Here's how it will unfold, minus Illinois

At least the NCAA Tournament maintained a little bit of credibility Sunday by not including Illinois.

The basketball bubble was absurd enough as long as the Fighting Illini were teetering on that.

Sorry, but a 19-14 record doesn't qualify. Don't give me any strength-of-schedule arguments either.

Unless Illinois' losses were to the likes of the Lakers, Cavs and Mavs, a record five games over .500 isn't good enough.

No wonder Illini coach Bruce Weber is on the side of those who want the tournament expanded from 65 teams to 96. He'd have a chance to win a postseason game for the first time since 2007.

Illinois certainly would make it in an expanded field along with the Art Institute, Flo's Beauty Salon and Acme Tool and Die.

Anyway, here's how this year's tourney will unfold:

Opening round: Winthrop over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

First round: Kansas over Lehigh, Northern Iowa over UNLV, Michigan St. over New Mexico St., Maryland over Houston, Tennessee over San Diego St., Georgetown over Ohio, Oklahoma St. over Georgia Tech, Ohio St. over UCSB, Syracuse over Vermont, Gonzaga over Florida St., UTEP over Butler, Vanderbilt over Murray St., Minnesota over Xavier, Pitt over Oakland, Florida over BYU, Kansas St. over North Texas.

Kentucky over East Tennessee St., Texas over Wake Forest, Temple over Cornell, Wisconsin over Wofford, Marquette over Washington, New Mexico over Montana, Missouri over Clemson, West Virginia over Morgan St., Duke over Winthrop, Louisville over California, Texas A&M over Utah St., Purdue over Siena, Old Dominion over Notre Dame, Baylor over Sam Houston, Richmond over St. Mary's, Villanova over Robert Morris.

Second round: Kansas over Northern Iowa, Maryland over Michigan St., Tennessee over Georgetown, Ohio St. over Oklahoma St., Syracuse over Gonzaga, UTEP over Vanderbilt, Minnesota over Pittsburgh, Kansas St. over Florida.

Kentucky over Texas, Wisconsin over Temple, Marquette over New Mexico, West Virginia over Missouri, Louisville over Duke, Texas A&M over Purdue, Baylor over Old Dominion, Villanova over Richmond.

Regional semifinals: Kansas over Maryland, Tennessee over Ohio St., UTEP over Syracuse, Kansas St. over Minnesota, Kentucky over Wisconsin, Marquette over West Virginia, Louisville over Texas A&M, Baylor over Villanova.

Regional finals: Kansas over Tennessee, Kansas St. over UTEP, Kentucky over Marquette, Louisville over Baylor.

Final Four: Kansas over Kansas St., Louisville over Kentucky.

Title game: Kansas over Louisville.