Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Bracketology: Kansas shows its mettle

Baylor v Kansas

LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 01: Devonte’ Graham #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks scores on a fast break as Johnathan Motley #5 of the Baylor Bears defends during the game at Allen Fieldhouse on February 1, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Getty Images

As the race for top seeds continue, Kansas showed its mettle in recent days - backing up road win at Kentucky with a home victory last night against Big 12 rival Baylor. That’s a strong two-game parlay, and keeps KU firmly entrenched as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region in today’s bracket update. By a slim margin, Villanova holds the overall No. 1 seed position. Baylor and unbeaten Gonzaga also reside on the top line.

The Bubble

This year’s large collection of bubble teams remains quite fluid. It’s also about 30-teams deep as we begin the February push. How long will teams be able to circumvent poor road records and sub-.500 league records? It’s a valid and good question. The answer is truly the great unknown. Teams do not play in vacuum. We’ll see how the landscape looks next week and next month.

UPDATED: February 2, 2017

Regarding bracketing principles, 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.
RELATED: The latest Bubble Banter

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Tennessee vs. TCU | Midwest Region
  • California vs. Kansas State | South Region
  • WEBER STATE vs. UC-DAVIS | Midwest Region
  • MT. ST. MARY’S vs. NC CENTRAL | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - New YorkMIDWEST - Kansas City
BuffaloTulsa
1) VILLANOVA1) KANSAS
16) NC-CENTRAL / M.S. MARY’S16) WEBER ST / UC-DAVIS
8) Dayton8) Virginia Tech
9) ILLINOIS STATE9) VCU
MilwaukeeSacramento
5) CINCINNATI5) Purdue
12) AKRON12) TCU / Tennessee
4) MARYLAND4) Oregon
13) MONMOUTH13) NEVADA
BuffaloOrlando
6) Notre Dame6) Florida
11) NC-WILMINGTON11) Minnesota
3) West Virginia3) Florida State
14) E. TENNESSEE ST14) BELMONT
GreenvilleIndianapolis
7) Northwestern7) USC
10) Marquette10) Georgia Tech
2) NORTH CAROLINA2) KENTUCKY
15) BUCKNELL15) PRINCETON
WEST - San JoseSOUTH - Memphis
Salt Lake CityTulsa
1) GONZAGA1) Baylor
16) TX-SOUTHERN16) SAM HOUSTON ST
8) Michigan State8) MID TENNESSEE ST
9) Iowa State9) Arkansas
OrlandoMilwaukee
5) Butler5) Duke
12) VALPARAISO12) California / Kansas St
4) Wisconsin4) Creighton
13) NEW MEXICO ST13) VERMONT
GreenvilleSacramento
6) South Carolina6) Saint Mary’s
11) Oklahoma State11) Clemson
3) Virginia3) UCLA
14) FLA GULF COAST14) ARKANSAS ST
Salt Lake CityIndianapolis
7) Xavier7) SMU
10) Indiana10) Michigan
2) ARIZONA2) Louisville
15) NORTH DAKOTA ST15) WINTHROP

NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Kansas, Baylor, and Gonzaga.

Last Four Byes (at large): Marquette, Minnesota, Clemson, Oklahoma State

Last Four IN (at large): California, Tennessee, TCU, Kansas State

First Four OUT (at large): Seton Hall, Miami-FL, Wichita State, Georgetown

Next four teams OUT (at large): Wake Forest, Texas Tech, Rhode Island, NC State

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (9): NORTH CAROLINA, Louisville, Florida State, Virginia, Duke, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Clemson

Big 10 (8): MARYLAND, Wisconsin, Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan State, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota

Big 12 (7): KANSAS, Baylor, West Virginia, Iowa State, TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma State

Big East (5): VILLANOVA, Creighton, Butler, Xavier, Marquette

SEC (5): KENTUCKY, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee

Pac 12 (5): ARIZONA, UCLA, Oregon, USC, California

Atlantic 10 (2): VCU, Dayton

American (2): CINCINNATI, SMU

West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s

Missouri Valley (1): ILLINOIS STATE

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Monmouth (MAAC), Middle Tennessee State (C-USA), Arkansas State (SBELT), Princeton (IVY), Weber State (BSKY), Valparaiso (HORIZON), Sam Houston State (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), UC-Davis (BWEST), Akron (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), Winthrop (BSO), NC-Central (MEAC), North Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Mt. St. Mary’s (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)