Bracketology - February 21st

South                                                                                 Midwest

1 Kansas	1 Villinova
16 Winthrop / Hampton	16 Weber State
St. Louis	St. Louis
8 Texas Tech	8 Indiana
9 Monmouth	9 Providence
5 Texas A&M	5 Arizona
12  Vanderbilit / Oregon State	12 San Diego State
Des Moines	Denver
4 Miami FL	4 Kentucky
13 IFPW	13 Hawaii
6  USC	6 Baylor
11 Akron	11 Wisconsin
Spokane	Des Moines
3  Maryland	3 Iowa
14 Stony Brook	14 New Mexico State
7 Wichita State	7 Colorado
10 Uconn	10 South Carolina
Raleigh	Oklahoma City
2 Virginia	2 Xavier
15 Stephan F. Austin	15 Yale
East	West
1 UNC	1 Oklahoma
16 Texas Southern /  Wagner	16 UNC Wimington
Raleigh	Oklahoma City
8 Florida	8 VCU
9 St. Joseph's	9 Syracuse
5 Texas	5 Dayton
12 Temple	12 Michigan/ Seton Hall
Denver	Oklahoma City
4 Michigan State	4 Duke
13 Chattanooga	13 Arkansas Little-Rock
6 Cal	6 Notre Dame
11 St. Bon.	11 St. Mary's
Providence	Oklahoma City
3  West Virginia	3 Utah
14 North Florida	14 Bucknell
7 Purdue	7 Pitt
10 Valpo	10 Alabama
Providence	Spokane
2 Iowa State	2 Oregon
15 Tennessee Tech	15 UAB

Bubble Watch 

Last 4 IN 

Seton Hall 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

Oregon State  

First 4 Out 

Florida State 

Vanderbilt 

LSU 

Butler 

Next 4 Out 

Stanford 

Cincinnati  

Georgia 

UCLA

February 18th - Bracketology

South                                                                                 Midwest

1 Kansas	1 Villinova
16 Winthrop / Hampton	16 Montana
St. Louis	St. Louis
8 Pitt	8 G. Washington
9 Monmouth	9 Wichita State
5 Texas A&M	5 USC
12  Wisconsin / Oregon State	12 Texas Tech
Des Moines	Denver
4 Miami FL	4 Texas
13 San Diego State	13 New Mexico St.
6  Arizona	6 Baylor
11 Akron	11 Uconn
Spokane	Des Moines
3  Iowa State	3 Iowa
14 Stony Brook	14 Chattanooga
7 St. Joseph's	7 Colorado
10 Alabama	10 South Carolina
Raleigh	Raleigh
2 Virginia	2 UNC
15 Stephan F. Austin	15 Yale
East	West
1 Xavier	1 Oklahoma
16 Texas Southern /  Wagner	16 UNC Wimington
Oklahoma City	Oklahoma City
8 Gonzaga	8 VCU
9 Indiana	9 Syracuse
5 Kentucky	5 Duke
12 Hawaii	12 Michigan/ Seton Hall
Denver	Oklahoma City
4 Michigan State	4 Dayton
13 Temple	13 Arkansas Little-Rock
6 Cal	6 Notre Dame
11 Providence	11 South Dakota State
Providence	Oklahoma City
3  West Virginia	3 Utah
14 North Florida	14 Bucknell
7 Purdue	7 Florida
10 Valpo	10 St. Bon.
Providence	Spokane
2 Maryland	2 Oregon
15 Tennessee Tech	15 UAB

Bubble Watch 

Last 4 IN 

Seton Hall 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

Oregon State  

First 4 Out 

Florida State 

Vanderbilt 

LSU 

Butler 

Next 4 Out 

Stanford 

Cincinnati  

Georgia 

UCLA

How the Raptors can One Up the Bluejays in 2016

The second half of the Blue Jays’ 2015 season was unforgettable for the diehards around the country. The Jays captured their first A.L East crown in the wildcard era, and brought back a stiff pennant race to the city. Prior to the postseason ever beginning, the city of Toronto hadn’t witnessed a professional team win a playoff series since the Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in seven games in 2004.

In contrast, Canada’s favorite basketball team is also sustaining a stellar season themselves. After hosting a successful All-Star Weekend that featured a fascinated Slum-Dunk contest, as well as an abundance of points in Sunday night’s All-Star game. It appears that the interest of basketball in Canada is growing at an all-time high.

Add the fact that the Raptors hold claim to the second best record in the Eastern Conference, Toronto has a chance to do something very special this spring. Let’s face it, the Raptors are the most popular team in Toronto right now. When the playoffs begin in April, Raptors’ fever is going to be everywhere.

The Blue Jays, who are receiving high expectations after last year’s ALCS run, will be playing too early in their season to draw enough interest. The Maple Leafs on the other hand, will be in full swing for the Austin Mathews sweepstakes, in an attempt to collect the #1 overall pick in the NHL Draft. So with that being said, all the attention will be fully on the Raptors’ playoff run, as they’ll try to finally make it past the first round and get into the Conference Finals for the first time in their history.

If that’s accomplished, then Toronto will be gunning for a spot in the NBA Finals by the early June. Remember in years past when Maple Leafs Square turned into Jurassic Park for the playoff run? As thousands of fans flocked to the area to watch the playoff games on big TV’s outside? That was only the first round of action and if done again, the numbers will soon increase.

This is the NBA, a star-studded league that’s extremely arduous to win if you don’t have a major star on your roster; for instance Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, the list goes on and on. However, it makes it more difficult to take a playoff series when you can’t win your home games. In the Raptors’ case, their last six home playoff games, they’ve gone 2-4. Considering Toronto is still in the hunt for home court throughout the entire Eastern Conference playoffs, taking care of your business at home is a must to go deep into May and June.

With the type of year the Raptors are having, plus the revamped Canada Men’s Basketball team quest for an Olympic qualifier. The sport of basketball is steadily on the rise in Canada and with additional success has a chance to explode.

There’s an opportunity that the Raptors’ following will expand more than the Blue Jays, due to the MLB postseason being shorter than the NBA’s. Nevertheless, the opportunity is there for the Raptors and it’s essential they finish the job. There’s no more excuses. Franchise players such as Kyle Lowry is already 29, DeRozen is now 26. By no means is the championship window closing, but the competition within the Eastern Conference is immensely improving. This might be Toronto’s best shot.

Bracketology - February 16th

South                                                                                 Midwest

1 Kansas	1 Villinova
16 Winthrop / Hampton	16 Montana
St. Louis	St. Louis
8 Pitt	8 St. Bonaventure
9 Monmouth	9 Wichita State
5 Texas A&M	5 Texas
12  Seton Hall / Oregon State	12 Gonzaga
Des Moines	Denver
4 Miami FL	4 USC
13 San Diego State	13 New Mexico St.
6  St. Joseph's	6 Duke
11 Akron	11 Uconn
Spokane	Spokane
3  Iowa State	3 Oregon
14 Stony Brook	14 Chattanooga
7 Baylor	7 Colorado
10 Alabama	10 Texas Tech
Raleigh	Oklahoma City
2 Virginia	2 Xavier
15 Stephan F. Austin	15 Yale
West	East
1 UNC	1 Oklahoma
16 Texas Southern /  Wagner	16 UNC Wimington
Raleigh	Oklahoma City
8 South Carolina	8 VCU
9 Indiana	9 Syracuse
5 Kentucky	5 Arizona
12 Hawaii	12 Vanderbilt / Wisconsin
Denver	Oklahoma City
4 Michigan State	4 Dayton
13 Temple	13 UAB
6 Cal	6 Notre Dame
11 Providence	11 South Dakota State
Providence	Oklahoma City
3  West Virginia	3 Utah
14 North Florida	14 Bucknell
7 Purdue	7 Florida
10 Valpo	10 G. Washington
Des Moines	Providence
2 Maryland	2 Iowa
15 Tennessee Tech	15 Arkansas Little-Rock

Bubble Watch 

Last 4 IN 

Seton Hall 

Vanderbilt 

Wisconsin 

Oregon State  

First 4 Out 

Florida State 

Washington 

LSU 

Butler 

Next 4 Out 

Stanford 

Cincinnati  

Georgia 

UCLA