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Bracketology: Purdue makes its case for a No. 1 seed

Big Ten Basketball Media Day

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Purdue Men’s Basketball Head Coach Matt Painter speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

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Purdue has won 12 straight, staking its claim as an early No. 1 seed contender. The Boilermakers left the Bahamas with a victory over Arizona and haven’t loss since. In all, they’ve compiled a 6-2 record against the NCAA’s updated “Group 1,” the highest win total of any team against that metric. For their efforts, Purdue sits atop the Midwest Region heading into another busy weekend.

Villanova remains the top overall seed, followed by West Virginia, Purdue, and then Oklahoma. The ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Big East dominate the field. Another new bracket arrives on Monday.

UPDATED: January 12, 2018

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Notre Dame vs. Missouri | West Region
  • LSU vs. NC State | South Region
  • SE LOUISIANA vs. TX-SOUTHERN | Midwest Region
  • FLORIDA GULF COAST vs. NC A&T | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION

EAST - BostonSOUTH - Atlanta
PittsburghPittsburgh
1) VILLANOVA1) WEST VIRGINIA
16) NC A&T / FL GULF COAST16) PENN
8) Texas8) Florida State
9) Arkansas9) Marquette
NashvilleSan Diego
5) Cincinnati5) ARIZONA
12) BUFFALO12) MID TENNESSEE
4) North Carolina4) AUBURN
13) E. TENNESSEE ST13) LOUISIANA
DallasNashville
6) Creighton6) TCU
11) Georgia11) LSU / NC State
3) Texas Tech3) Xavier
14) RADFORD14) WRIGHT STATE
DetroitCharlotte
7) RHODE ISLAND7) Texas AM
10) Louisville10) Houston
2) Michigan State2) Duke
15) RIDER15) BUCKNELL
WEST - Los AngelesMIDWEST - Omaha
WichitaDetroit
1) Oklahoma1) PURDUE
16) ST. FRANCIS (PA)16) SE LOUISIANA / TX-SOUTHERN
8) Michigan8) Miami-FL
9) Butler9) UCLA
BoiseBoise
5) GONZAGA5) Kentucky
12) Notre Dame / Missouri12) SOUTH DAKOTA ST
4) Seton Hall4) Clemson
13) WILLIAM & MARY13) VERMONT
San DiegoWichita
6) Florida6) Tennessee
11) NEW MEXICO ST11) Providence
3) Arizona State3) Kansas
14) MONTANA14) BELMONT
CharlotteDallas
7) NEVADA7) Ohio State
10) Baylor10) Washington
2) VIRGINIA2) WICHITA STATE
15) UC-DAVIS15) DRAKE

NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed - followed by West Virginia, Purdue, and Oklahoma

Last Four Byes (at large): Louisville, Houston, Providence, Georgia

Last Four IN (at large): Notre Dame, LSU, NC State, Missouri

First Four OUT (at large): St. Bonaventure, Maryland, Alabama, Saint Mary’s

Next four teams OUT (at large): SMU, Syracuse, Boston College, Minnesota

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (9): VIRGINIA, Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, Miami-FL, Louisville, Notre Dame, NC State,

SEC (9): AUBURN, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Texas AM, Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Missouri

BIG 12 (7): WEST VIRGINIA, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas, TCU, Texas, Baylor

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

Big 10 (4): PURDUE, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan

Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA, Arizona State, UCLA, Washington

American (3): WICHITA STATE, Cincinnati, Houston

Atlantic 10 (1): RHODE ISLAND

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Drake (MVC) Rider (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Penn (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Wright State (HORIZON), SE Louisiana (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), UC-Davis (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), William & Mary (CAA), Radford (BSO), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), St. Francis (PA) (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)

Bracketing principles: read them for yourself at www.ncaa.com.