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Bracketology: Wichita State pushing toward No. 1 seed

Wichita State v Indiana State

Getty Images

Michael Hickey

Wichita State v Indiana State

Getty Images

Michael Hickey

Alongside Syracuse, Wichita State is one of two unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I men’s basketball. The Shockers’ resume speaks for itself - a Top 10 RPI, Top 50 non-conference strength of schedule, and an 11-0 record away from home. Given WSU’s remaining Missouri Valley Conference schedule, it’s likely the Shockers will enter the MVC tournament with a perfect record. Regardless of the league, that’s impressive.

So what’s keeping Wichita State off the top line?

Not much at this point. When it comes to separating teams at the very top (or at the cut-line) the margins are often small. And there are only four No. 1 seed slots available, which means someone has to be No. 5 on the s-curve. As of today, that’s Wichita State. By comparison, here are the records of the current No. 1 seeds vs. Top 100 RPI opponents: Syracuse (12-0), Arizona (12-1), Kansas (15-5), Florida (8-2). Wichita State is 5-0. Again, these are small differences sometimes - particularly with respect to Florida - but something the Selection Committee has to evaluate.

(MORE: Take a loot at NBCSports.com’s latest Top 25)

The other two-seeds today stack up like this against the Top 100: Michigan State (10-4), Villanova (10-2), San Diego State (6-1). If there’s a reason why Wichita State and San Diego State remain two-seeds on Selection Sunday (even if they keep winning), it won’t be because they are not worthy. It’ll be because the other teams, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, are more worthy. And keep in mind, only one No. 1 seed (Louisville) made the Final Four last April, so while earning at No. 1 seed is noteworthy, it doesn’t necessarily equate to March success. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Shockers or Aztecs in an Elite 8 or Final Four showdown.

Enjoy another week of college hoops.

UPDATED: February 10, 2014

Teams in CAPS represent the projected AUTOMATIC bid based on current standings with RPI as a tiebreaker for teams with the same number of losses. Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (UCLA, BYU, etc).

Several new bracketing principles were introduced after last year’s tournament. You can read them for yourself at www.ncaa.com. For example: teams from the same conference may now meet before a Regional final, even if fewer than eight teams are selected. The goal is to keep as many teams as possible on their actual seed line.

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • BYU vs. Missouri | West Region
  • LSU vs. Georgetown | South Region
  • SOUTHERN vs. HIGH POINT | East Region
  • ROBERT MORRIS vs. DAVIDSON | Midwest Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - New YorkWEST - Anaheim
BuffaloSan Diego
1) SYRACUSE1) ARIZONA
16) SOUTHERN / HIGH POINT16) UTAH VALLEY
8) Memphis8) Oklahoma State
9) Geo Washington9) Xavier
SpokaneSpokane
5) Oklahoma5) Wisconsin
12) GREEN BAY12) BYU / Missouri
4) Kentucky4) Creighton
13) IONA13) MERCER
MilwaukeeSan Antonio
6) Louisville6) Connecticut
11) Tennessee11) Arizona State
3) MICHIGAN3) Iowa State
14) NORTH DAKOTA ST14) UC-SANTA BARBARA
BuffaloSan Antonio
7) New Mexico7) North Carolina
10) California10) Minnesota
2) VILLANOVA2) SAN DIEGO STATE
15) VERMONT15) NC-CENTRAL
SOUTH - MemphisMIDWEST - Indianapolis
OrlandoSt. Louis
1) FLORIDA1) KANSAS
16) WEBER STATE16) DAVIDSON / ROB MORRIS
8) Kansas State8) GONZAGA
9) Stanford9) VCU
San DiegoOrlando
5) Iowa5) Ohio State
12) Georgetown / LSU12) TOLEDO
4) SAINT LOUIS4) Virginia
13) DELAWARE13) BELMONT
RaleighRaleigh
6) Texas6) Massachusetts
11) Providence11) SOUTHERN MISS
3) Duke3) CINCINNATI
14) S.F. AUSTIN14) GEORGIA STATE
St. LouisMilwaukee
7) UCLA7) Pittsburgh
10) SMU10) Colorado
2) WICHITA STATE2) Michigan State
15) AMERICAN15) YALE

NOTES on the BRACKET: Syracuse is the overall No. 1 seed followed by Arizona, Kansas, and Florida.

Last Five teams in (at large): Providence, Georgetown, BYU, Missouri, LSU

First Five teams out (at large): Florida State, Ole Miss, St. Joseph’s, St. John’s, Dayton

Next five teams out (at large): Richmond, Indiana, Clemson, Arkansas, Louisiana Tech

Breakdown by Conference ...

Big 12 (6): Kansas, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas

Pac 12 (6): Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, California, Stanford, Arizona State

Big Ten (6): Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota

ACC (5): Duke, Syracuse, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia

American (5): Louisville, Memphis, Connecticut, Cincinnati, SMU

Big East (5): Creighton, Villanova, Xavier, Providence, Georgetown

SEC (5): Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, LSU

Atlantic 10 (4): Massachusetts, VCU, Saint Louis, Geo Washington

Mountain West (2): New Mexico, San Diego State

West Coast (2): Gonzaga, BYU

Missouri Valley (1): Wichita State

Conference Automatic Qualifiers ... Southern Miss (C-USA), Belmont (Ohio Valley), Georgia State (Sun Belt), American (Patriot), North Dakota State (Summit), Green Bay (Horizon), Davidson (Southern), Utah Valley (WAC), Iona (MAAC), Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Toledo (MAC), Mercer (A-Sun), Yale (IVY), UC-Santa Barbara (Big West), Delaware (Colonial), Vermont (American East), Weber State (Big Sky), NC-Central (MEAC), High Point (Big South), Robert Morris (NEC), Southern (SWAC)