Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Bracketology: Committee slots Virginia as No. 1 overall seed

Xavier v Butler

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 06: Trevon Bluiett #5 of the Xavier Musketeers talks to head coach Chris Mack in the second half of a game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Xavier defeated Butler 98-93 in overtime. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Selection Committee revealed its initial Top 16 teams (seed list) prior to games tipping on Sunday. There were no overwhelming surprising, although one could debate the plusses and minuses of the Committee slotting Oklahoma as its final No. 4 seed, in particular.

Their reasoning throughout the Top 16, whether you agree or disagree, was pretty clear: the Committee still values traditional measures such quality wins, strength of schedule, road performance, and an RPI-based demarkation for sorting teams (now using Groups or Quadrants rather than merely Top 50 or Top 100).

That doesn’t mean individual or collective members of the Committee will not use or value other metrics (BPI, SOR, Ken Pom, etc) in the process, but the ole standbys still appear to be actively in place.

As selections were unveiled, Virginia earned the Committee’s No. 1 overall seed, followed by Villanova, Xavier, and Purdue. Purdue’s overall profile - and its small margins in defeat - kept the Boilermakers on the top line.

That said, we have about a month left, and things can change. We’ve seen teams make late charges; we’ve seen teams go into late-February swoons. The bubble is once again deep and includes a hodgepodge of resumes that look eerily similar. In other words, the race is on.

UPDATED: February 12, 2018

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • NC State vs. UCLA | East Region
  • Kansas State vs. LSU | South Region
  • NICHOLLS ST vs. ARK-PINE BLUFF | East Region
  • HARVARD vs. NC A&T | South Region

BRACKET PROJECTION

SOUTH - AtlantaEAST - Boston
CharlottePittsburgh
1) VIRGINIA1) VILLANOVA
16) HARVARD / NC A&T16) NICHOLLS ST / ARK-PB
8) Seton Hall8) Florida State
9) TCU9) Arkansas
BoiseBoise
5) RHODE ISLAND5) Texas AM
12) MIDDLE TENNESSEE12) LOUISIANA
4) Tennessee4) OHIO STATE
13) E. TENNESSEE ST13) VERMONT
DetroitDallas
6) Miami-FL6) Florida
11) Kansas St / LSU11) NC State / UCLA
3) Michigan State3) Texas Tech
14) CHARLESTON14) RIDER
PittsburghCharlotte
7) Kentucky7) Alabama
10) Washington10) Butler
2) CINCINNATI2) Duke
15) FL GULF COAST15) BUCKNELL
WEST - Los AngelesMIDWEST - Omaha
DetroitNashville
1) Purdue1) Xavier
16) UNC-ASHEVILLE16) WAGNER
8) Creighton8) Michigan
9) NEVADA9) Virginia Tech
San DiegoSan Diego
5) West Virginia5) Gonzaga
12) Louisville12) LOYOLA-CHI
4) ARIZONA4) Oklahoma
13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST13) BELMONT
WichitaDallas
6) SAINT MARY’S6) Arizona State
11) NEW MEXICO ST11) Houston
3) North Carolina3) Clemson
14) MONTANA14) BUFFALO
WichitaNashville
7) Missouri7) Wichita State
10) Providence10) Texas
2) KANSAS2) AUBURN
15) UC-SANTA BARBARA15) NO KENTUCKY

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

Last Four Byes (at large): Providence, Washington, Louisville, Houston

Last Four IN (at large): Kansas State, NC State, UCLA, LSU

First Four OUT (at large): Syracuse, USC, St. Bonaventure, Baylor

Next four teams OUT (at large): Oklahoma State, Temple, Marquette, Boise State

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (9): VIRGINIA, Duke, Clemson, North Carolina, Miami-FL, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Louisville, NC State

SEC (9): AUBURN, Tennessee, Texas AM, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, LSU

BIG 12 (7): TEXAS TECH, Kansas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, TCU, Texas, Kansas State

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

Big 10 (4): OHIO STATE, Purdue, Michigan 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), Harvard (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (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.