A Digital Selection Sunday?

Brackets.

They are among the most powerful ways of communicating information. In a single glance, we get 64 teams (or in this year's case, 68 teams) and their seasons all in one take. This take combines everything -- wins/losses, injuries, play of late, offense, defense, leadership, and intangibles... and transforms that into a seed. And, of course the seeds become a bracket that all of us analyze and break down: Who's overrated/underrated? Who was left out? What conference is the toughest?

With the expansion to 68 teams, the bracket will look like this when it's unveiled next Sunday...

But what if the bracket was not determined by how good your basketball team was? What if it was determined by the way you connect (or don't) online?

Enter the Digital Selection Sunday.... Or rather Selection Week. I have visited every website in NCAA Division 1 and compiled a bracket, which I will unveil over the next week leading up to the actual NCAA Tourney.

Here's how it will be determined:

1. Content: What information do you have about your program online?
2. Access: How much access do you give to fans (or recruits) online?
3. Social: How do you leverage (or not leverage) social connection of fans?
4. Branding: Do you develop a consistent look and feel that is both emotional & inspiring?
5. Intangibles: How easy is your website to use? And how do the pieces work together?

I've broken down every NCAA team by these factors. (Though, as in real life, not all factors are treated equally!) All conferences that get an automatic bid in the real tourney do in this tourney as well. And everything else is up for grabs.

The results will inspire you. And, more importantly, they'll make you think.

Here's our schedule...

Monday, March 7 - The Top 4 overall seeds

Tuesday, March 8 - The First Four Matchups

Wednesday, March 9 - Region 1

Thursday, March 10 - Region 2

Friday, March 11- Region 3

Saturday, March 12 - Region 4

Then we hit the real Selection Sunday, March 13!

You can follow along via this blog, on the Digital Hoops Blast Facebook Page (here), or on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34)

Can't wait,

Andy