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Bracketology: Wichita State punches its ticket

Charleston Southern v Wichita State

WICHITA, KS - NOVEMBER 13: Guard Landry Shamet #11 of the Wichita State Shockers dribbles the ball up court against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers during the first half on November 13, 2015 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

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Wichita State took care of business Sunday in St. Louis, locking up the Missouri Valley’s automatic bid, and with it, a ticket to the Big Dance. Winners of 15 straight, the Shockers enter the 2017 tournament on quite a roll. Advanced metric models like their profile more than the RPI. We’ll know more about how the Selection Committee views them when seeding is revealed on Sunday. Regardless of where they fall, the Shockers will be a dangerous opponent.

Meanwhile, Illinois State begins a long, arduous wait. The Redbirds’ body of work is complete. All they can do is watch what unfolds in the Big 12, Big Ten, Atlantic 10, SEC, and even the Pac-12. They’ll be rooting for league favorites to advance.

UPDATED: March 6, 2017

Note: Now that conference tournaments have begun, teams in ALL CAPS will represent automatic bids as they are earned.

Regarding bracketing principles, can read them for yourself at www.ncaa.com. For example: teams from the same conference may now meet before a Regional final, even if fewer than eight teams are selected. The goal is to keep as many teams as possible on their actual seed line.

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Illinois State vs. USC | South Region
  • Vanderbilt vs. Xavier | Midwest Region
  • Mount St. Mary’s vs. New Orleans | East Region
  • JACKSONVILLE STATE vs. NC Central | Midwest Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

MIDWEST - Kansas CityEAST - New York
TulsaBuffalo
1) Kansas1) Villanova
16) North Dakota16) Mt St. Mary’s / New Orleans
8) Michigan8) Miami
9) Arkansas9) Northwestern
MilwaukeeOrlando
5) Notre Dame5) West Virginia
12) UT-Arlington12) UNC-Wilmington
4) Butler4) Florida
13) Princeton13) Vermont
GreenvilleSalt Lake City
6) Wisconsin6) Iowa State
11) Vanderbilt / Xavier11) Syracuse
3) Duke3) Arizona
14) Bucknell14) Iona
SacramentoIndianapolis
7) Creighton7) Maryland
10) WICHITA STATE10) VCU
2) UCLA2) Louisville
15) South Dakota15) Northern Kentucky
WEST - San JoseSOUTH - Memphis
Salt Lake CityGreenville
1) Gonzaga1) North Carolina
16) UC-Irvine16) JACKSONVILLE ST / NC Central
8) South Carolina8) Dayton
9) Michigan State9) Marquette
BuffaloMilwaukee
5) Minnesota5) Cincinnati
12) Nevada12) USC / Illinois State
4) Virginia4) Purdue
13) Akron13) WINTHROP
OrlandoTulsa
6) SMU6) Saint Mary’s
11) Mid Tennessee State11) Wake Forest
3) Florida State3) Baylor
14) UNC-Greensboro14) FLA GULF COAST
SacramentoIndianapolis
7) Oklahoma State7) Virginia Tech
10) Seton Hall10) Providence
2) Oregon2) Kentucky
15) CSU-Bakersfield15) Texas-Southern

NOTES on the BRACKET: Kansas is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Villanova, North Carolina, and Gonzaga.

Last Four Byes (at large): Providence, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Wake Forest

Last Four IN (at large): Vanderbilt, Xavier, USC, Illinois State

First Four OUT (at large): Kansas State, Rhode Island, Iowa, Illinois

Next four teams OUT (at large): Houston, Georgia, Ole Miss, California

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (10): NORTH CAROLINA, Louisville, Duke, Florida State, Virginia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami-FL, Syracuse, Wake Forest

Big 10 (7): PURDUE, Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State

Big East (7): VILLANOVA, Butler, Creighton, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, Xavier

Big 12 (5): KANSAS, Baylor, West Virginia, Iowa State, Oklahoma State

SEC (5): FLORIDA, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Vanderbilt

Pac 12 (4): OREGON, Arizona, UCLA, USC

Atlantic 10 (2): DAYTON, VCU

American (2): SMU, Cincinnati

West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s

Missouri Valley (2): WICHITA STATE, Illinois State

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Iona (MAAC), Middle Tennessee State (C-USA), UT-Arlington (SBELT), Princeton (IVY), North Dakota (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (HORIZON), New Orleans (SLND), UNC-Greensboro (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Akron (MAC), FLORIDA GULF COAST (ASUN), JACKSONVILLE STATE (OVC), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), WINTHROP (BSO), NC-Central (MEAC), South Dakota (SUM), CSU-Bakersfield (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Mount St. Mary’s (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)