Dick Jerardi: Our man's choices for NCAA's field of 68

SELECTION Sunday is March 11. The national championship game is April 2 in New Orleans. There are times I wonder which day is more celebrated. Actually, I know. It is when those 68 teams are revealed and America can start filling out brackets.

There will be no drama for hoops heavyweights over the next several weeks. There will be plenty of drama for schools that have done enough to be considered, but not enough to feel comfortable. And there will be all those one-bid conference tournaments that are essentially playoff games to get to the playoffs.

The NCAA Tournament selection committee has its way of selecting at-large teams and seeding the 68-team field. I have been in the room twice for mock exercises so I know the process well enough.

Here is how I see the 68 teams today, conference by conference (including each league's most likely total at this stage), with the understanding that some of this will change by March 11 and more than a few of the one-bid leagues will produce upsets. That never changes.

There is not much separating Stony Brook, Vermont and Boston University.

Temple, Saint Louis.

If the Owls are playing in a month like they are today and get decent matchups, I can see them winning multiple games. This team makes threes in bunches, makes opponents defend the entire halfcourt and creates matchup problems. They are not a great defensive team, but better now that Micheal Eric is back. Most of these players were on the team that was one more basket or one more stop away from the Sweet 16 last year. Could definitely happen this year.

Saint Louis is a very unique team with a great preparation coach that should play well in a quick turnaround setting.

I have no feel for the rest of this league, even though I see these teams all the time. There is just no consistency.

Both Saint Joseph's and La Salle have had their moments. Each should be playing in the postseason, but would have to win the A-10 Tournament to get into the field.

Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, North Carolina State.

Duke and UNC are just below the first tier of teams. Wish Duke played better defense and UNC made a few threes. North Carolina State is much improved.

Take your pick between Mercer and Belmont.

Missouri, Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas.

Missouri and Kansas are both in play for No. 1 seeds. The higher of the two could end up in the St. Louis regional, a huge edge. The teams have completely different personnel, but both will be very dangerous in the tournament.

Syracuse, Marquette, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Louisville, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Connecticut, Seton Hall.

Syracuse and Kentucky have separated from the pack. 'Cuse does not have the superstars Kentucky has, but has the depth the Wildcats do not have.

Notre Dame has been amazing. Louisville is getting better. West Virginia and UConn are fading.

Pittsburgh looked like it might get all the way back before losing to South Florida and Seton Hall.

Villanova obviously is going to have to win the conference tournament. Don't see that happening.

Look out for Weber State and the nation's leading scorer Damian Lillard (25.1 points per game). He has made 78 threes and shoots 45.3 percent from the arc. By the way, Weber leads the nation in free-throw shooting (81 percent).

UNC-Asheville is 14-2 in the league.

Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue.

Ohio State is deeper than last season, but not as dangerous. I thought the Buckeyes were the best team last season, but they lost in the Sweet 16. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is a great NCAA Tournament coach. Indiana has great offense (43.6 three-point shooting), but a very athletic team that wants to drive the ball will expose its defense.

This league has a lot of good teams, but no great teams. I think Northwestern may finally make its first NCAA. Illinois has a solid non-conference résumé, but has lost six of seven.

Long Beach State is unbeaten in conference and was terrific against a very difficult non-con schedule.

Drexel, VCU, George Mason.

The numbers do not support this because the league does not have the marquee non-conference wins it has had in years past. But the play on the floor does support it. These are three NCAA-caliber teams.

Drexel is at worst the second best team in the city behind Temple. And I would love to see a game between those two. That should matter. I think they are going to win the CAA regular season. That should also matter. If you watch the Dragons, you understand. Now, if they don't win the CAA Tournament, the committee will have to understand.

Memphis.

Derrick Rose is not coming back to Memphis, even to play in the Big East. Southern Mississippi has a chance.

Looks like it is down to Valparaiso and Cleveland State. Butler (16-12, 10-6) would have to win the tournament. Even the Bulldogs can't sustain losing two players early to the NBA.

Harvard.

The schedule still favors the Crimson. I think Penn's effort really helped Princeton beat Harvard on Saturday. The Crimson looked very tired at the end. Perhaps Princeton can do the same for Penn when the Quakers play at Harvard. Penn is still alive, but may have to go 7-0 to get there.

Iona and Loyola share the lead, with Fairfield and Manhattan right behind. Anything is possible in this league.

Akron.

Maybe, LeBron will come back to play for his hometown team.

Norfolk State will be in one of the First Four games in Dayton.

Wichita State, Creighton.

Love Wichita. Could be a Sweet 16 team.

San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming.

This league is very good again. UNLV has some great wins.

Long Island, Wagner and Robert Morris are all in play.

Murray State.

If the Racers don't win the tournament, they have done enough to get an at-large.

California, Washington.

This league got bigger, not better. Where have you gone Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook?

Bucknell is 20-6 and 10-0 in the league.

Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Alabama.

UK's starting five might make the NBA playoffs. Maybe Coach Cal should petition for an expansion franchise, with all recent Kentucky freshmen. Kentucky is holding teams to 37.7 percent on two-point shots. Which is crazy.

Davidson.

No Steph Curry, but Davidson is very good again.

Texas-Arlington is 11-0 in the league. Should enjoy Dayton.

Mississippi Valley State.

Jerry Rice's alma mater is 13-0 in conference play.

Oral Roberts is 23-5 overall, 15-1 in the league.

Middle Tennessee looks like the class

Nevada is 22-4 and 11-1.

St. Mary's, Gonzaga, BYU.

There very solid teams. New league, no Jimmer, BYU still good.