(Image source: Washington Post )

BY NATHAN BYRNE

Who’s in? Who’s out? Now we know. The crew on CNN’s “Starting Point” marches on from college basketball’s Selection Sunday.

“And it’s time to not work today. Fill out your brackets and then tear them up on Thursday night. It’s March Madness. That’s right, the NCAA Tournament has been set.”

Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse and Michigan State didn’t surprise many analysts as number-one seeds. But the decision on who would fall next in line spurred debate about how scheduling early impacts seeding later. A contributor for SB Nation wrote this about one of the tournament’s two-seeds …

“I never really considered Missouri seriously, even though the team certainly plays like a top seed, because its profile just didn't match up well with the Selection Committee's typical opinions on scheduling. Perhaps in the future, teams in the Tigers' position -- and really any team that wants to qualify for the Tournament -- will finally take the Committee's opinions to heart.”

No major surprises snuck into this year’s bracket. But that didn’t stop Charles Barkley from debating selection committee chairman Jeff Hathaway on CBS . Enjoy the awkward silence.

CHARLES BARKLEY: “Well, Colorado State was 0-9 — 0-for-nine — on the road against the top 100 teams.”

JEFF HATHAWAY: “But they had three wins on the road against the top 50 teams.”

The location conversation comes into play, too. Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News commends the committee for valuing match-ups over geography.

“They placed all the teams where they should be, with the weakest number two — Duke playing the strongest number one — Kentucky. That was very good. I was very impressed that they did that, even though it meant having to move.”

And it wouldn’t be March Madness without upsets. Sports Illustrated’s Seth Davis points to a mid-major team that returns nine of its 11 top players from last year.

“Belmont is my one team on this bracket that I kind of took a chance on to go to a Sweet Sixteen — upsetting Georgetown and then potentially San Diego State. Remember, last year, Belmont played Wisconsin very tough …”  

ESPN’s Dick Vitale predicts the tournament’s top seeds will hold their value and go the distance.

“I think this tough group — tougher than it’s been in the past — I think the tough teams on top will be tough to beat.”

The tournament tips off Tuesday night.