As the new year dawns, Duke and Michigan State lead our trek toward Selection Sunday. Neither of those should come as a surprise. Arizona State and Oklahoma, on the other hand? That’s a different story. The Sun Devils and Sooners have put together impressive runs. ASU and OU anchor the West Region as its top two seeds.
The new year also means more frequent updates. Given what we’ve seen so far? It should be fun. On a quick housekeeping note, projected conference champions (for the bracket) reflect the current standings. Ties are broken by the RPI leader based on the loss column.
UPDATED: January 2, 2018
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)
- Washington vs. Auburn | East Region
- Boston College vs. Missouri | West Region
- ROBER MORRIS vs. NC A&T | South Region
- TX-SOUTHERN vs. SE LOUISIANA | Midwest Region
BRACKET PROJECTION
| SOUTH - Atlanta | MIDWEST - Omaha | |
| Charlotte | Detroit | |
| 1) Duke | 1) MICHIGAN STATE | |
| 16) ROBERT MORRIS / NC A&T | 16) SE-LOUISIANA / TX-SOUTHERN | |
| 8) Florida | 8) Texas | |
| 9) Butler | 9) Syracuse | |
| Nashville | Boise | |
| 5) ARKANSAS | 5) Kentucky | |
| 12) WESTERN KENTUCKY | 12) MISSOURI STATE | |
| 4) Seton Hall | 4) TCU | |
| 13) FURMAN | 13) LIPSCOMB | |
| Wichita | San Diego | |
| 6) Cincinnati | 6) Tennessee | |
| 11) Louisville | 11) Baylor | |
| 3) Kansas | 3) ARIZONA | |
| 14) BELMONT | 14) UC-SANTA BARBARA | |
| Detroit | Charlotte | |
| 7) Florida State | 7) NEVADA | |
| 10) Alabama | 10) Michigan | |
| 2) XAVIER | 2) NORTH CAROLINA | |
| 15) NORTHERN KENTUCKY | 15) RADFORD | |
| EAST - Boston | WEST - Los Angeles | |
| Pittsburgh | San Diego | |
| 1) Villanova | 1) Arizona State | |
| 16) PRINCETON | 16) BUCKNELL | |
| 8) St. Bonaventure | 8) Notre Dame | |
| 9) SMU | 9) Minnesota | |
| Dallas | Boise | |
| 5) Virginia | 5) Texas Tech | |
| 12) LOUISIANA | 12) NEW MEXICO ST | |
| 4) Texas AM | 4) GONZAGA | |
| 13) BUFFALO | 13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | |
| Nashville | Dallas | |
| 6) Miami-FL | 6) Creighton | |
| 11) Washington / Auburn | 11) Boston College / Missouri | |
| 3) Purdue | 3) WICHITA STATE | |
| 14) VERMONT | 14) WILLIAM & MARY | |
| Pittsburgh | Wichita | |
| 7) RHODE ISLAND | 7) Clemson | |
| 10) Maryland | 10) UCLA | |
| 2) WEST VIRGINIA | 2) Oklahoma | |
| 15) CANISIUS | 15) NORTHERN COLORADO |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Duke is the No. 1 overall seed - followed by Michigan State, Arizona State, and Villanova.
Last Four Byes (at large): UCLA, Alabama, Louisville, Baylor
Last Four IN (at large): Auburn, Missouri, Boston College, Washington
First Four OUT (at large): Virginia Tech, Houston, Boise State, Oklahoma State
Next four teams OUT (at large): Ohio State, Georgia, Providence, Marquette
Breakdown by Conference ...
ACC (10): NORTH CAROLINA, Duke, Virginia, Miami-FL, Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Louisville, Boston College
SEC (8): ARKANSAS, Texas AM, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Missouri
BIG 12 (7): WEST VIRGINIA, Oklahoma, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor
Big East (5): XAVIER, Villanova, Seton Hall, Creighton, Butler
Big 10 (5): MICHIGAN STATE, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland
Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA STATE, Arizona, UCLA, Washington
American (3): WICHITA STATE, Cincinnati, SMU
Atlantic 10 (2): RHODE ISLAND, St. Bonaventure
Mountain West (1): NEVADA
West Coast (1): GONZAGA
ONE BID LEAGUES: Missouri State (MVC) Canisius (MAAC), Western Ketucky (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Princeton (IVY), Northern Colorado (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (HORIZON), SE Louisiana (SLND), Furman (STHN), UC-Santa Barbara (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), William & Mary (CAA), Radford (BSO), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Robert Morris (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)