ESPN drops update Bracketology ahead of crucial weekend of college basketball

This college basketball season has been incredibly unpredictable. With many upsets, cancelations, postponements, and more, it has been tough to predict what the NCAA Tournament field could look like in March. But that hasn’t stopped ESPN, who just released its updated Bracketology for 2022’s March Madness.

Major notes

Top overall seed: Auburn

First team out: Florida

Last team in: Oregon

After dropping both games in their season series against Marquette, Villanova has now dropped to a 5-seed. This marks the first time all season that the Wildcats have not been projected as a top four seed. More pointedly, the ‘Cats are third on the seed list among Big East teams, trailing Providence (three seed) and Marquette (four seed).

On the bubble

Last four byes: Loyola Chicago, San Francisco, Seton Hall, BYU

Last four in: Wyoming, Creighton, San Diego St., Oregon

First four out: Florida, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, West Virginia

Next four out: SMU, UAB, Florida State, Chattanooga

Midwest Region

1 Auburn vs. 16 Southern/New Orleans

8 Saint Mary’s vs. 9 Oklahoma

5 Xavier vs. 12 North Texas

4 Illinois vs. 13 Drake

6 LSU vs. 11 Davidson

3 Kansas vs. 14. Jacksonville State

7 Indiana vs. 10 San Francisco

2 UCLA vs 15 CSU Fullerton

East Region

1 Purdue vs. 16 Norfolk State/UNC Wilmington

8 TCU vs. 9 Wake Forest

5 Alabama vs. 12 Toledo

4 Providence vs. 13 Furman

6 Texas vs. 11 Seton Hall

3 Houston vs. 14 Wagner

7 USC vs. 10 Loyola Chicago

2 Duke vs. 15 Princeton

West Region

1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Colgate

8 Boise State vs. 9 Miami

5 Villanova vs. 12 Iona

4 Wisconsin vs. 13 Vermont

6 Tennessee vs. 11 Creighton/Wyoming

3 Texas Tech vs. 14 Oakland

7 Iowa vs. 10 Colorado State

2 Arizona vs. 15 Seattle

South Region

1 Baylor vs. 16 Appalachian State

8 Arkansas vs. 9 Murray State

5 Ohio State vs. 12 Oregon/San Diego State

4 Marquette vs. 13 South Dakota State

6 UConn vs. 11 BYU

3 Michigan vs. 14 Weber State

7 Iowa State vs. 10 North Carolina

2 Kentucky vs. 15 Longwood

Conference breakdown

The Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East lead the way with seven teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament, according to the latest Bracketology update. The SEC is a close second with six followed by the ACC, Pac-12, WCC and Mountain West with four selections per conference. The field of 68 is rounded out with two from the Missouri Valley Conference. From there, any other conference would have once selection, that being their automatic bid via conference championship.

Compare the latest updated Bracketology with last month’s here.