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Bracketology: Virginia pushing for No. 1 overall seed

Virginia v Duke

DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 27: Kyle Guy #5 and Jack Salt #33 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrate following their win against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Virginia won 65-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Virginia exorcised a road demon Saturday, winning a rare game at Cameron Indoor Stadium against the Duke Blue Devils. In the process, the Cavaliers inched past Purdue for No. 2 on the overall seed list (Purdue is now No. 3), and they could end up passing Villanova for the No. 1 overall seed with a strong February. The Duke loss, as close as it was, also allows Kansas to narrowly inch past the Blue Devils and claim the final No. 1 seed in today’s bracket update. Basketball minds can agree to disagree on the oh-so-close resumes of the Jayhawks and Blue Devils, but if today were Selection Sunday (as it were), KU would likely get the nod as Big 12 champion. The good news for Duke fans is this: it would allow Duke to be moved back into the East Region rather than be placed out West.

Here’s today’s update ...

UPDATED: January 29, 2018

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • South Carolina vs. Marquette | South Region
  • SMU vs. Boise State | Midwest Region
  • HARVARD vs. NC A&T | East Region
  • LONG BEACH ST vs. ARK-PINE BLUFF | Midwest Region

BRACKET PROJECTION

EAST - BostonSOUTH - Atlanta
PittsburghCharlotte
1) VILLANOVA1) VIRGINIA
16) HARVARD / NC A&T16) WAGNER
8) Miami-FL8) Michigan
9) Alabama9) TCU
BoiseDallas
5) RHODE ISLAND5) Tennessee
12) LOYOLA-CHI12) MIDDLE TENNESSEE
4) Ohio State4) West Virginia
13) BELMONT13) E. TENNESSEE ST
DallasNashville
6) Seton Hall6) Wichita State
11) Houston11) South Carolina / Marquette
3) Texas Tech3) Michigan State
14) VERMONT14) WRIGHT STATE
CharlotteDetroit
7) Arizona State7) Louisville
10) Butler10) Kansas State
2) Duke2) Xavier
15) NORTHEASTERN15) RIDER
WEST - Los AngelesMIDWEST - Omaha
WichitaDetroit
1) KANSAS1) PURDUE
16) FL GULF COAST16) LONG BEACH ST / ARK-PB
8) NEVADA8) Texas
9) Arkansas9) Providence
BoiseSan Diego
5) Kentucky5) Florida
12) NEW MEXICO ST12) BUFFALO
4) North Carolina4) Clemson
13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST13) LOUISIANA
PittsburghWichita
6) SAINT MARY’S6) Gonzaga
11) Washington11) SMU / Boise State
3) CINCINNATI3) Oklahoma
14) MONTANA14) S.F. AUSTIN
San DiegoNashville
7) Creighton7) Florida State
10) NC State10) USC
2) ARIZONA2) AUBURN
15) UNC-ASHEVILLE15) BUCKNELL

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

Last Four Byes (at large): Kansas State, NC State, Washington, Houston

Last Four IN (at large): SMU, Marquette, Boise State, South Carolina

First Four OUT (at large): Syracuse, Texas AM, Virginia Tech, UCLA

Next four teams OUT (at large): Missouri, Georgia, Western Kentucky, Notre Dame

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (8): VIRGINIA, Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Louisville, Florida State, Miami-FL, NC State

SEC (7): AUBURN, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina

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

BIG 12 (7): KANSAS, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Texas, TCU, Kansas State

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

American (4): CINCINNATI, Wichita State, Houston, SMU

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

West Coast (2): SAINT MARY’S, Gonzaga

Mountain West (1): NEVADA, Boise State

Atlantic 10 (1): RHODE ISLAND

ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Rider (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Harvard (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Wright State (HORIZON), S.F. Austin (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), Long Beach State (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), Northeastern (CAA), Radford (BSO), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Wagner (NEC), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC)

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