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ESPN overhauled Bracketology for 2023 March Madness following major conference upsets

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko01/17/23

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(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

After several major conference upsets, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi revealed his latest bracketology for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

There was major movement, including Kentucky being out of the field of 68, as in, Lunardi’s first team out of the bracket. The last team in is New Mexico while Kansas established itself as the No. 1 overall seed.

“Purdue is back to its rightful place as No. 2 overall after escaping the Breslin Center with a one-point win over Michigan State,” Lunardi wrote. “That was the easy part of the bracket. The tricky parts were seeding and bracketing the mother lode of Big Ten (10), Big 12 (7) and ACC (7) teams, as three conferences comprise over 35% of the field in this update. 

“No bracketing principles are violated, but our headaches reveal the number of obstacles the selection committee will face in converting a lopsided seed list into a balanced bracket. For us, it’s just another day at the office.”

NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Last Four In/First Four Out

Last Four In (with byes): Indiana, Wisconsin, Memphis, Maryland

Last Four In: Boise State, Oklahoma, Penn State, New Mexico

First Four Out: Kentucky, West Virginia, Northwestern, Texas A&M

Next Four Out: USC, Utah State, Florida, Virginia Tech

Midwest Region (Kansas City)

No. 1 Kansas. No. 16 SE Louisiana/Fairleigh Dickinson

No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Missouri

No. 5 Rutgers vs. No. 12 Oklahoma/New Mexico

No. 4 Marquette vs. No. 13 Marshall

No. 6 Providence vs. No. 11 Nevada

No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 14 Seattle

No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Charleston

No. 2 Gonzaga No. 15 SIU Edwardsville

West Region (Las Vegas)

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 UMBC

No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Arizona State

No. 5 Illinois vs. No. 12 Liberty

No. 4 TCU vs. No. 13 Southern Illinois

No. 6 Arkansas vs. No. 11 Memphis

No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 UC Riverside

No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Wisconsin

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 Eastern Washington

South Region (Louisville)

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Southern/Morgan State

No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Pittsburgh

No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts

No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 13 Princeton

No. 6 Duke vs. No. 11 Boise State/Penn State

No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 14 Youngstown State

No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Florida Atlantic

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Siena

East Region (New York)

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 16 UNC Asheville

No. 8 San Diego vs. No. 9 Ohio State

No. 5 Baylor vs. No. 12 Kent State

No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 VCU

No. 6 Auburn vs. No. 11 Maryland

No. 3 UConn vs. No. 14 Colgate

No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Indiana

No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Samford