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Bracketology: Final No. 1 seed still a question mark

Caris LeVert

Caris LeVert (AP Photo)

AP

Caris LeVert

Caris LeVert (AP Photo)

AP

We are a few hours from the release of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship bracket. And the final No. 1 seed may not be decided. By reaching the Big Ten title game, Michigan is probably the frontrunner having already won the regular-season title. Should Michigan fall to rival Michigan State, Virginia will be knocking on the door if the Cavaliers beat Duke to win both the ACC regular season and tournament titles. Lest we forget about Villanova. The Wildcats could still emerge as the East Region leader if both the Wolverines and Cavaliers lose.

In other words, the Selection Committee in Indianapolis will spend its Sunday building multiple brackets depending on what happens this afternoon. Florida will be the top overall seed. Arizona and Wichita State should also be locked in place on the top line.
RELATED: Six things to watch for on Selection Sunday

Providence erased any doubt about its spot in the Field of 68 by winning the Big East tournament Saturday night. The three potential bid thieves from Saturday (NC State, Georgia, St. Bonaventure) all lost. So the rest of the field remains in tact.

Enjoy your Selection Sunday.

Teams in CAPS represent the AUTOMATIC bid based on tournament results. Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (UCLA, BYU, etc).
MORE: Get to know all of the Automatic Bids

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)


  • Nebraska vs. SMU | East Region
  • Dayton vs. BYU | West Region
  • TEXAS SOUTHERN vs. MOUNT ST. MARY’S | Midwest Region
  • CAL-POLY vs. COASTAL CAROLINA | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

SOUTH - MemphisWEST - Anaheim
OrlandoSan Diego
1) Florida1) Arizona
16) ALBANY16) WEBER STATE
8) Oregon8) Memphis
9) GONZAGA9) Kansas State
San DiegoSpokane
5) Ohio State5) Baylor
12) HARVARD12) Dayton / BYU
4) Syracuse4) San Diego State
13) WESTERN MICHIGAN13) S.F. AUSTIN
San AntonioSan Antonio
6) North Carolina6) Connecticut
11) PROVIDENCE11) Tennessee
3) Iowa State3) Creighton
14) MERCER14) NEW MEXICO STATE
MilwaukeeSt. Louis
7) VCU7) Kentucky
10) Stanford10) Saint Joseph’s
2) Wisconsin2) Kansas
15) NC-CENTRAL15) MILWAUKEE
EAST - New YorkMIDWEST - Indianapolis
MilwaukeeSt. Louis
1) Michigan1) WICHITA STATE
16) CO CAROLINA / CAL-POLY16) TX SOUTHERN / MT ST MARY’S
8) George Washington8) Oklahoma State
9) Pittsburgh9) Colorado
SpokaneOrlando
5) UCLA5) NEW MEXICO
12) NORTH DAKOTA ST12) MANHATTAN
4) Cincinnati4) Michigan State
13) DELAWARE13) TULSA
RaleighBuffalo
6) Texas6) Oklahoma
11) Nebraska / SMU11) Xavier
3) Duke3) LOUISVILLE
14) Georgia State14) EASTERN KENTUCKY
BuffaloRaleigh
7) Saint Louis7) Massachusetts
10) Arizona State10) Iowa
2) Villanova2) Virginia
15) AMERICAN15) WOFFORD

NOTES on the BRACKET: Florida remains the overall No. 1 seed followed by Arizona, Wichita State, and Michigan.

Last Five teams in (at large): Xavier, Nebraska, Dayton, SMU, BYU

First Five teams out (at large): Florida State, Minnesota, California, Arkansas, Missouri

Next five teams out (at large): Green Bay, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, NC State, Toledo

Breakdown by Conference ...

Big 12 (7): Kansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma State

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

Atlantic 10 (6): Massachusetts, VCU, Saint Louis, George Washington, Saint Joseph’s, Dayton

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

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

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

Big East (4): Creighton, Villanova, Xavier, Providence

SEC (3): Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee

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

West Coast (2): Gonzaga, BYU

Missouri Valley (1): Wichita State

Conference Automatic Qualifiers ... TULSA (C-USA), EASTERN KENTUCKY (Ohio Valley), Georgia State (Sun Belt), AMERICAN (Patriot), NORTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit), MILWAUKEE (Horizon), WOFFORD (Southern), NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC), MANHATTAN (MAAC), STEPHEN F AUSTIN (Southland), WESTERN MICHIGAN (MAC), MERCER (A-Sun), HARVARD (IVY), CAL-POLY (Big West), DELAWARE (Colonial), ALBANY (American East), WEBER STATE (Big Sky), NC-CENTRAL (MEAC), COASTAL CAROLINA (Big South), MOUNT ST. MARY’S (NEC), TEXAS SOUTHERN (SWAC)