ESPN updates Bracketology for March Madness after final regular season weekend
With the regular season wrapped up, conference tournaments have arrived in the college basketball season. That means a few teams have started to punch their tickets to the NCAA Tournament through automatic bids while some teams are about to fight for their March Madness lives within the next few days. With that said, the final update to Bracketology based on regular season results has been released by none other than Joe Lunardi at ESPN.
“Champ Week has arrived and, with it, a stretch of unpredictability and volatility unmatched in sports. Who’s in? Who’s out? Where is my team going?,” wrote Lunardi. “We’ll have eyes on every conference tournament…Expect plenty of movement at both the top of the bracket and the bottom of the at-large pool.”
A major shift in this update is Kansas’ move up to the No. 1 overall seed. Many did not expect the Jayhawks to reach this level this season, especially after a season-ending loss at Texas. However, based on a wildly impressive Quad 1 record, Lunardi felt it was only right to give them the nod over Alabama and Houston.
Now let’s see which teams are in, which ones are out, and all the exciting postseason matchups that could unfold in the NCAA Tournament based on what’s decided on Selection Sunday.
NCAA March Madness Bracketology
On The Bubble
Last Four Byes: Pittsburgh, NC State, Auburn, Rutgers
Last Four In: Mississippi State, Nevada, Wisconsin, Penn State
First Four Out: Utah State, Clemson, Oklahoma State, Arizona State
Next Four Out: Michigan, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Oregon
Midwest Region (Kansas City)
No. 1 Kansas vs. No 16 SE Missouri St./Fairleigh Dickinson
No. 8 Missouri vs. No. 9 Memphis
No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Drake
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 Hofstra
No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 Mississippi State/Penn State
No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 14 Colgate
No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 USC
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Eastern Washington
South Region (Louisville)
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 16 UNC Asheville
No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic
No. 5 Iowa State vs. No. 12 VCU
No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Toledo
No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 11 Nevada/Wisconsin
No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 14 UC Irvine
No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 West Virginia
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Vermont
East Region (New York)
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Alcorn State/Howard
No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 9 Arkansas
No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts
No. 4 UConn vs. No. 13 Yale
No. 6 Duke vs. No. 11 Rutgers
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Louisiana
No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Pittsburgh
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Youngstown State
West Region (Las Vegas)
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 TAMU-CC
No. 8 Providence vs. No. 9 Boise State
No. 5 TCU vs. No. 12 Iona
No. 4 Xavier vs. No. 13 Utah Valley
No. 6 Michigan State vs. No. 11 Auburn
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Furman
No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 NC State
No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 15 Kennesaw State
In the end, Lunardi really did write it best: “The best time of year is here.”