Yes, Virginia, you are the No. 1 overall seed in today’s bracket. Take a bow, you’ve earned it. The Cavaliers not only keep winning, they’ve just about wrapped up a regular-season ACC title. Think about this ... in a deep, talented league, UVA owns a three-game lead on Clemson and a four-game lead on Duke and Miami. Impressive no matter how you slice it.
Despite a hiccup each, Villanova and Purdue retain their No. 1 seed positions. One loss (nor one win) does a resume make. The Boilermakers can either solidify their spot with a win at Michigan State on Saturday or crack the door further with a loss.
The lower end of the bracket is quirky today with the dearth of ACC teams (10) in the field. It caused both a procedural bump and a deep dive into the bracketing playbook. Here’s the latest ...
UPDATED: February 9, 2018
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)
- Houston vs. Syracuse | West Region
- UCLA vs. NC State | West Region
- NICHOLLS ST vs. ARK-PINE BLUFF | East Region
- NC-ASHEVILLE vs. NC A&T | South Region
BRACKET PROJECTION
SOUTH - Atlanta | EAST - Boston | |
Charlotte | Pittsburgh | |
1) VIRGINIA | 1) VILLANOVA | |
16) NC-ASHEVILLE / NC A&T | 16) NICHOLLS ST / ARK-PB | |
8) Alabama | 8) Michigan | |
9) Butler | 9) NEVADA | |
Boise | San Diego | |
5) Gonzaga | 5) Kentucky | |
12) E. TENNESSEE ST | 12) Virginia Tech | |
4) West Virginia | 4) RHODE ISLAND | |
13) LOUISIANA | 13) BUFFALO | |
Detroit | Charlotte | |
6) Miami-FL | 6) Creighton | |
11) Kansas State | 11) MIDDLE TENNESSEE | |
3) Michigan State | 3) Duke | |
14) RIDER | 14) VERMONT | |
Nashville | Pittsburgh | |
7) Seton Hall | 7) Texas AM | |
10) Washington | 10) TCU | |
2) AUBURN | 2) CINCINNATI | |
15) CHARLESTON | 15) BUCKNELL | |
WEST - Los Angeles | MIDWEST - Omaha | |
Nashville | Detroit | |
1) Xavier | 1) PURDUE | |
16) FL GULF COAST | 16) PENN | |
8) Texas | 8) Arizona State | |
9) Missouri | 9) Providence | |
San Diego | Boise | |
5) ARIZONA | 5) Oklahoma | |
12) Syracuse / Houston | 12) LOYOLA-CHI | |
4) Ohio State | 4) North Carolina | |
13) BELMONT | 13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | |
Wichita | Dallas | |
6) SAINT MARY’S | 6) Florida State | |
11) UCLA / NC State | 11) NEW MEXICO ST | |
3) Clemson | 3) Tennessee | |
14) MONTANA | 14) WRIGHT STATE | |
Wichita | Dallas | |
7) Florida | 7) Wichita State | |
10) Louisville | 10) Arkansas | |
2) KANSAS | 2) Texas Tech | |
15) UC-SANTA BARBARA | 15) WAGNER |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Virginia is the No. 1 overall seed - followed by Villanova, Purdue, and Xavier
Last Four Byes (at large): TCU, Louisville, Kansas State, Virginia Tech
Last Four IN (at large): NC State, UCLA, Houston, Syracuse
First Four OUT (at large): Marquette, USC, LSU, Boise State
Next four teams OUT (at large): Nebraska, Mississippi State, St. Bonaventure, Temple
Breakdown by Conference ...
ACC (10): VIRGINIA, Duke, Clemson, North Carolina, Miami-FL, Florida State, Louisville, NC State, Virginia Tech, Syracuse
SEC (8): AUBURN, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Texas AM, Missouri, Arkansas
BIG 12 (7): KANSAS, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas, TCU, Kansas State
Big East (6): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Creighton, Seton Hall, Providence, Butler
Big 10 (4): PURDUE, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan
Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA, Arizona State, Washington, UCLA
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.