Episode
[56] 2026 NCAA Bracket with Andy Bottoms
- Podcast
- X's and Joe's
- Published
- Mar 27, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3661
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode of Xs and Joes , Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth are joined by Andy Bottoms to unpack the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket, the selection process, and what it all reveals about where college basketball is headed next. Bracketology Reality Check The guys open with Andy reflecting on another Selection Sunday—and why even strong bracket projections can still “grade out” poorly. Why bracketology success doesn’t always match leaderboard results The surprising disconnect between predictive accuracy and final rankings A tongue-in-cheek case for “re-scoring” brackets based on tournament outcomes Early hints that this year’s committee may have valued things differently than expected Committee Philosophy & Process A deeper dive into how the selection committee actually operates—and where subjectivity still sneaks in. Whether the committee truly follows a strict process or has hidden preferences Where bias might show up (and where it likely doesn’t) Why controversial matchups are usually dictated by rules—not conspiracy The one area of the bracket where human judgment still matters most What the Committee Really Values Now This is where things get interesting—and where Andy outlines a subtle but important shift. The growing importance of “wins above bubble” in getting selected Why seeding may now lean more on predictive metrics like KenPom Case studies that highlight the tension between results and efficiency A key question: Are quality wins losing influence in favor of efficiency metrics? Mid-Majors, Scheduling, and the System Problem A fascinating conversation about the structural challenges facing non–power conference teams. The scheduling paradox: no one wants to play you… but you’re punished if you don’t Why some programs embrace tough non-conference games—and oth…