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Bracketology: Showdowns ahead in No. 1 seed race

Duke v Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 22: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils dunks against against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Petersen Events Center on January 22, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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The developing bubble is a garbled mess, so let’s stay positive and focus on the No. 1 seed race, which has seven serious contenders at the moment: Duke, Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, Michigan State, Gonzaga, and Kentucky.

Between now and Selection Sunday, battles will rage.

Virginia and Duke play again on February 9 (Duke was the first meeting by two points in Durham).

Kentucky and Tennessee play twice - February 16 and March 2.

Same for Michigan State and Michigan - February 24 and March 9.

Which brings us to Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs are expected to cruise through their West Coast Conference campaign; another 30-win season a realistic outcome.

Should that occur, it will be difficult for the Selection Committee to keep Gonzaga off the No. 1 seed line out West (especially given their high NET rating).

If that’s the case, it becomes a six team race for three No.1 seed positions with showdowns ahead. Feels like March is right around the corner.

BRACKET UPDATED: January 31, 2019

FIRST FOUR - DAYTON
EAST REGIONTemple vs. Florida
SOUTH REGIONVCU vs. Nebraska
EAST REGIONNorfolk State vs. Prairie View
MIDWEST REGIONSam Houston vs. Robert Morris


EAST - Washington, DCSOUTH - Louisville
ColumbiaColumbia
1) DUKE1) TENNESSEE
16) NORFOLK ST / PV-AM 16) RIDER
8) Missisippi State8) WASHINGTON
9) BAYLOR9) Syracuse
Salt Lake CitySan Jose
5) Wisconsin5) Virginia Tech
12) Temple / Florida12) DAVIDSON
4) VILLANOVA4) Maryland
13) VERMONT13) MURRAY STATE
Des MoinesDes Moines
6) BUFFALO6) LSU
11) St. John’s11) VCU / Nebraska
3) Purdue3) Marquette
14) TEXAS STATE14) NORTH TEXAS
JacksonvilleJacksonville
7) NC State7) Minnesota
10) Ohio State10) TCU
2) Kentucky2) North Carolina
15) LOYOLA-CHICAGO15) RADFORD
WEST - AnaheimMIDWEST - Kansas City
ColumbusHartford
1) MICHIGAN1) Virginia
16) LEHIGH16) ROB MORRIS / SAM HOUSTON
8) Oklahoma8) Ole Miss
9) Auburn9) Texas
San JoseTulsa
5) Texas Tech5) Iowa State
12) LIPSCOMB12) HOFSTRA
4) NEVADA4) HOUSTON
13) NEW MEXICO ST13) YALE
HartfordTulsa
6) Iowa6) Florida State
11) WOFFORD11) Seton Hall
3) Louisville3) Kansas
14) NORTHERN KENTUCKY14) UC-IRVINE
Salt Lake CityColumbus
7) Kansas State7) Cincinnati
10) Arizona State10) Alabama
2) GONZAGA2) Michigan State
15) SOUTH DAKOTA ST15) MONTANA


BUBBLE NOTES
Last 4 ByesLast 4 IN First 4 OUTNext 4 OUT
TCUNebraskaUCFButler
Ohio StateVCUIndianaCreighton
St. John’sTempleArizonaPittsburgh
Seton HallFloridaClemsonProvidence

TOP SEED LINE: Duke is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Tennessee, Virginia, and Michigan

Breakdown by Conference ...

Big 10 (9): MICHIGAN, Michigan State, Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, Nebraska

BIG 12 (8): BAYLOR, Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, TCU

ACC (8): DUKE, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Florida State, NC State, Syracuse

SEC (8): TENNESSEE, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Florida

Big East (4): VILLANOVA, Marquette, St. John’s, Seton Hall

American (3): HOUSTON, Cincinnati, Temple

Pac 12 (2): WASHINGTON, Arizona State

Atlantic 10 (2): DAVIDSON, VCU

Mid American (1): BUFFALO

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Rider (MAAC), North Texas (C-USA), Texas State (SBELT), Yale (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (HORIZON), Sam Houston (SLND), Wofford (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Lipscomb (ASUN), Murray State (OVC), Hofstra (CAA), Radford (BSO), Norfolk State (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Lehigh (PAT), Robert Morris (NEC), Prairie View (SWAC)