We should be in for an exciting week. It’s not often that so many potential at-large spots and seeding questions remain this close to Selection Sunday. Which means several teams - many from the SEC in particular - will be paying close attention to conference tournament results. A surprise winner or two could jolt the at-large pool.
For now, Duke reclaims the overall top seed. Ryan Kelly has returned and is playing at a high level. That brings the Blue Devils’ full profile back into play, and it’s pretty good. But the race isn’t over. Gonzaga, Kansas, Indiana, Louisville, Georgetown, New Mexico, and a second Big Ten team are all contenders for a No. 1 seed. Conference tournaments could play a decisive role.
The bubble remains what it is. So despite some losses this week, not a lot has changed. Thankfully, a week remains to help sort things out. Given the turmoil, several teams could still make a late push. We have a long way to go and a short time to get there. Buckle up.
Quick note: As we’ve entered conference tournament play, teams in ALL-CAPS no longer appear in the bracket. We’ll begin using the CAPS as a indication of a team’s automatic bid. The first of which will be handed out on Saturday.
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)
- Virginia vs. Tennessee | East Region
- Iowa State vs. La Salle | South Region
- Norfolk State vs. Charleston-Southern | South Region
- Southern vs. Northeastern | Midwest Region
BRACKET PROJECTION ...
EAST - Washington, DC | MIDWEST- Indianapolis | |
Philadelphia | Dayton | |
1) Duke | 1) INDIANA | |
16) Mercer | 16) Southern / Northeastern | |
8) Illinois | 8) Missouri | |
9) Memphis | 9) Cincinnati | |
San Jose | Salt Lake | |
5) Arizona | 5) Saint Louis | |
12) Belmont | 12) Middle Tennesse State | |
4) Marquette | 4) UNLV | |
13) Bucknell | 13) Louisiana Tech | |
Kansas City | Austin | |
6) Pittsburgh | 6) VCU | |
11) Tennessee / Virginia | 11) Boise State | |
3) Kansas State | 3) Miami-FL | |
14) S.F. Austin | 14) Montana | |
Auburn Hills | Lexington | |
7) Butler | 7) Oregon | |
10) California | 10) Wichita State | |
2) Michigan State | 2) Louisville | |
15) Niagara | 15) South Dakota State | |
SOUTH - Dallas | WEST - Los Angeles | |
Kansas City | Salt Lake | |
1) Kansas | 1) Gonzaga | |
16) Norfolk St / Charleston-So | 16) Long Beach State | |
8) Colorado State | 8) San Diego State | |
9) Creighton | 9) Colorado | |
San Jose | Dayton | |
5) Wisconsin | 5) Oklahoma State | |
12) Saint Mary’s | 12) Villanova | |
4) Syracuse | 4) Ohio State | |
13) Davidson | 13) Akron | |
Lexington | Auburn Hills | |
6) Notre Dame | 6) UCLA | |
11) Iowa State / La Salle | 11) Temple | |
3) Florida | 3) Michigan | |
14) Stony Brook | 14) Valparaiso | |
Austin | Philadelphia | |
7) North Carolina | 7) NC State | |
10) Minnesota | 10) Oklahoma | |
2) New Mexico | 2) Georgetown | |
15) Robert Morris | 15) Princeton |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Duke is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Gonzaga, Indiana, and Kansas. Next in line: Louisville, New Mexico, Georgetown, Michigan State.
Last Five teams in (at large): Saint Mary’s, La Salle, Iowa State, Tennessee, Virginia
First Five teams out (at large): Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Iowa, Massachusetts
Next Five teams out (at large): Arkansas, Maryland, Baylor, Xavier, Providence
Breakdown by Conference ...
Big East (8): Louisville, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Villanova
Big Ten (7): Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois
Mountain West (5): San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State, Boise State
Pac 12 (5): Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon, California
Big 12 (5): Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Iowa State
Atlantic 10 (5): Butler, VCU, Temple, La Salle, Saint Louis
ACC (5): Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Miami-FL, Virginia
SEC (3): Missouri, Florida, Tennessee
Missouri Valley (2): Creighton, Wichita State
West Coast (2): Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s
Conference USA (1): Memphis
Conference Automatic Qualifiers ... BELMONT (Ohio Valley), BUCKNELL (Patriot), MIDDLE TENNESSE ST (Sunbelt), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE(Summit), VALPARAISO (Horizon), DAVIDSON (Southern), LOUISIANA TECH (WAC), NIAGARA (MAAC), STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (Southland), AKRON (MAC), MERCER (A-Sun), PRINCETON (IVY), LONG BEACH (Big West), NORTHEASTERN (Colonial), STONY BROOK (American East), MONTANA (Big Sky), NORFOLK STATE (MEAC), CHARLESTON-SOUTHERN (Big South), ROBERT MORRIS (NEC), SOUTHERN (SWAC)