Regardless of how the final selections come together tonight, the Selection Committee has completed a monumental task. There has rarely been a field this diverse and a bubble this large. We could see a variety of outcomes, and none of them will necessarily be wrong or right. That’s the truth about this year’s bubble.
What we know - or anticipate - is that Kentucky will be the No. 1 overall seed. Syracuse will be second. After that, there remains some questions. We have Kentucky, Syracuse, North Carolina and Michigan State on the top line. That could switch pending the outcome of the Michigan State/Ohio State game in the actual selection room.
Take your pick out of the at-large teams. There were roughly 14 teams about 6 spots. You could make cases for or against any number of them.
Enjoy the Selection Show. March Madness is here.
Teams in CAPS represent the projected AUTOMATIC bid. Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (UTEP, BYU, etc). Records are for games against Division I teams only.
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)
- Drexel vs. N.C. State | East Region
- South Florida vs. Cal | East Region
- MS VALLEY STATE vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY | South Region
- VERMONT vs. NORFOLK STATE | Midwest
BRACKET PROJECTION ...
| EAST - Boston | MIDWEST - St. Louis | |
| Pittsburgh | Louisville | |
| 1) Syracuse | 1) Kentucky | |
| 16) UNC-ASHEVILLE | 16) MS VALLEY ST / W. KENTUCKY | |
| 8) San Diego State | 8) Gonzaga | |
| 9) Saint Louis | 9) Connecticut | |
| Portland | Albuquerque | |
| 5) VANDERBILT | 5) Cincinnati | |
| 12) Drexel / N.C. State | 12) Virginia | |
| 4) Indiana | 4) Wisconsin | |
| 13) OHIO | 13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | |
| Columbus | Nashville | |
| 6) MURRAY STATE | 6) CREIGHTON | |
| 11) South Florida / Cal | 11) Colorado State | |
| 3) Michigan | 3) LOUISVILLE | |
| 14) BELMONT | 14) DAVIDSON | |
| Greensboro | Omaha | |
| 7) Kansas State | 7) ST. MARY’S | |
| 10) Xavier | 10) SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI | |
| 2) Duke | 2) MISSOURI | |
| 15) LEHIGH | 15) DETROIT | |
| SOUTH - Atlanta | WEST - Phoenix | |
| Greensboro | Columbus | |
| 1) North Carolina | 1) Michigan State | |
| 16) VERMONT / NORFOLK ST | 16) LAMAR | |
| 8) Iowa State | 8) Notre Dame | |
| 9) Purdue | 9) Alabama | |
| Portland | Nashville | |
| 5) Florida | 5) Wichita State | |
| 12) LONG BEACH ST | 12) Texas | |
| 4) Georgetown | 4) Florida State | |
| 13) ST. BONAVENTURE | 13) COLORADO | |
| Albuquerque | Louisville | |
| 6) UNLV | 6) NEW MEXICO | |
| 11) Seton Hall | 11) VCU | |
| 3) Baylor | 3) Marquette | |
| 14) MONTANA | 14) NEW MEXICO ST | |
| Pittsburgh | Omaha | |
| 7) Temple | 7) MEMPHIS | |
| 10) West Virginia | 10) HARVARD | |
| 2) Ohio State | 2) Kansas | |
| 15) LONG ISLAND | 15) LOYOLA-MD |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Kentucky is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Syracuse, North Carolina, and Michigan State. Next in line are Kansas, Missouri, Ohio State, Duke
Last Five teams in (at large): Seton Hall, South Florida, Drexel, N.C. State, Cal
First Five teams out (at large): Mississippi State, BYU, Marshall, Northwestern, Miami-Fla
Also considered: Tennessee, Oral Roberts, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi
Adjustments: Several one-line adjustments were needed to follow correct bracketing principles.
Here is the team breakdown by Conference ...
Big East (10): Syracuse, Georgetown, Louisville, Connecticut, Marquette, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, South Florida
Big Ten (6): Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Purdue
Big 12 (6): Baylor, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas
SEC (4): Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Alabama
ACC (5): North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Florida State, NC State
Mountain West (4): UNLV, San Diego State, New Mexico, Colorado State
Atlantic 10 (3): Xavier, St. Louis, Temple, St. Bonaventure
West Coast (3): Gonzaga, St. Mary’s
Conference USA (3): Memphis, Southern Mississippi
Missouri Valley (2): Creighton, Wichita State
Pac 12 (1): California, Colorado
Conference leaders/champions ... WESTERN KENTUCKY (Sun Belt), DETROIT (Horizon), OHIO (MAC), VCU (CAA), NEW MEXICO STATE(WAC), MURRAY STATE (OVC), LOYOLA-MD (MAAC), MONTANA (Big Sky), DAVIDSON (Southern), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit), LONG BEACH STATE (Big West), LONG ISLAND (NEC), BELMONT (Atlantic Sun), HARVARD (Ivy), NC-ASHEVILLE (Big South), NORFOLK STATE (MEAC), LEHIGH (Patriot), VERMONT (America East), LAMAR (Southland), MS VALLEY STATE (SWAC)