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Bracketology: Race is on for No. 1 Seeds

Rui Hachimura

Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura (21) yells after dunking against Saint Mary’s during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

AP

We’re just under two weeks away from this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection Show, and the race is on for the coveted spots along the No. 1 seed line.

Gonzaga seems like a lock to lead the West Region. At this point, a loss in the West Coast Conference tournament will do little to change the Zags’ overall profile. What it would do, however, is send ripples along the bubble, because as we stand now, the WCC appears to be a one-bid league.

Tennessee earns the final No. 1 seed today. Kentucky and North Carolina are equally strong contenders. And let’s not sleep on Michigan if the Wolverines win their rematch against Michigan State and surge to a Big 10 tournament title. We also have another matchup between Duke and UNC as we await news about the availability of Zion Williamson.

NBC Sports Top 25 | Bubble Watch

On a housekeeping note ... with conference tournaments beginning this week, we’ve eliminated the CAPS referring to automatic bids; those will be reserved now as teams officially punch their tickets (exceptions made for teams traditionally known by their acronym - such as VCU).

UPDATED: March 4, 2019

FIRST FOUR - DAYTON
EAST REGIONTemple vs. Seton Hall
WEST REGIONMinnesota vs. Arizona State
EAST REGIONIona vs. Norfolk State
WEST REGIONPrairie View vs. St. Francis (PA)


EAST - Washington, DCWEST - Anaheim
ColumbiaSalt Lake City
1) Virginia1) Gonzaga
16) Iona / Norfolk St16) Prairie View / St. Francis
8) Auburn8) Syracuse
9) St. John’s9) VCU
San JoseHartford
5) Mississippi State5) Kansas State
12) Temple / Seton Hall12) Minnesota / Arizona St
4) Kansas4) Florida State
13) UC-Irvine13) Vermont
JacksonvilleTulsa
6) Villanova6) Nevada
11) Texas11) Florida
3) LSU3) Texas Tech
14) Yale14) Texas State
Des MoinesDes Moines
7) Buffalo7) Louisville
10) Utah State10) TCU
2) Michigan State2) Michigan
15) Loyola-Chicago15) Montana
MIDWEST - Kansas CitySOUTH - Louisville
ColumbusColumbia
1) Tennessee1) Duke
16) Campbell16) Sam Houston St
8) Washington8) Baylor
9) Oklahoma9) Ole Miss
San JoseHartford
5) Virginia Tech5) Maryland
12) Lipscomb12) Belmont
4) Wisconsin4) Marquette
13) New Mexico St13) Old Dominion
Salt Lake CityTulsa
6) Iowa State6) Cincinnati
11) Alabama11) NC State
3) Houston3) Purdue
14) South Dakota St14) Hofstra
JacksonvilleColumbus
7) Wofford7) Iowa
10) Ohio State10) UCF
2) North Carolina2) Kentucky
15) Colgate15) Wright State


BUBBLE NOTES
Last 4 ByesLast 4 IN First 4 OUTNext 4 OUT
FloridaMinnesotaGeorgetownProvidence
TexasArizona StateClemsonMemphis
NC StateTempleFurmanUNC-Greensboro
AlabamaSeton HallXavierCreighton

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

Breakdown by Conference ...

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

Big 10 (8): PURDUE, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa, Ohio State, Minnesota

BIG 12 (8): TEXAS TECH, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas

SEC (8): TENNESSEE, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, Alabama

Big East (4): MARQUETTE, Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall

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

Pac 12 (2): WASHINGTON, Arizona State

Mountain West (2): NEVADA, Utah State

Southern (1): WOFFORD

Atlantic 10 (1): VCU

Mid American (1): BUFFALO

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Iona (MAAC), Old Dominion (C-USA), Texas State (SBELT), Yale (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Wright State (HORIZON), Sam Houston State (SLND), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Lipscomb (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), Hofstra (CAA), Campbell (BSO), Norfolk State (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Colgate (PAT), St. Francis (PA) (NEC), Prairie View (SWAC)

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