If the NCAA Were 16 Regions

Going into the New Year, here's the latest list of of the best team in each region (Ken Pom rankings in parentheses):

1st:  Connecticut (24)

2d:  St. Bonaventure (67)

3d:  Villanova (11)

4th:  Virginia Tech (25)

5th:  Duke (6)

6th:  Auburn (9)

7th: Louisiana St. (13)

8th:  Kentucky (8)

9th:  Ohio St. (16)

10th:  Purdue (4)

11th:  Illinois (14)

12th:  Kansas (5)

13th:  Baylor (1)

14th:  Arizona (7)

15th:  Gonzaga (2)

16th:  UCLA (10)

And here are the latest favorites to reach the 8th Region tournament:

29th District:  (8) Kentucky, (143) Morehead St.

30th District:  (53) Louisville, (72) Murray St.

31st District:  (12) Tennessee, (80) Chattanooga

32d District:  (32) Memphis, (54) Belmont

So we still have the following quarter-finals:

Louisville v. Morehead St.

Tennessee v. Belmont

Memphis v. Chattanooga

Kentucky v. Murray St.