ESPN updates Bracketology, NCAA Tournament predictions as final week of regular season arrives
There is only one week left in the regular season, but there are still countless teams fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi updated his Bracketology, accordingly.
This weekend was a wild one. Five ranked teams fell on Saturday, including two teams in the top 10 of the AP Top 25. The Big 12 retained its supremacy in Lunardi’s eyes, earning a conference-high nine teams in his bracket. The SEC trailed closely behind with seven.
However, Lunardi’s No. 1 overall seed belongs to neither of these conferences. Let’s dive into Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, starting with the Midwest Region.
Midwest Region (Detroit)
(1) Purdue vs. (16) Norfolk State/Central Connecticut
Purdue didn’t fall victim to any fluke upsets this weekend. The Boilermakers defeated Michigan State 80-74 to secure a share of their second-straight Big Ten regular-season championship.
In the win, Zach Edey showed off his typical talents, exploding for 32 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 9-15 from the field. Sophomore guard Braden Smith added 23 points, as well. Smith shot a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc in his dynamic effort.
(2) Marquette vs. (15) Sam Houston
Marquette isn’t taking its 89-75 loss against Creighton to heart. With two of its top talents out, the Golden Eagles were unable to overcome the odds and knock the Bluejays out of the sky. However, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart hasn’t lost faith in his team.
“Certainly, looking at it from their standpoint, their program, that’s how you want a senior day to go for your seniors and departing guys,” Smart said. “I think from our standpoint, really proud of our guys’ fight, connectivity, energy, resilience, stamina, belief.”
(3) Baylor vs. (14) Oakland
The Baylor Bears aren’t in hibernation this winter. On Saturday, the team boasted an 82-74 victory over No. 7 Kansas. It’s the first time this season Kansas has suffered consecutive losses. RayJ Dennis led the charge for Baylor, recording a team-high 19 points and 10 assists.
The team followed up the inspired performance with a 93-85 triumph over Texas on Monday. In the win, Jalen Bridges exploded for a career-high 32 points while shooting an efficient 8-11 from the field and 6-7 from beyond the arc.
(8) Texas vs. (9) Mississippi State
(5) Clemson vs. (12) Richmond
(4) Kentucky vs. (13) Appalachian State
(6) Wisconsin vs. (11) South Florida
(7) Dayton vs. (10) Oklahoma
South Region (Dallas)
(1) Houston vs. (16) South Dakota State
The Cougars can’t stop winning. On Saturday, the team picked up its seventh win in a row, narrowly defeating Oklahoma 87-85. In no surprise, Jamal Shead was the hero in the nail-biting finish. The senior guard drained a six-foot fadeaway with only .4 seconds left on the clock to give Houston the win.
While Shead was the Cougars’ saving grace, LJ Cryer led the pack. In the win, Cryer tallied a team-high 23 points while shooting 9-17 from the field and 5-9 from 3-point range. J’Wan Roberts added 20 points of his own.
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Quinnipiac
Tennessee fans had a lot to smile about this week. On Wednesday, the Volunteers knocked off No. 11 Auburn in a 92-84 shootout. The Volunteers were red-hot from deep in the outing, connecting on 9-17 from downtown.
Tennessee wasn’t satisfied with one ranked win. The team followed up the victory with a triumph over No. 14 Alabama on Saturday. The win gave Tennessee sole possession of the No. 1 spot in the SEC standings.
(3) Duke vs. (14) Akron
The Blue Devils have been on demon time down the stretch. On Saturday, Duke dominated Virginia in 73-48 fashion. Standout forward Kyle Filipowski led the charge, collecting 21 points and seven rebounds against the Cavaliers.
Only two days later, Duke put on an impressive encore performance in a 79-64 win over NC State. Duke’s backcourt starters stole the show against the Wolfpack, combining for 48 points and 13 assists.
(8) Northwestern vs. (9) Colorado State
(5) Auburn vs. (12) McNeese State
(4) San Diego State vs. (13) Charleston
(6) Utah State vs. (11) Indiana State
(7) Saint Mary’s vs. (10) TCU
West Region (Los Angeles)
(1) Arizona vs. (16) Little Rock/Grambling State
Arizona has had the most tumultuous season of all the one-seeds. Alas, it still sits on the West Region throne. Since falling to Washington State on Feb. 22, the Wildcats have won every game by double-digits. Most recently, Arizona handed Oregon a 20-point loss on Saturday.
Arizona’s offense was a runaway train in the victory. The Wildcats shot 39-64 (60.9%) from the field and 14-25 (56%) from downtown. The did more than score, too. In the win, Oumar Ballo secured his ninth straight double-double.
(2) Iowa State vs. (15) Eastern Washington
On Saturday, Iowa State kept the good times rolling with a comfortable 60-52 win over UCF. It wasn’t always easy. With three minutes left in the game, the teams were tied at 50 points. Nonetheless, a whirlwind 11-0 run gave the Cyclones the W.
“We call it winning time,” Tre King said after the game. “Something we practice in practice every day is the last four minutes. Regardless of whether we are up or down or having a good shooting night or a bad shooting night because that’s the name of the game because at that time anything can happen. We pride ourselves on continuing to get stops those last four minutes.”
(3) Creighton vs. (14) High Point
The Bluejays soared past their competition this week. On Wednesday, the team handily defeated a gritty Seton Hall squad 85-64. The win was an obvious sign of growth. In Creighton’s first meeting against Seton Hall this season, the Bluejays needed three overtimes to eliminate the Pirates.
Creighton rode its momentum into Saturday, stunning No. 4 Marquette 89-75. In Marquette’s defense, the team was without All-American Tyler Kolek and forward Oso Ighodaro. Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman tallied an insane 26 points and 16 rebounds in the win.
(8) Nevada vs. (9) Michigan State
(5) BYU vs. (12) Grand Canyon
(4) Illinois vs. (13) Samford
(6) Florida vs. (11) New Mexico/Wake Forest
(7) Boise State vs. (10) FAU
East Region (Boston)
(1) UConn vs. (16) Eastern Kentucky
On Dec. 20, UConn fell in staggering 75-60 fashion to Seton Hall. After a 74-day wait, the Huskies got their revenge and then some. On Sunday, UConn mopped the floor with Seton Hall, walking away with a 91-61 statement victory.
Both Donovan Clingan and Tristen Newton secured double-doubles in the win. Meanwhile, Stephon Castle tallied a team-high 21 points. The win gave UConn its first outright Big East regular season title in 25 years.
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Colgate
The Smith Center was buzzing with excitement as North Carolina downed NC State 79-70 on Saturday. Duke only trails UNC by one loss in the ACC standings. With only two games left in their regular season, the Tar Heels are now one step closer to securing the ACC regular season title.
Harrison Ingram was pivotal in the victory, collecting a team-high 22 points. Armando Bacot and RJ Davis recorded a combined 27 points and 14 rebounds. North Carolina has now won four straight against ACC foes.
(3) Kansas vs. (14) Vermont
This past week was one Kansas fans will hope to soon forget. The Jayhawks kicked off the ugly stretch with a 76-68 loss to BYU. Only four days later, Kansas suffered an 82-74 loss to Baylor on the road. With the NCAA Tournament just over the horizon, Kansas head coach Bill Self is focused on remaining positive.
“The thing about it is with people, in general, we’re all guilty of this, whether it be right or wrong, we only focus on the end result as opposed to the actions and everything that goes into put yourself in a position to have success with the end result. We had some good possessions and we came empty,” Self said.
(8) Texas Tech vs. (9) Nebraska
(5) Washington State vs. (12) Princeton
(4) Alabama vs. (13) UC Irvine
(6) South Carolina vs. (11) Seton Hall/Virginia
(7) Gonzaga vs. (10) Villanova