JB's game Northwestern game preview (20 for the Elite 8): a GH challenge

JB's Northwestern game preview encouraged readers to come up with a list restricted to 20 teams they'd consider Elite 8 potential, regardless of conference affiliation. I couldn't resist, so off the cuff I quickly scribbled down 20 teams that for various reasons I could see advancing to the Elite 8. I didn't ignore non-BCS conferences, nor did I ignore BCS teams with plenty of room for growth (see ISU Cyclones). The Big 12 and SEC led my list with 4.

My 20, in order of conference affiliation:

1. Duke (ACC)
2. North Carolina (ACC)
3. Syracuse (Big East)
4. UConn (Big East)
5. West Virginia (Big East)
6. Indiana (Big Ten)
7. Michigan State (Big Ten)
8. Ohio State (Big Ten)
9. Baylor (Big 12)
10. Iowa State (Big 12)
11. Kansas (Big 12)
12. Mizzou (Big 12)
13. Creighton (MVC)
14. UNLV (Mountain West)
15. Cal (Pac 12)
16. Florida (SEC)
17. Kentucky (SEC)
18. Mississippi State (SEC)
19. Vandy (SEC)
20. Gonzaga (WCC)

+1 (for fun): St. Mary's (WCC)

Anyone else game for the challenge? If so, I'll gather & save everyone's picks for later. I'll give everyone until 4:30 p.m. Monday to submit their picks. How many of your 20(+1) will truly be elite?

1. Kentucky
2. Ohio State
3. Murray State
4. Baylor
5. Alabama
6. Syracuse
7. Virginia
8. UCONN
9. Cincinnati
10. UNLV
11. North Carolina
12. Duke
13. K-State
14. Michigan State
15. Mississippi State
16. Vandy
17. Creighton
18. Memphis
19. Xavier
20. Florida State

+1 for fun Cleveland State

Big 1? - 3
Ohio State
Michigan State
Illinois

Big 12 - 4
Kansas
Baylor
K-State
Mizzour

Big East -5
Syracuse
West Virginia
Georgetown
Marquette
UCONN

SEC - 4
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
Alabama
Florida

ACC - 3
UNC
Duke
Florida State

A10 - 1
Xavier

+1 Wichita State

I threw 50 names into a hat, drew 21.

My list, not a prediction, is just luck of the draw. My list, in order they were drawn:

1. UNLV
2. Syracuse
3. Creighton
4. Kansas
5. Missouri
6. Ohio State
7. Duke
8. Michigan State
9. North Carolina
10. Baylor
11. San Diego State
12. Murray State
13. California
14. Michigan
15. Georgetown
16. Connecticut
17. Harvard
18. Wichita State
19. Kentucky
20. Marquette

+1 West Virginia

I do things like this on the analogy that no amount of skill will ever replace dumb luck.

Syracuse
Kentucky
Baylor
Duke
Missouri
Ohio State
Kansas
Georgetown
Michigan State
Murray State
Connecticut
UNLV
Virginia
San Diego State
Creighton
Michigan17
Marquette
Louisville
St. Mary's
Florida

+1 Harvard

In no particular order...

Duke (ACC)
North Carolina (ACC)
Virginia (ACC)
Syracuse (Big East)
UConn (Big East)
West Virginia (Big East)
Marquette (Big East)
Georgetown (Big East)
Michigan State (Big Ten)
Ohio State (Big Ten)
Illinois (Big Ten)
Baylor (Big 12)
Kansas (Big 12)
Mizzou (Big 12)
Wichita State (MVC)
Creighton (MVC)
UNLV (Mountain West)
Florida (SEC)
Kentucky (SEC)
Vandy (SEC)

Syracuse
Kentucky
North Carolina
Baylor
Ohio State
Duke
Kansas
Creighton
Virginia
Missouri
Xavier
UCONN
Florida
Michigan State
Indiana
Murray State
Marquette
San Diego State
Cleveland State
VCU