ESPN releases updated Bracketology ahead of critical weekend of college basketball

There are just a handful of games remaining in the college basketball regular season. Teams are fighting for seeding in their conference tournaments, but bids to the NCAA Tournament are still at stake, too. With just two weekends left in the regular season, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has released his latest Bracketology, giving an interesting look at the potential tournament field.

ESPN’s latest Bracketology: First four out/last four in

Last four in (with byes): Rutgers, Michigan, TCU, UNC

Last four in: Loyola Chicago, San Francisco, Indiana, Memphis

First four out: SMU, San Diego State, BYU, Dayton

Next four out: Oregon, St. Bonaventure, Virginia, Florida

ESPN Bracketology’s projected field: West region

1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Texas Southern/New Orleans
8. Colorado State vs. 9. Miami

5. UConn vs. 12. Iona
4. Ohio State vs. 13. Toledo

6. USC vs. 11. Davidson
3. Texas Tech vs. 14. Texas State

7. Michigan State vs. 10. Creighton
2. Duke vs. 15. Yale

East region

1. Auburn vs. 16. Longwood/Norfolk State
8. Xavier vs. 9. Notre Dame

5. Houston vs. 12. San Francisco/Indiana
4. UCLA vs. 13. Vermont

6. LSU vs. 11. Loyola Chicago/Memphis
3. Villanova vs. 14. Wagner

7. Iowa State vs. 10. Wake Forest
2. Purdue vs. 15. Colgate

South region

1. Arizona vs. 16. UNC Wilmington
8. Seton Hall vs. 9. Wyoming

5. Texas vs. 12. South Dakota State
4. Illinois vs. 13. Chattanooga

6. Iowa vs. 11. UNC
3. Tennessee vs. 14. Northern Iowa

7. Boise State vs. 10 Rutgers
2. Baylor vs. 15. Long Beach State

Midwest region

1. Kansas vs. 16. Cleveland State
8. Saint Mary’s vs. 9. Murray State

5. Alabama vs. 12. North Texas
4. Providence vs. 13. New Mexico State

6. Arkansas vs. 11. TCU
3. Wisconsin vs. 14. Montana State

7. Marquette vs. 10. Michigan
2. Kentucky vs. 15. Jacksonville State

Gonzaga is the top overall seed in ESPN’s latest Bracketology

The battle for the four one seeds is very much a tight race at this point in the season. Gonzaga is the top overall seed, and also the odds-on favorite to win the National Championship. Gonzaga, Auburn, and Arizona seem like pretty good bets to be the top seed in their respective regions, but teams like Kansas, Kentucky, Purdue, and Duke could find themselves as one seeds when it’s all said and done.

On the bubble, a pair of American Athletic Conference teams finish right on the line. Memphis is on the right side of that line as the final team in despite a dreadful stretch earlier in the season, while SMU is the first team outside of the field of 68.

The Big Ten leads the way in ESPN’s most recent Bracketology with nine teams in the projected field. The Big East comes in with seven selections, while the Big 12 and SEC each have six. There are five ACC teams in this projected field, and three from each of the Mountain West, WCC, and Pac-12. The AAC and Missouri Valley each have two projected participants.

Most conference tournaments begin over the first eight or so days in March. There is still a lot to be decided, and teams have the opportunities to put a final stamp on their resumes over this final stretch.