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CBT Bracketology: Kansas in position to be No. 1 overall seed

Kansas bench

The Kansas bench celebrates during the second half of a NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

AP

Without an unexpected turn of events, the Kansas Jayhawks will be the No. 1 overall seed when the 2016 NCAA tournament field is announced on Sunday night. That really shouldn’t be a surprise. The remaining No. 1 seed lines are still up for grabs. Virginia, Villanova, and Oklahoma are in those slots today. The next most likely candidates are Michigan State and North Carolina.

More volatile debates will be centered around teams on the bubble. Wichita State is a prime example. Reasonable people can view the Shockers’ profile differently. I imagine the same will be true of Selection Committee members when then convene in Indianapolis. One on hand, you can point to the Shockers lack of quality wins (per the RPI) and the fact their most recent losses came with a healthy roster. On the other hand, WSU is a team that won the Missouri Valley by four games, posting a 16-2 league record. They were also good on the road (9-4), played a Top 25 non-conference schedule, and currently sit 11th on the Ken Pom rankings. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, which is why it’s going to be a long week for the Shockers.

We’ll have additional updates as we move through Championship Week. In particular, keep an eye on these conference tournaments: the Atlantic 10 and American - both have multiple teams sitting along the cutline.

UPDATED: March 7, 2016

Now that we’ve reached Championship Week, teams in CAPS represent the AUTOMATIC bid. The other automatic bids are noted by the highest remaining seed in the conference tournament (as eligible). Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (ex: UCLA)

Several new bracketing principles were introduced a couple of years ago. You can read them for yourself at www.ncaa.com. For example: teams from the same conference may now meet before a Regional final, even if fewer than eight teams are selected. The goal is to keep as many teams as possible on their actual seed line.

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Wichita State vs. VCU | East Region
  • St. Bonaventure vs. Connecticut | Midwest Region
  • Texas-Southern vs. AUSTIN PEAY | Midwest Region
  • Wagner vs. FLORIDA GULF COAST | South Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

MIDWEST - ChicagoEAST - Philadelphia
Des MoinesRaleigh
1) Kansas1) Virginia
16) Tx-Southern / AUSTIN PEAY16) Hampton
8) Providence8) Seton Hall
9) Pittsburgh9) Saint Joseph’s
ProvidenceDenver
5) Texas AM5) Maryland
12) Valparaiso12) Chattanooga
4) Purdue4) Iowa State
13) Stony Brook13) YALE
BrooklynDes Moines
6) Baylor6) California
11) UConn / St. Bonaventure11) Wichita State / VCU
3) Miami-FL3) Indiana
14) Akron14) S.F. Austin
SpokaneSt. Louis
7) Dayton7) Notre Dame
10) Syracuse10) USC
2) Oregon2) Xavier
15) Weber State15) IPFW
SOUTH - LouisvilleWEST - Anaheim
BrooklynOklahoma City
1) Villanova1) Oklahoma
16) Wagner / FLA GULF CST16) Lehigh
8) South Carolina8) Saint Mary’s
9) Oregon State9) Butler
DenverOklahoma City
5) Texas5) Iowa
12) Ark-Little Rock12) San Diego State
4) Duke4) Kentucky
13) Hofstra13) NORTHERN IOWA
ProvidenceSpokane
6) Arizona6) Wisconsin
11) Monmouth11) Temple
3) West Virginia3) Utah
14) UAB14) Hawaii
St. LouisRaleigh
7) Colorado7) Texas Tech
10) Cincinnati10) Vanderbilt
2) Michigan State2) North Carolina
15) New Mexico State15) NC-ASHEVILLE

NOTES on the BRACKET: Kansas is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Virginia, Oklahoma, Villanova. Next in line: Michigan State, North Carolina, Xavier, Oregon

Last Four Byes (at large): USC, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati

Last Four IN (at large): Wichita State, Connecticut, St. Bonaventure, VCU

First Four OUT (at large): Tulsa, Gonzaga, Florida, Michigan

Next four teams OUT (at large): Florida State, Houston, George Washington, Georgia

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (7): NORTH CAROLINA, Virginia, Miami, Duke, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse

Pac 12 (7): OREGON, Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon State, USC

Big 12 (7): KANSAS, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Iowa State, Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech

Big 10 (6): INDIANA, Michigan State, Purdue, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin

Big East (5): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Seton Hall, Providence, Butler

SEC (4): KENTUCKY, Texas AM, South Carolina, Vanderbilt

Atlantic 10 (4): DAYTON, Saint Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure, VCU

American (3): TEMPLE, Cincinnati, Connecticut

Missouri Valley (2): NORTHERN IOWA, Wichita State

West Coast (1): SAINT MARY’S

Mountain West (1): SAN DIEGO STATE

ONE BID LEAGUES: Monmouth (MAAC), UAB (C-USA), Ark-Little Rock (SBELT), Yale (IVY), Weber State (BSKY), Valparaiso (HORIZON), Stephen F. Austin (SLND), Chattanooga (STHN), Hawaii (BWEST), Akron (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Austin Peay (OVC), Hofstra (CAA), UNC-Asheville (BSO), Hampton (MEAC), IPFW (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Stony Brook (AEAST), Lehigh (PAT), Wagner (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)