A bracket of death and a bracket of breaks. When seven of the Top 12 are in one bracket and another one isn't even in the field, you know you're dealing with Division III men's basketball.

It's where Final Four-quality teams are eliminated in the Sweet 16 by other Final Four-quality teams. It's why the top four at the end of the season in the poll almost never matches the Final Four or the order of finish.

But it seems to be what we're stuck with. So let's preview what we have.

As always, publisher Pat Coleman breaks down the brackets, tries to find a sleeper in each one, a team primed to get upset and picks the eventual champion of each group. It's our annual Division III men's basketball tournament preview, as we get ready for tipoff of five first-round games tonight.