It looks like Joe Lunardi got my message. In his latest version of bracketology, the Devils are now a 5 seed. Their first round matchup is the 12 seeded Creighton Blue Jays. Creighton is in the midst of a 7 game winning streak and has been playing excellent ball. They are 22-6 overall with a 12-4 conference record in the MVC. Their two leading scorers, Booker Woodfox and P'Allen Stinnett (yes those are their actual names) combine for 28 PPG. The Blue Jays have a very deep bench with 11 players average double digit minutes. It will be hard for them to adjust to the Devils stellar defense, which will keep them from getting in rhythym. Chalk up another win to the Sun Devils.
In the second round, the Devils play the 4th seeded Purdue Boilermakers. The Boilermakers have been playing very well all season. They are 3-3 against AP Top 25 teams and 2nd in the Big 10 (which Lunardi has 8 teams making the tournament from the Big Ten). With no bad losses on their schedule, its going to be a tough matchup for the Devils. Harden's star power will carry the Devils in this game and take them to the Sweet 16.
The Sweet 16 matchup leads the Devs to a game with the Huskies of UConn. Unlike past editions of Bracketology Update, after watching Thabeet get manhandled by DeJuan Blair of Pitt, and with Dyson's season ending injury, I think the Devils might actually pull this one out. It is hard to say this with a straight face, but the Devils can beat UConn. This is a special team and the sky is the limit this year.
The Elite 8 brings the Sun Devils to a game with the Memphis Tigers. The Tigers are on a 17 game winning streak. They haven't lost in 2 months and their only losses are to Xavier, Georgetown, and Syracuse. Memphis is an excellent team. Evans, Dozier, and Taggart are too deep for the Devils. Memphis will pull out the W and continue on to the Final Four.