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Notre Dame’s the new No. 1 in our latest NCAA tourney projections

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Less than a week until Selection Sunday and we have a lot to be decided in conference tournaments. We also have at least one spot up for grabs at the top. Today, Notre Dame grabs the final No. 1 seed and is slotted out West - with opening games in Chicago. Ohio State is a lock for the top line. Pittsburgh and Kansas are looking very strong, too.

Here are some teams who have the most at stake entering conference tournament play: Michigan State, Alabama, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Colorado, Boston College, Marquette, Penn State, Colorado State, Washington State, and Memphis. I would expect we’ll see some changes at the bottom of the bracket throughout the week - especially if we get a few upsets. Stay tuned.

UPDATED: Monday, March 7 | Records reflect Division I games only - through March 6.

NEW: Teams in CAPS represent the AUTOMATIC bid 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 ... Alabama vs. Butler | Michigan State vs. Clemson | Texas Southern vs. McNeese State | UNC-ASHEVILLE vs. Bethune-Cookman. 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: Wednesday, March 9.

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - Newark SOUTHEAST - New Orleans
Cleveland Cleveland
1) Ohio State (29-2) 1) PITTSBURGH (27-4)
16) Beth-Cookman / NC-ASHEVILLE 16) McNeese State / Texas-Southern
8 UCLA (22-9) 8 George Mason (26-6)
9) Old Dominion (25-6) 9) Illinois (19-12)
Tampa Tampa
5) Texas AM (22-7) 5) Connecticut (21-9)
12) Alabama / Butler 12) BELMONT (30-4)
4) Louisville (23-8) 4) Florida (24-6)
13) Harvard (21-5) 13) Charleston (24-9)
Washington, DC Denver
6) Vanderbilt (21-9) 6) Temple (24-6)
11) Michigan (18-12) 11) Gonzaga (23-9)
3) Syracuse (25-6) 3) Wisconsin (23-7)
14) Milwaukee (19-12) 14) Kent State (20-10)
Charlotte Tulsa
7) UNLV (23-7) 7) Arizona (25-6)
10) Richmond (24-7) 10) Marquette (18-13)
2) Duke (27-4) 2) Texas (25-6)
15) Long Island (26-5) 15) MOREHEAD STATE (23-9)
SOUTHWEST - San Antonio WEST - Anaheim
Tulsa Chicago
1) Kansas (28-2) 1) Notre Dame (25-5)
16) Boston University (19-13) 16) North Texas (20-10)
8 Utah State (27-3) 8 Missouri (21-9)
9) Tennessee (18-13) 9) Florida State (21-9)
Washington, DC Tucson
5) Xavier (24-6) 5) West Virginia (20-10)
12) Michigan State / Clemson 12) UAB (22-7)
4) St. John’s (20-10) 4) Kentucky (22-8)
13) Iona (22-10) 13) Oakland (22-9)
Chicago Charlotte
6) Cincinnati (24-7) 6) Georgetown (21-9)
11) Boston College (19-11) 11) St. Mary’s (22-7)
3) Purdue (25-6) 3) North Carolina (23-6)
14) INDIANA STATE (19-13) 14) Bucknell (24-8)
Tucson Denver
7) Villanova (21-9) 7) Kansas State (21-9)
10) Georgia (20-10) 10) Washington (20-10)
2) San Diego State (27-2) 2) BYU (27-3)
15) Northern Colorado (17-10) 15) Long Beach State (18-10)

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

Last Five teams in (at large): Michigan, Michigan State, Butler, Clemson, Alabama

First Five teams out (at large): Virginia Tech, Colorado, VCU, Penn State, Missouri State

Next in Line: Colorado State, New Mexico, Washington State, Memphis, Baylor

Bracket adjustments: None in this update.

Here is the team breakdown by Conference ...

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

Big Ten (6): Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan

SEC (6): Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama

Big 12 (5): Kansas, Texas, Texas AM, Missouri, Kansas State

ACC (5): Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, Boston College, Clemson

Pac 10 (3): Arizona, UCLA, Washington

Mountain West (3): San Diego State, BYU, UNLV

Atlantic 10 (3): Xavier, Temple, Richmond

Colonial (2): George Mason, Old Dominion

West Coast (2): St. Mary’s, Gonzaga

Horizon (2): Milwaukee, Butler

Conference USA (1): UAB

Missouri Valley (1): INDIANA STATE

Conference leaders/champions ... Utah State (WAC), MOREHEAD STATE (OVC), Iona (MAAC), Kent State (MAC), Northern Colorado (Big Sky), Charleston (Southern), Oakland (Summit), Long Beach State (Big West), Long Island (NEC), BELMONT (Atlantic Sun), North Texas (Sun Belt), Harvard (Ivy), UNC-ASHEVILLE (Big South), Bethune-cookman (MEAC), BUCKNELL (Patriot), Boston University (America East), McNeese State(Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC)