ESPN releases updated Bracketology ahead of final regular-season weekend
The calendar has flipped to March, which means mid-major conference tournaments are underway and the power conferences will wrap up the regular season this weekend. With just over a week until Selection Sunday, ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi updated his Bracketology projections.
The top seeds didn’t change — Alabama, Purdue, Kansas and Houston remain in the top spots in their respective regions. But teams across college basketball now know how much is at stake this weekend, especially the bubble teams. That should add to the intrigue.
Here are Lunardi’s latest projections as teams make their final pushes toward their conference tournaments.
Bracketology: Last four in/First four out
Last Four Byes: USC, Boise State, West Virginia, Auburn
Last Four In: Mississippi State, Nevada, Wisconsin, Penn State
First Four Out: Arizona State, North Carolina, Michigan, Utah State
Next Four Out: Oklahoma State, Clemson, Charleston, Oregon
Bracketology: South Region (Louisville)
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 16 Howard
No. 8 Providence vs. No. 9 Rutgers
No. 5 TCU vs. No. 12 Bradley
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 Hofstra
No. 6 Northwestern vs. No. 11 West Virginia
No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 14 Furman
No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 15 Kennesaw State
East Region (New York)
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Morehead State/Alcorn State
No. 8 Missouri vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic
No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts
No. 4 UConn vs. No. 13 Toledo
No. 6 Duke vs. No. 11 Nevada/Penn State
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Southern Miss
No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Boise State
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Eastern Washington
Midwest Region (Kansas City)
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas A&M Corpus Christi
No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 9 Memphis
No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 VCU
No. 4 Xavier vs. No. 13 Yale
No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 11 Auburn
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Colgate
No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Pitt
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 Youngstown State
West Region (Las Vegas)
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 UNC Asheville
No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 Arkansas
No. 5 Creighton vs. No. 12 Iona
No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Utah Valley
No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 Mississippi State/Wisconsin
No. 3 Arizona vs. No 14 UC Irvine
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 NC State
No. 2 Kansas State vs. No. 15 Vermont