ESPN releases updated Bracketology for March Madness 2022

Conference play is in full force, which means we’re getting closer to March Madness. As teams upset their league rivals, Bracketology is going to change — and ESPN’s latest metrics reflect that already.

Joe Lunardi released his latest projections on Saturday. Here’s what he has so far.

Lunardi’s updated 2022 Bracketology: Last four in/first four out

Last four in (with byes): Florida, Saint Mary’s, Minnesota, Creighton

Last four in: Marquette, San Diego State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech

First four out: Memphis, Belmont, TCU, UCF

Next four out: Michigan, St. Bonaventure, Boise State, Clemson

2022 Bracketology: South Region

1. Baylor vs. 16. UT-Martin/William & Mary

8. BYU vs. 9. Indiana

5. Tennessee vs. 12 Iona

4. Houston vs. 13. St. John’s

6. Providence vs. 11. UAB

3. LSU vs. 14. Liberty

7. Texas Tech vs. 10. Saint Mary’s

2. UCLA vs. 15. Northern Colorado

West Region

1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Gardner-Webb

8. Oklahoma vs. 9. Mississippi State

5. Texas vs. 12. Ohio

4. Kentucky vs. 13. Oakland

6. Xavier vs. 11. Louisville

3. Michigan State vs. 14. Wagner

7. Colorado State vs. 10. Minnesota

2. Arizona vs. 15. Nicholls

Midwest Region

1. Kansas vs. 16. Norfolk State

8. Iowa vs. 9. North Carolina

5. Ohio State vs. 12. Chattanooga

4. Alabama vs. 13. New Mexico State

6. Loyola Chicago vs. 11. Marquette/Wake Forest

3. USC vs. 14. UC Riverside

7. UConn vs. 10. Florida

2. Purdue vs. 15. Cornell

East Region

1. Duke vs. 16. Southern/NJIT

8. West Virginia vs. 9. San Francisco

5. Illinois vs. 12. San Diego State/Virginia Tech

4. Iowa State vs. 13. South Dakota State

6. Wisconsin vs. 11 Creighton

3. Villanova vs. 14. Navy

7. Seton Hall vs. 10. Davidson

2. Auburn vs. 15 Louisiana

Big Ten, Big East lead ESPN’s Bracketology early on

The Big Ten and Big East are tied for the most bids in Lunardi’s first Bracketology of the new calendar year. They each have eight bids, followed closely by the SEC and Big 12 with seven bids apiece.

The ACC (five), WCC (four), Pac-12 (three) and Mountain West (two) are the only other conferences projected with multiple bids. That leaves the other 20 bids to one-bid leagues.

Remember, conference play is just beginning, so there’s a lot to figure out yet. These projections are all but certain to change.