NCAA tourney bracket projections
Insider's exclusive guide to each team's strengths and weaknesses
Originally Published: March 11, 2012
By
Joe Lunardi | Special to ESPN Insider
Before filling out your Tournament Challenge bracket, take some time and do your homework. For the 18th consecutive year, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has assigned a team of bracketologists to put together Insider's Tournament Tips, offering in-depth breakdowns and historical analysis of the bracket for all 68 tournament teams to help you make smart picks. Click on any of the teams below to get the inside scoop.
| East Regional | |
|---|---|
| 1. Syracuse vs. 16. UNC Asheville | Simulate this game |
| 2. Ohio State vs. 15. Loyola (Md.) | Simulate this game |
| 3. Florida State vs. 14. St. Bonaventure | Simulate this game |
| 4. Wisconsin vs. 13. Montana | Simulate this game |
| 5. Vanderbilt vs. 12. Harvard | Simulate this game |
| 6. Cincinnati vs. 11. Texas | Simulate this game |
| 7. Gonzaga vs. 10. West Virginia | Simulate this game |
| 8. Kansas State vs. 9. Southern Miss | Simulate this game |
| Midwest Regional | |
|---|---|
| 1. North Carolina vs. 16. Lamar or Vermont | Simulate this game |
| 2. Kansas vs. 15. Detroit | Simulate this game |
| 3. Georgetown vs. 14. Belmont | Simulate this game |
| 4. Michigan vs. 13. Ohio | Simulate this game |
| 5. Temple vs. 12. Cal or South Florida | Simulate this game |
| 6. San Diego State vs. 11. North Carolina State | Simulate this game |
| 7. Saint Mary's vs. 10. Purdue | Simulate this game |
| 8. Creighton vs. 9. Alabama | Simulate this game |
| South Regional | |
|---|---|
| 1. Kentucky vs. 16. Mississippi Valley State or Western Kentucky | Simulate this game |
| 2. Duke vs. 15. Lehigh | Simulate this game |
| 3. Baylor vs. 14. South Dakota State | Simulate this game |
| 4. Indiana vs. 13. New Mexico State | Simulate this game |
| 5. Wichita State vs. 12. VCU | Simulate this game |
| 6. UNLV vs. 11. Colorado | Simulate this game |
| 7. Notre Dame vs. 10. Xavier | Simulate this game |
| 8. Iowa State vs. 9. UConn | Simulate this game |
| West Regional | |
|---|---|
| 1. Michigan State vs. 16. LIU-Brooklyn | Simulate this game |
| 2. Missouri vs. 15. Norfolk State | Simulate this game |
| 3. Marquette vs. 14. BYU or Iona | Simulate this game |
| 4. Louisville vs. 13. Davidson | Simulate this game |
| 5. New Mexico vs. 12. Long Beach State | Simulate this game |
| 6. Murray State vs. 11. Colorado State | Simulate this game |
| 7. Florida vs. 10. Virginia | Simulate this game |
| 8. Memphis vs. 9. Saint Louis | Simulate this game |
MORE INSIDER TOURNEY TIPS
Giant Killers
Looking for the upset picks? Giant Killers has run all the numbers and identified the most likely teams to pull off the shocker -- and the most likely teams to fall.
- Resident college basketball bracketologist for ESPN
- Contributor to SportsCenter, ESPN Insider
- Published first public bracket in 1995
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Insider NCAA Tournament Guide

Joe Lunardi and his team of analysts have broken down every NCAA tournament team's strengths, weaknesses and player tendencies.
EAST REGION
- 1. Syracuse vs. 16. UNC Asheville
- 2. Ohio State vs. 15. Loyola (Md.)
- 3. Florida State vs. 14. St. Bonaventure
- 4. Wisconsin vs. 13. Montana
- 5. Vanderbilt vs. 12. Harvard
- 6. Cincinnati vs. 11. Texas
- 7. Gonzaga vs. 10. West Virginia
- 8. Kansas State vs. 9. Southern Mississippi
MIDWEST REGION
- 1. North Carolina vs. 16. Lamar or Vermont
- 2. Kansas vs. 15. Detroit
- 3. Georgetown vs. 14. Belmont
- 4. Michigan vs. 13. Ohio
- 5. Temple vs. 12. Cal or South Florida
- 6. San Diego State vs. 11. N.C. State
- 7. Saint Mary's vs. 10. Purdue
- 8. Creighton vs. 9. Alabama
SOUTH REGION
- 1. Kentucky vs. 16. Mississippi Valley State or Western Kentucky
- 2. Duke vs. 15. Lehigh
- 3. Baylor vs. 14. South Dakota State
- 4. Indiana vs. 13. New Mexico State
- 5. Wichita State vs. 12. VCU
- 6. UNLV vs. 11. Colorado
- 7. Notre Dame vs. 10. Xavier
- 8. Iowa State vs. 9. UConn
WEST REGION
- 1. Michigan State vs. 16. LIU-Brooklyn
- 2. Missouri vs. 15. Norfolk State
- 3. Marquette vs. 14. BYU or Iona
- 4. Louisville vs. 13. Davidson
- 5. New Mexico vs. 12. Long Beach State
- 6. Murray State vs. 11. Colorado State
- 7. Florida vs. 10. Virginia
- 8. Memphis vs. 9. Saint Louis
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