Sunday to you. Enjoy five finals games before the committee reveals the field.

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Less than 36 hours to go, and at-large bids are becoming an endangered species.

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Selection Sunday is nearly upon the Crystal Basketball, when all shall be revealed.

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A few more teams wrapped up automatic bids, at the expense of at least one bubble team.


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