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CBT Bracketology: The Zags are Dancing again

WCC Saint Marys Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga forward Kyle Wiltjer celebrates after receiving the tournament MVP prize following the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Saint Mary’s for the West Coast Conference men’s tournament championship Tuesday, March 8, 2016, in Las Vegas. Gonzaga won 85-75. (AP Photo/John Locher)

AP

Sleep well, Spokane, Gonzaga is Dancing again.

Meanwhile, Saint Mary’s joins a growing list of at-large teams hoping there’s a ticket left when they reach the front of the line. That list includes teams like Monmouth, Wichita State, and Valparaiso. Their resumes are complete. All they can do is wait and watch what unfolds around them.

It could be an important day for Syracuse and Pittsburgh at the ACC tournament. Florida State needs to win a few there as well. USC and Oregon State will try to hold their positions via the Pac-12. All-in-all, a busy day to hold serve or build momentum. And it’s only Wednesday.

Enjoy the Madness.

UPDATED: March 9, 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. Monmouth | East Region
  • St. Bonaventure vs. Connecticut | Midwest Region
  • Texas-Southern vs. AUSTIN PEAY | Midwest Region
  • FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON vs. FLA GULF COAST | South Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

MIDWEST - ChicagoEAST - Philadelphia
Des MoinesRaleigh
1) Kansas1) Virginia
16) Tx-Southern / AUSTIN PEAY16) Lehigh
8) Providence8) Seton Hall
9) Pittsburgh9) USC
ProvidenceDenver
5) Texas AM5) Maryland
12) CHATTANOOGA12) Ark-Little Rock
4) Purdue4) Iowa State
13) IONA13) YALE
BrooklynDes Moines
6) Baylor6) California
11) Temple11) GONZAGA
3) Miami-FL3) Indiana
14) UAB14) S.F. Austin
SpokaneSt. Louis
7) Dayton7) Notre Dame
10) Syracuse10) Wichita State / Monmouth
2) Oregon2) Xavier
15) Weber State15) New Mexico State
SOUTH - LouisvilleWEST - Anaheim
BrooklynOklahoma City
1) Villanova1) Oklahoma
16) FDU / FLA GULF CST16) Hampton
8) Saint Joseph’s8) Butler
9) South Carolina9) Oregon State
DenverOklahoma City
5) Texas5) Iowa
12) NORTHERN IOWA12) Akron
4) Duke4) Kentucky
13) Stony Brook13) UNC-WILMINGTON
ProvidenceSpokane
6) Arizona6) Wisconsin
11) UConn / St. Bonaventure11) San Diego State
3) West Virginia3) Utah
14) SOUTH DAKOTA ST14) Hawaii
St. LouisRaleigh
7) Colorado7) Texas Tech
10) Cincinnati10) Vanderbilt
2) Michigan State2) North Carolina
15) GREEN BAY15) UNC-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, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Cincinnati

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

First Four OUT (at large): VCU, Tulsa, Saint Mary’s, Florida

Next four teams OUT (at large): Michigan, Valparaiso, Florida State, Houston

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 (3): DAYTON, Saint Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure

American (3): TEMPLE, Cincinnati, Connecticut

Missouri Valley (2): NORTHERN IOWA, Wichita State

MAAC (2): IONA, Monmouth

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

Mountain West (1): SAN DIEGO STATE

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