Bracketology

Can John Calipari finally win national title? His Kentucky team stands to be No. 1 overall seed in upcoming NCAA Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

Today begins the craziest 48 hours in the life of anyone affiliated college basketball in even its simplest form. That's because the challenge of reaching a consensus regarding the top 68 teams in the nation takes on a life of its own this weekend, with the final decision to be rendered on "Selection Sunday" tomorrow evening.

Bracketology will be featured here throughout the weekend, with periodic updates between now and just before Greg Gumbel signs on from the CBS studios in New York shortly after 6:00 tomorrow night. Without further ado, the first attempt at a bracket from yours truly.

South Regional (Atlanta)
1) Kentucky vs. 16) Mississippi Valley State/Western Kentucky
8) Iowa State vs. 9) Connecticut
5) Wichita State vs. 12) North Carolina State/South Florida
4) Louisville vs. 13) VCU
6) New Mexico vs. 11) Long Beach State
3) Baylor vs. 14) New Mexico State
7) St. Mary's vs. 10) Southern Mississippi
2) Ohio State vs. 15) Montana

East Regional (Boston)
1) Syracuse vs. 16) UNC Asheville
8) Saint Louis vs. 9) Alabama
5) Creighton vs. 12) Seton Hall
4) Vanderbilt vs. 13) Belmont
6) Florida vs. 11) Kansas State
3) Michigan vs. 14) Loyola (Md.)
7) Gonzaga vs. 10) Texas
2) Duke vs. 15) Lehigh

Midwest Regional (St. Louis)
1) North Carolina vs. 16) Lamar
8) Notre Dame vs. 9) Purdue
5) Cincinnati vs. 12) BYU
4) Indiana vs. 13) South Dakota State
6) Temple vs. 11) West Virginia
3) Wisconsin vs. 14) Akron
7) UNLV vs. 10) Harvard
2) Kansas vs. 15) LIU Brooklyn

West Regional (Phoenix)
1) Michigan State vs. 16) Stony Brook/Norfolk State
8) Memphis vs. 9) Colorado State
5) San Diego State vs. 12) Arizona
4) Georgetown vs. 13) Virginia/Iona
6) Murray State vs. 11) Xavier
3) Marquette vs. 14) Davidson
7) Florida State vs. 10) California
2) Missouri vs. 15) Detroit

Last Four In: North Carolina State, USF, Virginia, Iona
First Four Out: Washington, Drexel, Northwestern, Mississippi

Note: Automatic bids that have yet to be awarded have been temporarily filled with projections. This bracket will be continually updated throughout the weekend once each conference championship is awarded in the hours leading up to the NCAA Tournament selection show. Again, this is not the actual 68-team field, just merely a projection of what it will be.