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Texas vaults to No. 1 seed status in NCAA tournament projections

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As we move into February, one this is clear: not much is clear. Especially in the Big 12. Kansas State, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Colorado have all spent time in the bracket, but none appear today. Who returns by March? We’ll see. More on this in Bubble Banter which debuts Tuesday evening. It’s not atypical for late January, but we have more questions than answers right now. We have very few “locks.”

What we do know is that Ohio State is undefeated - by a whisker at Northwestern - and remains No. 1 overall. The Buckeyes are followed on the S-Curve by Kansas, Pittsburgh, and Texas. Connecticut leads a group of two-seeds that include Duke, San Diego State, and BYU. If you have a different order, no argument. The goal is to offer perspective of how the bracket is shaping up. Thankfully, there’s a lot of basketball yet to be played. Rebounds always welcome. Follow on Twitter at BracketguyDave. More at Bracketville.

UPDATED: Monday, January 31 | Records reflect Division I games only - through January 30.

Teams in CAPS represent the projected conference champion for this bracket. Exceptions are made for those teams that traditionally use an abbreviation (UTEP, BYU, etc).

NOTE: In the new 68-team format you will notice two pairing games that represent the First Four pairings. In this bracket the First Four games in Dayton would be ... UCLA vs. Old Dominion | Richmond vs. Wichita State | Jackson State vs. McNeese State | Austin Peay vs. Long Beach. The final four at-large teams are paired along with the teams seeded 65-68 on the S-curve. The matchups are indicated in the bracket below.

Next Update: Monday, February 7.

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - Newark SOUTHEAST - New Orleans
Cleveland Cleveland
1) OHIO STATE (22-0) 1) PITTSBURGH (20-2)
16) LONG ISLAND (16-5) 16) HAMPTON (15-5)
8 Georgia (14-6) 8 Illinois (14-7)
9) St. John’s (12-8) 9) XAVIER (15-5)
Tampa Tucson
5) Syracuse (18-4) 5) Tennessee (14-7)
12) Gonzaga (13-8) 12) UCLA / Old Dominion
4) Missouri (16-4) 4) Texas AM (16-3)
13) Richmond / Wichita State 13) OAKLAND (15-8)
Chicago Charlotte
6) Wisconsin (15-5) 6) West Virginia (14-6)
11) Washington State (15-6) 11) Virginia Tech (14-6)
3) Notre Dame (17-4) 3) KENTUCKY (16-4)
14) BUCKNELL (15-8) 14) BELMONT (19-4)
Charlotte Denver
7) Vanderbilt (15-5) 7) Cincinnati (18-4)
10) MEMPHIS (16-5) 10) Penn State (12-8)
2) DUKE (19-2) 2) BYU (19-2)
15) FLORIDA ATLANTIC (14-7) 15) MONTANA (14-5)
SOUTHWEST - San Antonio WEST - Anaheim
Tulsa Tulsa
1) KANSAS (20-1) 1) Texas (18-3)
16) McNEESE ST / JACKSON ST 16) LONG BEACH / AUSTIN PEAY
8 Arizona (18-4) 8 Florida State (15-6)
9) Michigan State (12-8) 9) Marquette (14-8)
Tampa Denver
5) Florida (16-5) 5) WASHINGTON (15-5)
12) CLEVELAND STATE (17-3) 12) UTAH STATE (20-2)
4) Georgetown (16-5) 4) Louisville (17-4)
13) CHARLESTON (15-7) 13) FAIRFIELD (16-4)
Chicago Washington, DC
6) North Carolina (15-5) 6) Minnesota (16-5)
11) MISSOURI STATE (16-5) 11) VCU (18-5)
3) Purdue (18-4) 3) Villanova (17-4)
14) COASTAL CAROLINA (16-2) 14) PRINCETON (13-4)
Washington, DC Tucson
7) UNLV (16-5) 7) Temple (15-5)
10) ST. MARY’S (16-4) 10) Boston College (14-7)
2) Connecticut (17-3) 2) SAN DIEGO STATE (19-1)
15) MAINE (13-7) 15) KENT STATE (13-7)

NOTES on the BRACKET: Ohio State is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Kansas, Pittsburgh, and Texas. The two seeds in order are Connecticut, Duke, San Diego State, BYU

Last Five teams in (at large): Gonzaga, UCLA, Old Dominion, Wichita State, Richmond

First Five teams out (at large): Kansas State, Baylor, George Mason, Clemson, Maryland

Also Considered: UAB, Duquesne, Butler, Colorado State, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Rhode Island, Northern Iowa, South Carolina, Southern Mississippi, UTEP, California, Portland, Arkansas, Alabama, New Mexico

Bracket adjustments: Memphis moves up a seed line and Virginia Tech drops one to avoid conference conflicts.

Here is the team breakdown by Conference ...

Big East (11): PITTSBURGH, Connecticut, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Villanova, West Virginia, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. John’s, Marquette

Big Ten (7): OHIO STATE, Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State

SEC (5): KENTUCKY, Vanderbilt, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia

ACC (5): DUKE, North Carolina, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Florida State

Big 12 (4): KANSAS, Texas, Texas AM, Missouri

Pac 10 (4): WASHINGTON, Arizona, Washington State, UCLA

Mountain West (3): SAN DIEGO STATE, BYU, UNLV

Atlantic 10 (3): XAVIER, Temple, Richmond

Missouri Valley (2): MISSOURI STATE, Wichita State

West Coast (2): ST. MARY’S, Gonzaga

Conference USA (1): MEMPHIS

Colonial (1): VCU

Horizon (1): CLEVELAND STATE

Auto Bid conference champions ... Utah State (WAC), Austin Peay (OVC), Fairfield (MAAC), Kent State (MAC), Montana (Big Sky), Charleston (Southern), Oakland (Summit), Long Beach (Big West), Long Island (NEC), Belmont (Atlantic Sun), Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt), Princeton (Ivy), Coastal Carolina (Big South), Hampton (MEAC), Bucknell (Patriot), Maine (America East), McNeese State (Southland), Jackson State (SWAC)