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Bracketology: Committee delivers ACC message

North Carolina v Duke

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 09: Justin Jackson #44 of the North Carolina Tar Heels throws the ball in against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 9, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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If we learned anything after Saturday’s sneak peak into the 2017 Selection Committee’s thinking - at least in mid-February - it’s this: Quality RPI wins still matter and the Atlantic Coast Conference is the top game in town. The road to Selection Sunday is far from over, but as of Noon this past Saturday, ACC teams gobbled up five of the 16 seed lines released (31 percent). The Big 12 and Pac-12 each took three (19 percent each). The Big East and SEC two each (12.5 percent). The Big Ten? A discussion point, but not worthy, and that was before Wisconsin lost at home Sunday night to Northwestern; a huge win for the Wildcats, by the way, who are poised to make their first-ever appearance in March Madness. Cincinnati and SMU (American) were also on the outside looking in at the top four lines.

Now, take a breath. If college basketball has taught us anything, it’s too expect the unexpected. Although the very top of the bracket is certainly taking shape, nothing is set in stone. Based upon the Committee’s seeding, three ACC teams (North Carolina, Louisville, Florida State) are still in play for a No. 1 seed. One could say the same for an eventual Pac-12 champion, especially if say Oregon or Arizona wins the regular season and P12 tourney titles. As for Gonzaga? With their trip to Saint Mary’s in the rearview mirror, it’s looking more and more likely the Bulldogs will wrap-up a perfect season. If they do, a No. 1 seed awaits. If they were to stumble, we’ll see. The Committee is not as enamored with their perfect record as compared to the number of power wins by say teams like Kansas or Baylor.

There’s nothing new to report along the bubble. It’s as messy as ever. Stay tuned.

UPDATED: February 13, 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.

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Wichita State vs. Seton Hall | East Region
  • Arkansas vs. Georgia Tech | Midwest 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) Iowa State8) USC
9) Virginia Tech9) Minnesota
SacramentoMilwaukee
5) WISCONSIN5) CINCINNATI
12) VALPARAISO12) ILLINOIS STATE
4) UCLA4) Duke
13) BOISE STATE13) VERMONT
IndianapolisSalt Lake City
6) Maryland6) Creighton
11) Wichita State / Seton Hall11) Arkansas / Georgia Tech
3) Kentucky3) ARIZONA
14) PRINCETON14) ARKANSAS STATE
IndianapolisOrlando
7) Dayton7) Northwestern
10) Michigan State10) TCU
2) Louisville2) Florida State
15) NO DAKOTA ST15) NC-ASHEVILLE
WEST - San JoseSouth - Memphis
Salt Lake CityTulsa
1) GONZAGA1) Baylor
16) TX-SOUTHERN16) NEW ORLEANS
8) Oklahoma State8) VCU
9) California9) Syracuse
BuffaloMilwaukee
5) Notre Dame5) Purdue
12) AKRON12) NC-WILMINGTON
4) West Virginia4) Butler
13) MONMOUTH13) BELMONT
GreenvilleOrlando
6) South Carolina6) SMU
11) MID TENNESSEE ST11) Kansas State
3) Virginia3) FLORIDA
14) FLA GULF COAST14) BUCKNELL
SacramentoGreenville
7) Saint Mary’s7) Xavier
10) Miami-FL10) Michigan
2) Oregon2) NORTH CAROLINA
15) CSU-BAKERSFIELD15) FURMAN

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

Last Four Byes (at large): TCU, Michigan, Miami-FL, Kansas State

Last Four IN (at large): Wichita State, Arkansas, Seton Hall, Georgia Tech

First Four OUT (at large): Wake Forest, Georgetown, Marquette, Clemson

Next four teams OUT (at large): Rhode Island, Indiana, Providence, Tennessee

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (10): NORTH CAROLINA, Louisville, Florida State, Virginia, Duke, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Miami-FL, Georgia Tech

Big 10 (7): WISCONSIN, Purdue, Maryland, Northwestern, Minnesota, Michigan State, Michigan

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

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

Pac 12 (5): OREGON, Arizona, UCLA, USC, California

SEC (4): FLORIDA, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas

Atlantic 10 (2): VCU, Dayton

American (2): CINCINNATI, SMU

West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s

Missouri Valley (2): ILLINOIS STATE, Wichita State

Mountain West (1): BOISE STATE

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