Latest NCAA tournament projections all about 1 seeds, bubbles and more
Feb 21, 2011, 1:40 PM EDT
Put your fingers together very closely. That’s the margin we now have in the race for No. 1 seeds. At least among the five leading contenders – Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Texas, Kansas, and Duke. San Diego State and BYU could be in play if one wins both the outright Mountain West title and the MTW conference tournament crown. Despite losses by all top four seeds this week, the top line remains status-quo. Kansas keeps a slight edge for the final No. 1 spot thanks to a few more Top 100 wins. Winning the ACC (league and tourney) would likely vault the Blue Devils above the Jayhawks, but this is where we’re at for a few more days.
The bubble remains highly suspect, although we did lose a few teams this week. More to come in an updated Bubble Banter (Tuesday). Not sure you like any of the final few teams in or out? Same here. We still have a lot to be decided. Virginia Tech is once again right on the cutline, and the Hokies project to just miss (again) today.
As always, rebounds welcome. Bring along some notes. Follow more on Twitter at BracketguyDave. Enjoy the hoops. Next bracket update will be Friday as we begin two-a-weeks until Selection Sunday.
UPDATED: Monday, February 21 | Records reflect Division I games only – through February 20.
Teams in CAPS represent the projected conference champion for this bracket. Exceptions are made for those teams that traditionally use an abbreviation (UTEP, BYU, etc).
NOTE: In the new 68-team format you will notice two pairing games that represent the First Four pairings. In this bracket the First Four games in Dayton would be … Gonzaga vs. Richmond | Boston College vs. VCU | Texas Southern vs. McNeese State | Murray State vs. Hampton. The final four at-large teams are paired along with the teams seeded 65-68 on the S-curve. The matchups are indicated in the bracket below.
BRACKET PROJECTION …
| EAST – Newark | SOUTHEAST – New Orleans | |
| Cleveland | Cleveland | |
| 1) OHIO STATE (25-2) | 1) PITTSBURGH (24-3) | |
| 16) HAMPTON / MURRAY ST | 16) NcNEESE ST / TX-SOUTHERN | |
| 8 UNLV (20-7) | 8 Washington (18-8) | |
| 9) Old Dominion (22-6) | 9) Tennessee (16-11) | |
| Washington, DC | Tampa | |
| 5) Vanderbilt (20-6) | 5) Syracuse (22-6) | |
| 12) CHARLESTON (21-7) | 12) Gonzaga / Richmond | |
| 4) Connecticut (20-6) | 4) North Carolina (20-6) | |
| 13) FAIRFIELD (22-5) | 13) CLEVELAND STATE (21-5) | |
| Tampa | Chicago | |
| 6) West Virginia (17-9) | 6) St. John’s (17-9) | |
| 11) Colorado State (17-9) | 11) Memphis (20-7) | |
| 3) FLORIDA (21-5) | 3) Purdue (22-5) | |
| 14) COASTAL CAROLINA (21-3) | 14) BUCKNELL (19-8) | |
| Charlotte | Denver | |
| 7) Temple (21-5) | 7) GEORGE MASON (23-5) | |
| 10) Kansas State (17-9) | 10) Marquette (16-11) | |
| 2) DUKE (25-2) | 2) BYU (24-2) | |
| 15) LONG ISLAND (22-5) | 15) VERMONT (22-6) | |
| SOUTHWEST – San Antonio | WEST – Anaheim | |
| Tulsa | Tulsa | |
| 1) TEXAS (23-4) | 1) Kansas (24-2) | |
| 16) LONG BEACH (15-10) | 16) MONTANA (17-8) | |
| 8 Florida State (19-7) | 8 Cincinnati (21-6) | |
| 9) UTAH STATE (24-3) | 9) Illinois (17-10) | |
| Denver | Washington, DC | |
| 5) ARIZONA (23-4) | 5) Kentucky (19-7) | |
| 12) MISSOURI STATE (21-7) | 12) Boston College / VCU | |
| 4) Louisville (20-7) | 4) Villanova (21-6) | |
| 13) UTEP (19-6) | 13) OAKLAND (19-9) | |
| Tucson | Charlotte | |
| 6) Missouri (20-6) | 6) Texas AM (20-5) | |
| 11) ST. MARY’S (20-6) | 11) Michigan State (14-11) | |
| 3) Wisconsin (20-6) | 3) Georgetown (21-6) | |
| 14) PRINCETON (19-5) | 14) BELMONT (25-4) | |
| Chicago | Tucson | |
| 7) XAVIER (20-6) | 7) UCLA (19-8) | |
| 10) Alabama (18-8) | 10) Georgia (18-8) | |
| 2) Notre Dame (21-5) | 2) SAN DIEGO STATE (25-1) | |
| 15) KENT STATE (16-9) | 15) FLA ATLANTIC (17-9) |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Ohio State remains the No. 1 overall seed followed by Pittsburgh, Texas, and Kansas. The two seeds in order are Duke, San Diego State, BYU, Notre Dame
Last Five teams in (at large): Memphis, Boston College, Gonzaga, Richmond, VCU
First Five teams out (at large): Virginia Tech, Southern Mississippi, UAB, Clemson, Minnesota
Also Considered: Baylor, Butler, Penn State, Wichita State, Washington State
Bracket adjustments: None in this bracket.
Here is the team breakdown by Conference …
Big East (11): PITTSBURGH, Connecticut, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Villanova, West Virginia, Louisville, St. John’s, Cincinnati, Marquette
SEC (6): FLORIDA, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama
Big 12 (5): KANSAS, Texas, Texas AM, Missouri, Kansas State
Big Ten (5): OHIO STATE, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State
ACC (4): DUKE, North Carolina, Florida State, Boston College
Mountain West (4): SAN DIEGO STATE, BYU, UNLV, Colorado State
Pac 10 (3): ARIZONA, UCLA, Washington
Atlantic 10 (3): XAVIER, Temple, Richmond
Colonial (3): GEORGE MASON, Old Dominion, VCU
West Coast (2): ST. MARY’S, Gonzaga
Conference USA (2): UTEP, Memphis
Missouri Valley (1): MISSOURI STATE
Horizon (1): CLEVELAND STATE
Auto Bid conference champions … Utah State (WAC), Murray State (OVC), Fairfield (MAAC), Kent State (MAC), Montana (Big Sky), Charleston (Southern), Oakland (Summit), Long Beach (Big West), Long Island (NEC), Belmont (Atlantic Sun), Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt), Princeton (Ivy), Coastal Carolina (Big South), Hampton (MEAC), Bucknell (Patriot), Vermont (America East), McNeese State(Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC)
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