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Bracketology: Villanova reclaims overall No. 1 seed

Creighton v Villanova

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats salutes the crowd after the game against the Creighton Bluejays at the Pavilion on February 25, 2017 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats defeated the Bluejays 79-63. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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With two days until Selection Sunday, the reigning national champions are back atop the bracket. Villanova eased through a victory on Thursday while Kansas fell to TCU. North Carolina retains its spot in the South, but could push past Kansas on the final seed list by beating Duke tonight. Gonzaga remains No. 1 in the West Region.

UPDATED: March 10, 2017

Note: Teams in ALL CAPS (other than abbreviated teams) represent automatic bids as they are earned.

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)


  • Illinois State vs. Kansas State | Midwest Region
  • USC vs. Wake Forest | South Region
  • SOUTH DAKOTA ST vs. New Orleans | Midwest Region
  • MOUNT ST. MARY’S vs. NC Central | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - New YorkMIDWEST - Kansas City
BuffaloTulsa
1) Villanova1) Kansas
16) MT. ST. MARY’S / NC Central16) SO DAKOTA ST / New Orleans
8) Miami8) Michigan
9) Oklahoma State9) Seton Hall
OrlandoBuffalo
5) Minnesota5) Virginia
12) UNC-WILMINGTON12) UT-Arlington
4) Florida4) Butler
13) Princeton13) Vermont
Salt Lake CityIndianapolis
6) Iowa State6) Wisconsin
11) Mid Tennessee St11) Kansas State / Illinois State
3) Arizona3) Louisville
14) IONA14) Akron
GreenvilleSacramento
7) Creighton7) Saint Mary’s
10) VCU10) WICHITA STATE
2) Duke2) UCLA
15) Texas-Southern15) UC-Irvine
WEST - San JoseSOUTH - Memphis
Salt Lake CityGreenville
1) GONZAGA1) North Carolina
16) North Dakota16) JACKSONVILLE STATE
8) Arkansas8) Dayton
9) Northwestern9) Marquette
MilwaukeeMilwaukee
5) West Virginia5) Cincinnati
12) Nevada12) Wake Forest / USC
4) Notre Dame4) Purdue
13) BUCKNELL13) EAST TENNESSEE ST
OrlandoTulsa
6) SMU6) Maryland
11) Vanderbilt11) Xavier
3) Florida State3) Baylor
14) WINTHROP14) FLA GULF COAST
SacramentoIndianapolis
7) South Carolina7) Virginia Tech
10) Michigan State10) Providence
2) Oregon2) Kentucky
15) CSU-Bakersfield15) NORTHERN KENTUCKY

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

Last Four Byes (at large): VCU, Providence, Xavier, Vanderbilt

Last Four IN (at large): Kansas State, Wake Forest, USC, Illinois State

First Four OUT (at large): Syracuse, Rhode Island, California, Georgia

Next four teams OUT (at large): Indiana, Iowa, Houston, Illinois

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (9): NORTH CAROLINA, Louisville, Duke, Florida State, Virginia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami-FL, Wake Forest

Big 10 (7): PURDUE, Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State

Big East (7): VILLANOVA, Butler, Creighton, Marquette, Seton Hall, Providence, Xavier

Big 12 (6): KANSAS, Baylor, West Virginia, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

SEC (5): FLORIDA, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Vanderbilt

Pac 12 (4): OREGON, Arizona, UCLA, USC

Atlantic 10 (2): DAYTON, VCU

American (2): SMU, Cincinnati

West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s

Missouri Valley (2): WICHITA STATE, Illinois State

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

ONE BID LEAGUES: IONA (MAAC), Middle Tennessee State (C-USA), UT-Arlington (SBELT), Princeton (IVY), North Dakota (BSKY), NORTHERN KENTUCKY (HORIZON), New Orleans (SLND), EAST TENNESSEE STATE (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Akron (MAC), FLORIDA GULF COAST (ASUN), JACKSONVILLE STATE (OVC), UNC-WILMINGTON (CAA), WINTHROP (BSO), NC-Central (MEAC), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (SUM), CSU-Bakersfield (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), BUCKNELL (PAT), MOUNT ST. MARY’S (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)