NCAA Bracket Strategy: Tournament Trends by Conference
When considering bracket strategy, in particular conference trends, we'll take a more recent snapshot of the NCAA men's bracket. We'll look at the 2000 through 2007 tournaments to find whether certain conferences are producing better tourney performers than others. We'll also take a look at the mid-majors and small conferences.
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Sweet 16
Out of 128 Sweet Sixteen spots, 103 of them were filled by major conference teams(ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, Pac 10). The ACC grabbed 16 spots, the Big East 20 spots, the Big Twelve 18 spots, the Big Ten 15 spots, the SEC 17 spots, and the Pac Ten 17 spots. Mid-Major schools took the remaining 25 Sweet Sixteen positions. Including and since the 2000 NCAA tournament, the MAC(1), WAC(2), WCC(3), Atlantic 10(3), Colonial Athletic(1), Missouri Valley(4), Horizon League(3),
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Sweet 16
Out of 128 Sweet Sixteen spots, 103 of them were filled by major conference teams(ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, Pac 10). The ACC grabbed 16 spots, the Big East 20 spots, the Big Twelve 18 spots, the Big Ten 15 spots, the SEC 17 spots, and the Pac Ten 17 spots. Mid-Major schools took the remaining 25 Sweet Sixteen positions. Including and since the 2000 NCAA tournament, the MAC(1), WAC(2), WCC(3), Atlantic 10(3), Colonial Athletic(1), Missouri Valley(4), Horizon League(3),
Conference USA(6), and Mountain West(2) conferences have all been represented in the Sweet 16.
Keep in mind that Louisville, Cincinnati, and Marquette moved from Conference USA to the Big East after the 2005 tournament. Three of the five Conference USA Sweet 16's were achieved by the teams that moved. Every mid-major conference has sent at least one team to the Sweet 16 over the last eight tournaments. No "small conference" team has reached the Sweet 16 since Valparaiso represented the Mid-Continent Conference in 1998.
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Elite 8
Out of 64 Elite Eight spots, 54 of them were filled by major conference teams.The ACC earned 8 spots, the Big East 7 spots, the Big Twelve 12 spots, the Big Ten 11 spots, the SEC 7 spots, and the Pac Ten 9 spots. Mid-Major schools took the remaining 10 Elite Eight positions. Including and since the 2000 NCAA basketball tournament, the MAC(1), WAC(1), Atlantic 10(3), Colonial Athletic(1), and Conference USA(4) have all been represented in the Elite 8. Two of the Conference USA teams were Louisville and Marquette who are now in the Big East.
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Final Four
Out of 32 Final Four spots, 29 of them were filled by major conference teams.The ACC took 7 spots, the Big East 3 spots, the Big Twelve 5 spots, the Big Ten 7 spots, the SEC 4 spots, and the Pac Ten 3 spots. Mid-Major schools took the remaining 3 Final Four positions. From a mid-major perspective, including and since the 2000 NCAA basketball tournament, only the Colonial Athletic Association(1) and Conference USA(2) have been represented in the Final Four. The two Conference USA teams were Lousiville and Marquette who are now in the Big East.
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Championship Game
All 14 championship games were filled by major conference teams. The ACC played in 4 championships winning 3. The Big East played in 2 national championship games winning both. The Big 12 played in 1 championship and lost. The Big Ten played in 4 championships and took home one crown. The SEC played for the championship three times and won twice(both Florida). The Pac 10 played in 2 championships and lost both.
As you can see success in the NCAA tournament has been pretty well-balanced between the six major conferences. Mid-majors have not made that big of a splash other than George Mason in 2006 making possibly the most improbable run to the Final Four since the 64 team format was instituted in 1985.
Back to NCAA Bracket Tips
Back to College Basketball Rankings home page
Check out NCAA women's bracket strategy
Keep in mind that Louisville, Cincinnati, and Marquette moved from Conference USA to the Big East after the 2005 tournament. Three of the five Conference USA Sweet 16's were achieved by the teams that moved. Every mid-major conference has sent at least one team to the Sweet 16 over the last eight tournaments. No "small conference" team has reached the Sweet 16 since Valparaiso represented the Mid-Continent Conference in 1998.
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Elite 8
Out of 64 Elite Eight spots, 54 of them were filled by major conference teams.The ACC earned 8 spots, the Big East 7 spots, the Big Twelve 12 spots, the Big Ten 11 spots, the SEC 7 spots, and the Pac Ten 9 spots. Mid-Major schools took the remaining 10 Elite Eight positions. Including and since the 2000 NCAA basketball tournament, the MAC(1), WAC(1), Atlantic 10(3), Colonial Athletic(1), and Conference USA(4) have all been represented in the Elite 8. Two of the Conference USA teams were Louisville and Marquette who are now in the Big East.
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Final Four
Out of 32 Final Four spots, 29 of them were filled by major conference teams.The ACC took 7 spots, the Big East 3 spots, the Big Twelve 5 spots, the Big Ten 7 spots, the SEC 4 spots, and the Pac Ten 3 spots. Mid-Major schools took the remaining 3 Final Four positions. From a mid-major perspective, including and since the 2000 NCAA basketball tournament, only the Colonial Athletic Association(1) and Conference USA(2) have been represented in the Final Four. The two Conference USA teams were Lousiville and Marquette who are now in the Big East.
NCAA Bracket Strategy: 2000 through 2007 Championship Game
All 14 championship games were filled by major conference teams. The ACC played in 4 championships winning 3. The Big East played in 2 national championship games winning both. The Big 12 played in 1 championship and lost. The Big Ten played in 4 championships and took home one crown. The SEC played for the championship three times and won twice(both Florida). The Pac 10 played in 2 championships and lost both.
As you can see success in the NCAA tournament has been pretty well-balanced between the six major conferences. Mid-majors have not made that big of a splash other than George Mason in 2006 making possibly the most improbable run to the Final Four since the 64 team format was instituted in 1985.
Back to NCAA Bracket Tips
Back to College Basketball Rankings home page
Check out NCAA women's bracket strategy
CBR Home Page
NCAA Basketball Rankings
March Madness Bracket Tips
Bracket Picks & Articles
NCAA Tournament History
Conference Tournaments
About the Webmaster
Contact the Webmaster
AnyGivenFan Network E-Zine
Basketball Links and More
CBR Site Map
Announcement
College Basketball Rankings is slated to re-launch in August 2010
NCAA Basketball Rankings
March Madness Bracket Tips
Bracket Picks & Articles
NCAA Tournament History
Conference Tournaments
About the Webmaster
Contact the Webmaster
AnyGivenFan Network E-Zine
Basketball Links and More
CBR Site Map
Announcement
College Basketball Rankings is slated to re-launch in August 2010
CBR Blog - Visit Now
AnyGivenFan Network Search
Subscribe to the CBR RSS feed:
More feed reader options:
Bookmark or share this page:
