It’s almost time to being the Madness. Here’s one final look at our projected NCAA Tournament Bracket.
UPDATED: March 12, 2017 | 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Note: 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)
- Wake Forest vs. USC | South Region
- Providence vs. Kansas State | East Region
- UC DAVIS vs. Texas State | Midwest Region
- NEW ORLEANS vs. NC CENTRAL | East Region
BRACKET PROJECTION ...
EAST - New York | MIDWEST - Kansas City | |
Buffalo | Tulsa | |
1) VILLANOVA | 1) Kansas | |
16) NC CENTRAL / MT ST. MARY’S | 16) UC-DAVIS / NEW ORLEANS | |
8) Miami | 8) South Carolina | |
9) Dayton | 9) VCU | |
Orlando | Milwaukee | |
5) IOWA STATE | 5) Virginia | |
12) UNC-WILMINGTON | 12) VERMONT | |
4) Florida | 4) Butler | |
13) EAST TENNESSEE ST | 13) PRINCETON | |
Indianapolis | Sacramento | |
6) Wisconsin | 6) SMU | |
11) Kansas St / Providence | 11) MID TENNESSEE ST | |
3) Louisville | 3) UCLA | |
14) IONA | 14) NEW MEXICO ST | |
Sacramento | Greenville | |
7) Saint Mary’s | 7) Maryland | |
10) Michigan State | 10) Marquette | |
2) Oregon | 2) DUKE | |
15) TEXAS-SOUTHERN | 15) JACKSONVILLE ST | |
WEST - San Jose | SOUTH - Memphis | |
Salt Lake City | Greenville | |
1) GONZAGA | 1) North Carolina | |
16) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | 16) TROY | |
8) Northwestern | 8) Arkansas | |
9) Oklahoma State | 9) Seton Hall | |
Milwaukee | Buffalo | |
5) Cincinnati | 5) Purdue | |
12) NEVADA | 12) Wake Forest / USC | |
4) Notre Dame | 4) West Virginia | |
13) WINTHROP | 13) BUCKNELL | |
Tulsa | Orlando | |
6) Michigan | 6) Minnesota | |
11) Xavier | 11) RHODE ISLAND | |
3) Baylor | 3) Florida State | |
14) FLA GULF COAST | 14) KENT STATE | |
Salt Lake City | Indianapolis | |
7) Virginia Tech | 7) Creighton | |
10) Vanderbilt | 10) WICHITA STATE | |
2) ARIZONA | 2) KENTUCKY | |
15) NORTH DAKOTA | 15) NORTHERN KENTUCKY |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Kansas, North Carolina, and Gonzaga.
Last Four Byes (at large): Marquette, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Xavier
Last Four IN (at large): Providence, Kansas State, Wake Forest, USC
First Four OUT (at large): Illinois State, Syracuse, California, Iowa
Next four teams OUT (at large): Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama
Breakdown by Conference ...
ACC (9): DUKE, North Carolina, Louisville, Florida State, Virginia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami-FL, Wake Forest
Big 10 (7): Purdue, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maryland, Northwestern, Michigan State
Big East (7): VILLANOVA, Butler, Creighton, Seton Hall, Marquette, Xavier, Providence
Big 12 (6): IOWA STATE, Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Kansas State
SEC (5): KENTUCKY, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Vanderbilt
Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA, Oregon, UCLA, USC
Atlantic 10 (2): RHODE ISLAND, Dayton, VCU
American (2): SMU, Cincinnati
West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s
Missouri Valley (2): WICHITA STATE
Mountain West (1): NEVADA
ONE BID LEAGUES: IONA (MAAC), MIDDLE TENNESSE STATE (C-USA), TROY (SBELT), PRINCETON (IVY), NORTH DAKOTA (BSKY), NORTHERN KENTUCKY (HORIZON), NEW OLEANS (SLND), EAST TENNESSEE STATE (STHN), UC-DAVIS (BWEST), KENT STATE (MAC), FLORIDA GULF COAST (ASUN), JACKSONVILLE STATE (OVC), UNC-WILMINGTON (CAA), WINTHROP (BSO), NC-CENTRAL (MEAC), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (SUM), NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC), VERMONT(AEAST), BUCKNELL (PAT), MOUNT ST. MARY’S (NEC), TEXAS-SOUTHERN (SWAC)