This version of bracketology goes out to all of you who stumble home drunk from Taco Bell at 3 AM tonight and fire up The Meaningful Collateral on the computer. Yes, I realize that’ll probably just be me. I don’t mind, though!

Anyway, things haven’t gotten any prettier since we last met to discuss brackets. In fact, things have gotten uglier. The Atlantic 10 is eating itself, the ACC is starting to really get muddled, and the Big 12 is a hopeless mess once you get past Texas and Kansas. Let’s delve, after the jump.

First, we start things off with the East Region, where our #1 overall seed is located:

Yes, Tennessee maintains our #1 overall seed, although their margin isn’t nearly as great as it was before they lost to Vanderbilt. Xavier gets the last 2 seed, narrowly edging out Wisconsin and Kansas. Now, look at the 13 seed in this region — yes, that’s St. Joseph’s. They’re the last team in. Phil Martelli, you need to get your players’ heads in the game. Losing at home to sub-par conference competition is NOT the way to maintain a place in this bracket. Consider yourself lucky. Also notable is the falling profile of Kansas State - from a 5 or 6 seed a couple weeks ago to a 10 seed now.

On to the West Region, which will meet the East in the Final Four according to this setup:

UCLA grabs the last #1 seed in the pre-weekend brackets. It was close between them and Duke, but I was convinced of the superiority of UCLA’s overall accomplishments by none other than TMC contributor Sean Bartel. So, Ben Howland, you owe Sean dinner, or at least a backrub. Butler moves back up to a 5 seed, mostly because no one below them really impressed me. There’s not a lot to say about the West region, honestly.

Let’s turn our attention now to the Midwest Region:

Memphis maintains their #1 seed, despite the loss to Tennessee last week. UConn is really fluid right now - I could see them ending up anywhere between a 2 and a 4. Kentucky makes it in this time, mostly due to the putridity of the bottom of the field, although the recent injury news could ultimately derail their chances.

And finally, the South Region:

Texas is a real danger to pick up the #1 overall seed — but as it sits now, they may be in better shape. Louisville, too, could ostensibly jump up and grab the last #1 seed, if they run the table and win the Big East Tournament. Illinois State makes it in as an at-large this time around.

BREAKDOWN:

Last 4 in: Maryland, Kentucky, Southern Illinois, St. Joseph’s

Last 4 out: Syracuse, Ohio State, Mississippi, Wake Forest

Big East: 8

Big 12: 6

SEC: 6

Pac 10: 5

Big 10: 4

Atlantic 10: 3

Missouri Valley: 3

Mountain West: 2

West Coast: 2