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Bracketology: Villanova leads march to Selection Sunday

Nicholls State v Villanova

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats points in the second half against the Nicholls State Colonels at the Wells Fargo Center on November 14, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Nicholls State Colonels 113-77. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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It’s a good morning to be a Philadelphia sports fan. After winning a thrilling Super Bowl, the Eagles stand alone atop the National Football League world. Then there’s Villanova, who after defeating Seton Hall earlier on Sunday, continues to hold the No. 1 overall spot in today’s bracket.

Joining Villanova on the top line are Virginia, Purdue, and Xavier. The Musketeers can thank Kansas and Duke, both of whom lost over the weekend. They can also thank arch-rival Cincinnati. Xavier’s non-conference win over the Bearcats was enough to push the Musketeers past Auburn for the final No. 1 seed.

The middle and lower portions of the bracket remain quite fluid. It’s been a wild season in college hoops. Should we expect anything different now? Enjoy the countdown. March Madness is right around the corner.

UPDATED: February 5, 2018

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Houston vs. Kansas State | Midwest Region
  • Virginia Tech vs. LSU | West Region
  • NICHOLLS ST vs. NC A&T | East Region
  • NC-ASHEVILLE vs. ARK-PINE BLUFF | South Region

BRACKET PROJECTION

EAST - BostonSOUTH - Atlanta
PittsburghCharlotte
1) VILLANOVA1) VIRGINIA
16) NICHOLLS ST / NC A&T16) NC-ASHEVILLE / ARK-PB
8) Arizona State8) Michigan
9) Louisville9) Butler
BoiseWichita
5) RHODE ISLAND5) Kentucky
12) LOYOLA-CHI12) MIDDLE TENNESSEE
4) Ohio State4) Oklahoma
13) BUFFALO13) E. TENNESSEE ST
PittsburghDetroit
6) Florida State6) Miami-FL
11) Arkansas11) USC
3) CINCINNATI3) Michigan State
14) VERMONT14) WRIGHT ST
CharlotteNashville
7) Alabama7) Texas
10) Washington10) NC State
2) Duke2) AUBURN
15) CHARLESTON15) BUCKNELL
WEST - Los AngelesMIDWEST - Omaha
NashvilleDetroit
1) Xavier1) PURDUE
16) FL GULF COAST16) PENN
8) NEVADA8) Wichita State
9) Texas AM9) TCU
San DiegoBoise
5) West Virginia5) Gonzaga
12) NEW MEXICO ST12) LOUISIANA
4) North Carolina4) Tennessee
13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST13) BELMONT
San DiegoDallas
6) SAINT MARY’S6) Seton Hall
11) Virginia Tech / LSU11) Houston / Kansas St
3) ARIZONA3) Clemson
14) MONTANA14) RIDER
WichitaDallas
7) Creighton7) Florida
10) Missouri10) Providence
2) KANSAS2) Texas Tech
15) UC-SANTA BARBARA15) WAGNER

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

Last Four Byes (at large): Texas AM, Missouri, Arkansas, USC

Last Four IN (at large): Houston, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, LSU

First Four OUT (at large): SMU, Boise State, UCLA, Syracuse

Next four teams OUT (at large): Georgia, Marquette, Nebraska, South Carolina

Breakdown by Conference ...

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

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

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

Big East (6): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Seton Hall, Creighton, Butler, Providence

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

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

American (3): CINCINNATI, Wichita State, Houston

West Coast (2): SAINT MARY’S, Gonzaga

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

Atlantic 10 (1): RHODE ISLAND

ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Rider (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Pennsylvania (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Wright State (HORIZON), Nicholls State (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), UC-Santa Barbara (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), Charleston (CAA), UNC-Asheville (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.