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Bracketology: Duke looking dangerous

Florida State v Duke

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 28: Frank Jackson #15 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play during their game against the Florida State Seminoles at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 28, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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As the final seconds ticked away in Brooklyn, Duke celebrated its ACC tournament victory over rival North Carolina. With it, the Blue Devils may also have secured a spot as the No. 2 seed in the East Region behind Villanova. One thing’s for sure, Duke looks dangerous. In the Pac-12, Arizona and Oregon are fighting for the No. 2 seed out West.

Vanderbilt continues its push with a third victory over Florida. Elsewhere on the bubble, teams like Kansas State, Wake Forest, USC, and Illinois State sit and watch. Keep an eye on what unfolds today in the Atlantic 10, particularly.

UPDATED: March 11, 2017

Note: Now that conference tournaments have begun, teams in ALL CAPS will 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)


  • Kansas State vs. USC | Midwest Region
  • Wake Forest vs. Illinois State | 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) Arkansas
9) Dayton9) Marquette
OrlandoBuffalo
5) Minnesota5) Virginia
12) UNC-WILMINGTON12) UT-Arlington
4) Florida4) Butler
13) Vermont13) Princeton
SacramentoIndianapolis
6) Iowa State6) Wisconsin
11) Providence11) Kansas State / USC
3) UCLA3) Louisville
14) IONA14) Akron
GreenvilleSalt Lake City
7) Maryland7) Saint Mary’s
10) Vanderbilt10) VCU
2) Duke2) Arizona
15) Texas-Southern15) UC-Irvine
WEST - San JoseSOUTH - Memphis
Salt Lake CityGreenville
1) GONZAGA1) North Carolina
16) North Dakota16) JACKSONVILLE STATE
8) South Carolina8) Northwestern
9) Seton Hall9) Oklahoma State
MilwaukeeMilwaukee
5) West Virginia5) Cincinnati
12) Nevada12) Wake Forest / Illinois State
4) Notre Dame4) Purdue
13) BUCKNELL13) EAST TENNESSEE ST
OrlandoTulsa
6) SMU6) Creighton
11) Xavier11) Mid Tennessee State
3) Florida State3) Baylor
14) WINTHROP14) FLA GULF COAST
SacramentoIndianapolis
7) Virginia Tech7) Michigan
10) Michigan State10) WICHITA STATE
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, Michigan State, Xavier, Providence

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

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

Next four teams OUT (at large): Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama

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, Seton Hall, Marquette, Xavier, Providence

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)