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Kansas, Kentucky headline preseason NCAA tournament bracket projection

Kentucky v Kansas

LAWRENCE, KS - JANUARY 30: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks greet each other prior to the game at Allen Fieldhouse on January 30, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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A new college basketball season is upon us, which means another journey toward Selection Sunday and March Madness. With that in mind, we offer up our annual preseason bracket projection, an exercise that is most certainly more art than science.

What we think we know is that Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, and Gonzaga are among a handful of teams that figure to be in the conversation for No. 1 seeds. Another strong group includes such names as North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and, yes, even Villanova. And then there’s Nevada, a hungry and hearty Wolfpack with their own Final Four aspirations.

One thing’s for certain, the bracket will look a lot different come March. That’s the beauty of college hoops. Enjoy the ride!

BRACKET PROJECTION

UPDATED: October 29, 2018

FIRST FOUR - DAYTON
MIDWEST REGIONHouston vs. Texas
SOUTH REGIONXavier vs. San Diego State
WEST REGIONSacramento St. vs. St. Francis (PA)
SOUTH REGIONRadford vs. Beth-Cookman


MIDWEST - Kansas CitySOUTH - Louisville
TulsaColumbus
1) KANSAS1) KENTUCKY
16) HARTFORD 16) RADFORD vs. BETH-COOKMAN
8) Purdue8) CINCINNATI
9) Providence9) Maryland
Des MoinesTulsa
5) Washington5) Florida State
12) Houston / Texas12) Xavier / San Diego St
4) Virginia Tech4) Kansas State
13) UNC-Greensboro13) NORTHEASTERN
JacksonvilleColumbus
6) UCLA6) LSU
11) Minnesota11) WESTERN KENTUCKY
3) Auburn3) MICHIGAN STATE
14) NEW MEXICO ST14) JACKSONVILLE ST
HartfordColumbia
7) TCU7) St. John’s
10) SAINT LOUIS10) USC
2) Virginia2) North Carolina
15) NO. KENTUCKY15) GEORGIA STATE
WEST - AnaheimEAST - Washington, DC
Salt Lake CityColumbia
1) GONZAGA1) DUKE
16) SAC ST / ST. FRANCIS16) LEHIGH
8) UCF8) Indiana
9) Nebraska9) Alabama
Des MoinesSalt Lake City
5) Michigan5) West Virginia
12) SOUTH DAKOTA ST12) LOYOLA (CHI)
4) Syracuse4) Mississippi State
13) MONTANA13) HARVARD
San JoseHartford
6) Marquette6) Wisconsin
11) Iowa State11) BUFFALO
3) OREGON3) VILLANOVA
14) UC-IRVINE14) RIDER
San JoseJacksonville
7) Florida7) Clemson
10) NC State10) Saint Joseph’s
2) NEVADA2) Tennessee
15) S.F. AUSTIN15) LIPSCOMB


BUBBLE NOTES
Last 4 ByesLast 4 IN First 4 OUTNext 4 OUT
Saint Joseph’sHoustonNotre DameTexas Tech
NC StateTexasArizonaLouisville
Iowa StateXavierBYUButler
MinnesotaSan Diego StateVanderbiltArizona State

TOP SEED LINE: Kansas is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Kentucky, Duke, and Gonzaga.

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (8): Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Clemson, NC State

Big 10 (8): Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota

SEC (7): Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, Florida, Alabama

BIG 12 (6): Kansas, Kansas State, West Virginia, TCU, Iowa State, Texas

Big East (5): Villanova, Marquette, St. John’s, Providence, Xavier

Pac 12 (4): Oregon, Washington, UCLA, USC

American (3): Cincinnati, UCF, Houston

Atlantic 10 (2): Saint Louis, Saint Joseph’s

Mountain West (2): Nevada, San Diego State

West Coast (1): Gonzaga

ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Rider (MAAC), Western Kentucky (C-USA), Georgia State (SBELT), Harvard (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (HORIZON), Stephen F. Austin (SLND), UNC-Greensboro (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Jacksonville State (OVC), Northeastern (CAA), Radford (BSO), Bethune-Cookman (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Hartford (AEAST), Lehigh (PAT), St. Francis-PA (NEC), Grambling State (SWAC)