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Bracketology: Duke leads opening field of 68

Maui Invitational - Duke v San Diego State

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils goes up for a dunk off the fast break during the second half of the game against the San Diego State Aztecs at Lahaina Civic Center on November 19, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

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With a new year upon us, the countdown to Selection Sunday is officially underway.

Through two months of play, Duke reigns over the NCAA’s new NET rankings (No. 1 through games on January 1) and also reigns over our opening in-season bracket.

The Blue Devils are joined on the top line by Kansas (Midwest), Michigan (South), and Tennessee (West).

Virginia, Gonzaga, Nevada, and Michigan State are next in line.

With conference play just beginning, we’re at an awkward stage.

Some teams have tested themselves against tough schedules.

Others have largely filled up their resumes with holiday cupcakes.

We’ll learn lot more about both groups in the next two months.

UPDATED: January 3, 2019

FIRST FOUR - DAYTON
EAST REGIONVCU vs. UCF
SOUTH REGIONPurdue vs. Temple
EAST REGIONMorgan State vs. Niagara
MIDWEST REGIONAbilene Christian vs. St. Francis (NY)


EAST - Washington, DCMIDWEST - Kansas City
Columbia, SCTulsa
1) DUKE1) KANSAS
16) MORGAN ST / NIAGARA 16) AB-CHRISTIAN / ST. FRANCIS
8) Villanova8) Iowa
9) Maryland9) LSU
San JoseDes Moines
5) Mississippi State5) North Carolina
12) OLD DOMINION12) UNC-GREENSBORO
4) HOUSTON4) Wisconsin
13) LIPSCOMB13) TEXAS STATE
TulsaHartford
6) NC State6) BUFFALO
11) VCU / UCF11) Kansas State
3) Texas Tech3) Ohio State
14) SOUTHERN ILLINOIS14) PENN
ColumbusSalt Lake City
7) SETON HALL7) Louisville
10) Clemson10) Florida
2) Michigan State2) GONZAGA
15) NORTHERN KENTUCKY15) SOUTH DAKOTA ST
WEST - AnaheimSOUTH - Louisville
Columbia, SCColumbus
1) TENNESSEE1) MICHIGAN
16) TEXAS SOUTHERN16) LEHIGH
8) Minnesota8) St. John’s
9) Iowa State9) TCU
Salt Lake CityDes Moines
5) Marquette5) Virginia Tech
12) CHARLESTON12) Purdue / Temple
4) Oklahoma4) Kentucky
13) NEW MEXICO ST13) BELMONT
JacksonvilleJacksonville
6) Auburn6) Cincinnati
11) Texas11) SAINT LOUIS
3) Indiana3) Florida State
14) UC-IRVINE14) VERMONT
HartfordSan Jose
7) ARIZONA STATE7) Nebraska
10) Creighton10) Washington
2) Virginia2) NEVADA
15) RADFORD15) MONTANA


BUBBLE NOTES
Last 4 ByesLast 4 IN First 4 OUTNext 4 OUT
ClemsonVCUVanderbiltButler
WashingtonUCFSyracuseOle Miss
TexasPurdueArizonaNotre Dame
Kansas StateTempleMissouriAlabama

TOP SEED LINE: Duke is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Kansas, Michigan, and Tennessee.

Breakdown by Conference ...

Big 10 (10): Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Maryland, Purdue

ACC (8): Duke, Virginia, Florida State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, NC State, Louisville, Clemson

SEC (6): Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, LSU, Florida

BIG 12 (6): Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa State, TCU, Texas, Kansas State

Big East (5): Seton Hall, Marquette, St. John’s, Villanova, Creighton

American (4): Houston, Cincinnati, UCF, Temple

Pac 12 (2): Arizona State, Washington

Atlantic 10 (2): Saint Louis, VCU

Mountain West (1): Nevada

West Coast (1): Gonzaga

ONE BID LEAGUES: Southern Illinois (MVC), Niagara (MAAC), Old Dominion (C-USA), Texas State (SBELT), Penn (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (HORIZON), Abilene Christian (SLND), UNC-Greensboro (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), Charleston (CAA), Radford (BSO), Morgan State (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Lehigh (PAT), St. Francis-NY (NEC), Texas Southern (SWAC)