It’s Friday before Selection Sunday. Let’s talk about something positive: the final sprint for No. 1 seeds.
Kansas should be the No. 1 overall seed. The next three slots? We still have questions with two days to go. Unless the Selection Committee has already made its decisions - which is doubtful at this time on Friday - closing results in the ACC, Big 10, and Big East could very well decide how those positions unfold. And if Oregon wins the Pac-12, it’s possible the Committee could reward the Ducks with a No. 1 seed in the West Region, especially if Oklahoma, Michigan State, North Carolina, Virginia, Villanova, and Xavier miss on conference championships. However it ends up, those eight teams are the leading contenders for No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. If Indiana wins the Big 10, the Hoosiers could also reach the two-line.
Today is the day we’ll know more from the Atlantic 10 and American groupings. As for the bubble, Thursday was a less-than-ideal day for Vanderbilt. After losing to Tennessee, the Commodores must now grab a spot on the waiting list, hoping there’s a Dance ticket left on Sunday night.
If there’s a potential bid thief left - other than a team like Illinois or Nebraska (highly unlikely) - it could be San Diego State. Should the Aztecs lose in the Mountain West championship, they’ll join the at-large discussion and see how their resume stacks up against the others.
Bracket Update: March 11, 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)
- Tulsa vs. Monmouth | Midwest Region
- VCU vs. Connecticut | East Region
- HOLY CROSS vs. AUSTIN PEAY | Midwest Region
- FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON vs. FLA GULF COAST | South Region
BRACKET PROJECTION ...
| MIDWEST - Chicago | EAST - Philadelphia | |
| Des Moines | Raleigh | |
| 1) Kansas | 1) Virginia | |
| 16) HOLY CROSS / AUSTIN PEAY | 16) Hampton | |
| 8) Wisconsin | 8) Texas Tech | |
| 9) USC | 9) Oregon State | |
| Oklahoma City | Providence | |
| 5) Duke | 5) Maryland | |
| 12) Ark-Little Rock | 12) Akron | |
| 4) Purdue | 4) Kentucky | |
| 13) IONA | 13) Stony Brook | |
| Brooklyn | Des Moines | |
| 6) Iowa | 6) Texas | |
| 11) Tulsa / Monmouth | 11) UConn / VCU | |
| 3) Miami-FL | 3) Indiana | |
| 14) Middle Tennessee | 14) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | |
| Spokane | St. Louis | |
| 7) Dayton | 7) Colorado | |
| 10) Cincinnati | 10) Wichita State | |
| 2) Oregon | 2) Xavier | |
| 15) Weber State | 15) New Mexico State | |
| SOUTH - Louisville | WEST - Anaheim | |
| Brooklyn | Oklahoma City | |
| 1) Villanova | 1) Oklahoma | |
| 16) FDU / FLA GULF CST | 16) Texas-Southern | |
| 8) South Carolina | 8) Butler | |
| 9) Saint Joseph’s | 9) Pittsburgh | |
| Denver | Denver | |
| 5) Iowa State | 5) Arizona | |
| 12) CHATTANOOGA | 12) NORTHERN IOWA | |
| 4) California | 4) Texas AM | |
| 13) YALE | 13) UNC-WILMINGTON | |
| Providence | Spokane | |
| 6) Notre Dame | 6) Baylor | |
| 11) Temple | 11) San Diego State | |
| 3) West Virginia | 3) Utah | |
| 14) S.F. Austin | 14) Hawaii | |
| St. Louis | Raleigh | |
| 7) Providence | 7) Seton Hall | |
| 10) GONZAGA | 10) St. Bonaventure | |
| 2) Michigan State | 2) North Carolina | |
| 15) GREEN BAY | 15) 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): Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Bonaventure, Wichita State
Last Four IN (at large): Monmouth, Connecticut, VCU, Tulsa
First Four OUT (at large): Saint Mary’s, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Florida
Next four teams OUT (at large): Michigan, Valparaiso, George Washington, Houston
Breakdown by Conference ...
Pac 12 (7): OREGON, Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado, USC, Oregon State
Big 12 (7): KANSAS, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Iowa State, Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech
ACC (6): NORTH CAROLINA, Virginia, Miami, Duke, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh
Big 10 (6): INDIANA, Michigan State, Purdue, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin
Big East (5): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Seton Hall, Providence, Butler
Atlantic 10 (4): DAYTON, Saint Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure, VCU
American (4): TEMPLE, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Tulsa
SEC (3): KENTUCKY, Texas AM, South Carolina
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), Middle Tennessee (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), Holy Cross (PAT), Fairleigh-Dickinson (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)