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Bracketology: Virginia vaults to No. 1 overall seed

Virginia v Duke

DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 27: Kyle Guy #5 and Jack Salt #33 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrate following their win against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Virginia won 65-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

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Yes, Virginia, you are the No. 1 overall seed in today’s bracket. Take a bow, you’ve earned it. The Cavaliers not only keep winning, they’ve just about wrapped up a regular-season ACC title. Think about this ... in a deep, talented league, UVA owns a three-game lead on Clemson and a four-game lead on Duke and Miami. Impressive no matter how you slice it.

Despite a hiccup each, Villanova and Purdue retain their No. 1 seed positions. One loss (nor one win) does a resume make. The Boilermakers can either solidify their spot with a win at Michigan State on Saturday or crack the door further with a loss.

The lower end of the bracket is quirky today with the dearth of ACC teams (10) in the field. It caused both a procedural bump and a deep dive into the bracketing playbook. Here’s the latest ...

UPDATED: February 9, 2018

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Houston vs. Syracuse | West Region
  • UCLA vs. NC State | West Region
  • NICHOLLS ST vs. ARK-PINE BLUFF | East Region
  • NC-ASHEVILLE vs. NC A&T | South Region

BRACKET PROJECTION

SOUTH - AtlantaEAST - Boston
CharlottePittsburgh
1) VIRGINIA1) VILLANOVA
16) NC-ASHEVILLE / NC A&T16) NICHOLLS ST / ARK-PB
8) Alabama8) Michigan
9) Butler9) NEVADA
BoiseSan Diego
5) Gonzaga5) Kentucky
12) E. TENNESSEE ST12) Virginia Tech
4) West Virginia4) RHODE ISLAND
13) LOUISIANA13) BUFFALO
DetroitCharlotte
6) Miami-FL6) Creighton
11) Kansas State11) MIDDLE TENNESSEE
3) Michigan State3) Duke
14) RIDER14) VERMONT
NashvillePittsburgh
7) Seton Hall7) Texas AM
10) Washington10) TCU
2) AUBURN2) CINCINNATI
15) CHARLESTON15) BUCKNELL
WEST - Los AngelesMIDWEST - Omaha
NashvilleDetroit
1) Xavier1) PURDUE
16) FL GULF COAST16) PENN
8) Texas8) Arizona State
9) Missouri9) Providence
San DiegoBoise
5) ARIZONA5) Oklahoma
12) Syracuse / Houston12) LOYOLA-CHI
4) Ohio State4) North Carolina
13) BELMONT13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST
WichitaDallas
6) SAINT MARY’S6) Florida State
11) UCLA / NC State11) NEW MEXICO ST
3) Clemson3) Tennessee
14) MONTANA14) WRIGHT STATE
WichitaDallas
7) Florida7) Wichita State
10) Louisville10) Arkansas
2) KANSAS2) Texas Tech
15) UC-SANTA BARBARA15) WAGNER

NOTES on the BRACKET: Virginia is the No. 1 overall seed - followed by Villanova, Purdue, and Xavier

Last Four Byes (at large): TCU, Louisville, Kansas State, Virginia Tech

Last Four IN (at large): NC State, UCLA, Houston, Syracuse

First Four OUT (at large): Marquette, USC, LSU, Boise State

Next four teams OUT (at large): Nebraska, Mississippi State, St. Bonaventure, Temple

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (10): VIRGINIA, Duke, Clemson, North Carolina, Miami-FL, Florida State, Louisville, NC State, Virginia Tech, Syracuse

SEC (8): AUBURN, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Texas AM, Missouri, Arkansas

BIG 12 (7): KANSAS, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas, TCU, Kansas State

Big East (6): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Creighton, Seton Hall, Providence, Butler

Big 10 (4): PURDUE, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan

Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA, Arizona State, Washington, UCLA

American (3): CINCINNATI, Wichita State, Houston

West Coast (2): SAINT MARY’S, Gonzaga

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

Atlantic 10 (1): RHODE ISLAND

ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Rider (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Pennsylvania (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Wright State (HORIZON), Nicholls State (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), UC-Santa Barbara (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), Charleston (CAA), UNC-Asheville (BSO), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Wagner (NEC), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC)

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