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CBT BRACKETOLOGY: JAYHAWKS LEAD FIELD OF 68

Carlton Bragg Jr.

Kansas forward Carlton Bragg Jr. (15) celebrates a teammate’s three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 10, 2016. Kansas defeated Kansas State 85-63. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

AP

It’s remarkable how consistent Kansas has been under coach Bill Self: another Big 12 title in arguably the toughest league in college basketball. Kudos to the Jayhawks who will lead the Madness when the actual 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Bracket is announced this afternoon. With its ACC tournament victory last night, North Carolina sits atop the East Region. Michigan State and Virginia complete the top line.

We still have uncertainty along the bubble. Those final slots could go a multitude of ways, made even more complicated by San Diego State losing in the Mountain West final Saturday night. Today, Memphis plays Connecticut for the AAC title; a win by the Tigers would bump one current at-large team from the Field of 68. The Selection Committee will be building a contingency bracket.

One final update this afternoon ahead of the bracket announcement. Enjoy Selection Sunday.

Bracket Update: March 13, 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)


  • Monmouth vs. Saint Mary’s | Midwest Region
  • Temple vs. South Carolina | East Region
  • HOLY CROSS vs. SOUTHERN | Midwest Region
  • FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON vs. FLA GULF COAST | South Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

MIDWEST - ChicagoEAST - Philadelphia
Des MoinesRaleigh
1) KANSAS1) NORTH CAROLINA
16) HOLY CROSS / SOUTHERN16) HAMPTON
8) USC8) Oregon State
9) Cincinnati9) Saint Joseph’s
DenverDenver
5) Duke5) Maryland
12) NORTHERN IOWA12) STONY BROOK
4) California4) Texas AM
13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST13) IONA
Des MoinesSt. Louis
6) Baylor6) Notre Dame
11) Monmouth / Saint Mary’s11) South Carolina / Temple
3) Purdue3) Xavier
14) S.F. AUSTIN14) MIDDLE TENNESSEE
BrooklynBrooklyn
7) Dayton7) Providence
10) Pittsburgh10) VCU
2) Villanova2) West Virginia
15) BUFFALO15) UNC-ASHEVILLE
WEST - AnaheimSOUTH - Louisville
RaleighSt. Louis
1) Virginia1) Michigan State
16) AUSTIN PEAY16) FDU / FLA GULF CST
8) Wisconsin8) Texas Tech
9) Connecticut9) Butler
Oklahoma CityProvidence
5) Iowa State5) Arizona
12) Ark-Little Rock12) YALE
4) Indiana4) Kentucky
13) HAWAII13) UNC-WILMINGTON
ProvidenceSpokane
6) Texas6) SETON HALL
11) Wichita State11) CHATTANOOGA
3) Miami-FL3) Utah
14) GREEN BAY14) FRESNO STATE
SpokaneOklahoma City
7) Iowa7) Colorado
10) St. Bonaventure10) GONZAGA
2) OREGON2) Oklahoma
15) WEBER STATE15) CSU-BAKERSFIELD

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

Last Four Byes (at large): VCU, St. Bonaventure, Pittsburgh, Wichita State

Last Four IN (at large): Monmouth, Temple, South Carolina, Saint Mary’s

First Four OUT (at large): Michigan, San Diego State, Syracuse, Vanderbilt

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

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): MICHIGAN STATE, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin

Big East (5): SETON HALL, Villanova, Xavier, Providence, Butler

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

American (3): CONNECTICUT, Cincinnati, Temple

SEC (3): TEXAS AM, Kentucky, South Carolina

Missouri Valley (2): NORTHERN IOWA, Wichita State

MAAC (2): IONA, Monmouth

West Coast (1): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s

Mountain West (1): FRESNO 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), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Austin Peay (OVC), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), UNC-Asheville (BSO), Hampton (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), CSU-Bakersfield (WAC), Stony Brook (AEAST), Holy Cross (PAT), Fairleigh-Dickinson (NEC), Southern (SWAC)