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Posted: Friday November 11, 2011 1:47PM ; Updated: Friday November 11, 2011 8:19PM

Andy Glockner>INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL

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Preseason bracket predictions for 2012 NCAA tournament

Story Highlights

Big East leads the multi-bid leagues with eight; Big 12, Big Ten follow with six

Look for Boston U., Belmont, Weber St. to snag bids in their respective leagues

Last four teams not making the cut: Clemson, Minnesota, Kansas State and Iona

2012 NCAA Tournament Projection

Multi-Bid League Representatives Big East (8): UConn*, Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, Marquette, Cincinnati, Villanova, Notre Dame

Big 12 (6): Kansas*, Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma State, Missouri

Big Ten (6): Ohio State*, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Illinois

ACC (5): UNC*, Duke, Florida State, Miami, Virginia

Pac-12 (5): UCLA*, Arizona, Cal, Washington, Oregon

SEC (5): Kentucky*, Vanderbilt, Florida, Alabama, Miss State

Atlantic 10 (3): Xavier*, Temple, Saint Louis

West Coast (3): Gonzaga*, St. Mary's, BYU

Colonial (2): George Mason*, Drexel

Conference USA (2): Memphis*, Marshall

Missouri Valley (2): Creighton*, Wichita State

Mountain West (2): New Mexico*, UNLV

Last four in: BYU, Mississippi State, Marshall, Saint Louis
Last four out: Clemson, Minnesota, Kansas State, Iona

One-Bid League Representatives
America East: Boston University. Even after losing star John Holland, the Terriers should have enough to hold off resurgent Stony Brook and make back-to-back NCAA trips.

Atlantic Sun: Belmont. The Bruins could be in the discussion for an at-large (if needed) if they can seal the deal on a couple non-league chances. They should crush the league again in their A-Sun swan song.

Big Sky: Weber State. The league's best player (Damien Lillard) is back from injury and the Wildcats should be a solid favorite with several all-league types back to help.

Big South: UNC Asheville. The backcourt of Matt Dickey and J.P. Primm will be enough to carry the Bulldogs back to the NCAAs ahead of Coastal Carolina, VMI and Liberty.

Big West: Long Beach State. The 49ers will be seasoned by an outrageous nonconference slate and have too many players back from last season's regular-season league winning team to pick last year's tourney rep, UCSB.

Horizon: Butler. The Bulldogs will miss Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack, but there's enough returning talent to hold off several others in a deep league.

Ivy: Harvard. Returning everyone from last year's co-champs, the Crimson are big favorites to claim their first outright Ivy League title and make the NCAAs for the first time since 1946.

MAAC: Fairfield. The Gaels and Iona will slug it out for honors, but with BC transfer Rakim Sanders joining an experienced returning core and new coach Sydney Johnson, take the Stags by an antler.

MAC: Kent State. The league's bellwether team has a ton back from the two-time defending league champs. Promoting Rob Senderoff from within to replace Geno Ford should maintain continuity.

MEAC: Coppin State. Fang Mitchell brings back a ton of talent to last season's surprise outfit, and with Hampton losing Kwame Morgan to a leg injury, the opening could be there for the Eagles.

Northeast: Long Island. The Blackbirds became the easier pick when Robert Morris star Karon Abraham was suspended for the season. Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere lead the way.

Ohio Valley: Murray State. Austin Peay brings back a lot and the Racers lost a good amount from last season (plus coach Billy Kennedy), but Isaiah Canaan and Co. remain the choice.

Patriot: Bucknell. Lehigh's C.J. McCollum will duel with the Bison's Mike Muscala for league POY, but Muscala's a big and has a better core around him.

SWAC: Alabama State. They closed last season very strong, return three starters and some bench strength and KenPom.com has them (barely) as the league's top team. Sounds like a winner.

Southern: Chattanooga. C of C loses Andrew Goudelock and Jeremy Simmons and UTC's returnees are better than Davidson's, so go with the Mocs to step into the bracket.

Southland: UT-San Antonio. In their final season before joining the WAC, take Jeromie Hall and the Roadrunners, who danced last year, in a wide-open race over Northwestern State and others.

Summit: Oral Roberts. The loss of Keith Benson is enough to allow the Golden Eagles to edge past two-time league champ Oakland. Dominique Morrison has more support than Grizz star Reggie Hamilton.

Sun Belt: Florida Atlantic. The Owls are the defending league champs and return a lot of backcourt talent, including league player of the year candidate Raymond Taylor.

WAC: Utah State. The Aggies will be youthful, but the homecourt advantage at the Spectrum is so profound, it's hard to pick anyone else even if Nevada and others look solid.

EAST - Boston

Greensboro

1	North Carolina* (ACC)
16	Coppin State* (MEAC)/Boston U.* (America East)


8	Creighton* (Missouri Valley)
9	Saint Mary's


Omaha

5	Vanderbilt
12	Belmont* (Atlantic Sun)


4	Texas A&M
13	Butler* (Horizon)


Louisville

6	Michigan State
11	Virginia


3	Xavier* (Atlantic 10)
14	Weber State* (Big Sky)


Columbus

7	UNLV
10	Oregon


2	Pitt
15	Oral Roberts* (Summit)

SOUTH - Atlanta

Louisville

1	Kentucky* (SEC)
16	Florida Atlantic* (Sun Belt)


8	Texas
9	George Mason* (Colonial)


Portland

5	Marquette
12	Mississippi St./St. Louis


4	Wisconsin
13	Harvard* (Ivy)


Nashville

6	Gonzaga* (West Coast)
11	Missouri


3	Louisville
14	Long Island* (Northeast)


Greensboro

7	Arizona
10	Illinois


2	Duke
15	Bucknell* (Patriot)

WEST - Phoenix

Pittsburgh

1	Syracuse* (Big East)
16	UNC-Asheville* (Big South)


8	Alabama
9	Purdue


Albuquerque

5	Baylor
12	BYU/Marshall


4	UCLA* (Pac-12)
13	Kent State* (MAC)


Portland

6	Cincinnati
11	Drexel


3	New Mexico* (Mountain West)
14	Utah State* (WAC)


Nashville

7	Washington
10	Villanova


2	Florida
15	Murray State* (Ohio Valley)

MIDWEST - St. Louis

Pittsburgh

1	Ohio State* (Big Ten)
16	Alabama St* (SWAC)/UTSA* (Southland)


8	Temple
9	Oklahoma State


Albuquerque

5	Memphis* (Conference USA)
12	Notre Dame


4	Florida State
13	Long Beach State* (Big West)


Omaha

6	California
11	Wichita State


3	Kansas* (Big 12)
14	Fairfield* (MAAC)


Columbus

7	Michigan
10	Miami (Fla.)


2	Connecticut
15	Chattanooga* (SoCon)

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