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Updated Bracket: Who is No. 1 in the Midwest?

Cardinals head coach Pitino instructs guard Siva while playing the Orange during the second half of their NCAA men's championship final basketball game at the 2013 Big East Tournament in New York

Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino instructs guard Peyton Siva (L) while playing the Syracuse Orange during the second half of their NCAA men’s championship final basketball game at the 2013 Big East Tournament in New York, March 16, 2013. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

REUTERS

Who will be the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region?

That’s one of the biggest questions we’ll all wait to have answered later tonight. With Louisville’s win over Syracuse on Saturday, combined with Indiana’s loss to Wisconsin, the floor is open for debate. It will come down to this: Which of those two teams is the top overall seed when the Selection Committee puts together its final seeding list - often referred to as the s-curve. Both the Cardinals and the Hoosiers would relish the opportunity to go through Indianapolis. Based on Indiana’s outright Big Ten regular season title, we’re leaving the Hoosiers in the Midwest. After a fresh review, we’ll see if that stands. The other pending question at the top of the bracket is whether Kansas will be a one-seed over either Duke or Gonzaga? Valid arguments can be made for all three.

At the bottom of the bracket, Mississippi is making a push toward an at-large bid (and an automatic berth). By beating Vanderbilt, the Rebels avoided an untimely loss and play Florida in the SEC title game. Given that scenario, the Rebels have slid into the First Four - along with Tennessee, La Salle, and Saint Mary’s. That leaves Middle Tennessee as the first team out. For a lot of reasons, it would be rewarding for the Committee to recognize the Blue Raiders on their excellent season. And depending on your point of view, valid arguments can be made for any of the last few in or first few out. It’s the nature of the bubble.

We’ll post a final update Sunday afternoon before the NCAA Selection Show. It’s going to be a great tournament.

UPDATED: March 17, 2013 | 1:40 a.m. ET

Teams in CAPS represent the projected AUTOMATIC bid based on current standings. Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (UTEP, BYU, etc). Records are for games against Division I teams only.

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Mississippi vs. Saint Mary’s | South Region
  • Tennessee vs. La Salle | West Region
  • JAMES MADISON vs. LIBERTY | Midwest Region
  • SOUTHERN vs. N. CAROLINA A&T | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - Washington, DCMIDWEST- Indianapolis
LexingtonDayton
1) LOUISVILLE1) Indiana
16) SOUTHERN / NC A&T 16) LIBERTY / JAMES MADISON
8) North Carolina8) OREGON
9) San Diego State9) MEMPHIS
AustinSan Jose
5) Oklahoma State5) Saint Louis
12) BELMONT12) BUCKNELL
4) Wisconsin4) Marquette
13) AKRON13) VALPARAISO
DaytonAustin
6) Butler6) UCLA
11) Oklahoma11) Temple
3) Ohio State3) Florida
14) HARVARD14) SOUTH DAKOTA ST
LexingtonPhiladelphia
7) CREIGHTON7) Colorado State
10) Villanova10) Minnesota
2) Miami-FL2) Georgetown
15) ALBANY15) IONA
SOUTH - DallasWEST - Los Angeles
PhiladelphiaSalt Lake
1) Duke1) GONZAGA
16) LIU-BROOKLYN16) WESTERN KENTUCKY
8) Illinois8) Missouri
9) Cincinnati9) Wichita State
Kansas CitySan Jose
5) Arizona5) UNLV
12) Saint Mary’s / Mississippi12) Tennessee / La Salle
4) Kansas State4) Syracuse
13) DAVIDSON13) NEW MEXICO STATE
Auburn HillsAuburn Hills
6) Notre Dame6) Pittsburgh
11) California11) Boise State
3) Michigan State3) Michigan
14) FLA GULF COAST14) NORTHWESTERN STATE
Salt LakeKansas City
7) VCU7) NC State
10) Iowa State10) Colorado
2) NEW MEXICO2) Kansas
15) PACIFIC15) MONTANA

NOTES on the BRACKET: Indiana is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Louisville, Duke, and Gonzaga. Next in line: Kansas, Georgetown, New Mexico, Miami-FL

Last Five teams in (at large): Boise State, Tennessee, La Salle, Mississippi, Saint Mary’s

First Five teams out (at large): Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts

Next five teams out (at large): Iowa, Alabama, Southern Miss, Arizona State, Stephen F. Austin

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 (4): Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Miami-FL

SEC (4): Missouri, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi

Missouri Valley (2): CREIGHTON, Wichita State

West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s

Conference USA (1): Memphis

Conference Automatic Qualifiers ... BELMONT (Ohio Valley), WESTERN KENTUCKY (Sun Belt), BUCKNELL (Patriot), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit), VALPARAISO (Horizon), DAVIDSON (Southern), NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC), IONA (MAAC), NORTHWESTERN STATE (Southland), AKRON (MAC), FLORIDA GULF COAST (A-Sun), HARVARD (IVY), PACIFIC (Big West), JAMES MADISON (Colonial), ALBANY (American East), MONTANA (Big Sky), NORTH CAROLINA A&T (MEAC), LIBERTY (Big South), LIU-BROOKLYN (NEC), SOUTHERN (SWAC)