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Bracketology: Kentucky reigns and March arrives

John Calipari, Andrew Harrison, Tyler Ulis

AP Photo

AP

As the calendar turns to March, Kentucky has entrenched itself as the No. 1 overall seed. Unless the Wildcats lose multiple times between now and Selection Sunday - which is highly unlikely - they will stand atop the bracket when the official Field of 68 is unveiled on March 15. UK’s proverbial “march” will begin in Louisville and head through Cleveland in the Midwest Region.

As for the remaining No. 1 seeds, Virginia has a firm grasp on the East. After that, there’s still a bit of a race. If Gonzaga loses, Villanova is next in line to ascend to the top line. We also can’t exclude Wisconsin, Arizona, or even Kansas - although the Jayhawks will need help from the others in front of them. While winning both Big 12 regular season and tournament titles (if it happens) would be mighty impressive, the Jayhawks’ loss total might be too great to push KU ahead of the other three if those teams continue to win.

The bubble/cutline remains a hodge-podge of rotating resumes. The week ahead - leading into conference tournaments - figures to be huge. And it might be Friday or Saturday of Championship Week before the final Field comes into focus.

The complete Seed List used for today’s bracket can be found at Bracketville.

UPDATED: February 27, 2015

Teams in CAPS represent the projected AUTOMATIC bid. In the event of a tie in the loss column, RPI is the first tiebreaker used. Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (UCLA, BYU, etc).

Several new bracketing principles were introduced last year. 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)


  • Boise State vs. Davidson | Midwest Region
  • Tulsa vs. Texas AM | South Region
  • TEXAS SOUTHERN vs. ST. FRANCIS-BROOKLYN | Midwest Region
  • UL-MONROE vs. BUCKNELL | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

MIDWEST - ClevelandEAST - Syracuse
LouisvilleCharlotte
1) KENTUCKY1) VIRGINIA
16) ST. FRANCIS / TX-STHERN16) UL MONROE / BUCKNELL
8) Ohio State8) Xavier
9) St. John’s9) Dayton
ColumbusSeattle
5) Northern Iowa5) North Carolina
12) Boise State / Davidson12) VALPARAISO
4) Notre Dame4) Arkansas
13) IONA13) HARVARD
LouisvilleJacksonville
6) Butler6) SMU
11) LSU11) Oregon
3) Iowa State3) Baylor
14) CENTRAL MICHIGAN14) HIGH POINT
ColumbusPittsburgh
7) SAN DIEGO ST7) Indiana
10) Cincinnati10) Georgia
2) WISCONSIN2) VILLANOVA
15) SO DAKOTA ST15) FGCU
WEST - Los AngelesSOUTH - Houston
SeattleCharlotte
1) GONZAGA1) Duke
16) NORTHEASTERN16) ALBANY
8) Iowa8) Oklahoma State
9) NC State9) Purdue
JacksonvillePortland
5) West Virginia5) WICHITA STATE
12) WOFFORD12) MURRAY STATE
4) Louisville4) Utah
13) LOUISIANA TECH13) STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
OmahaPittsburgh
6) Georgetown6) Providence
11) Temple11) Tulsa / Texas A&M
3) Oklahoma3) Maryland
14) EASTERN WASHINGTON14) NC-CENTRAL
PortlandOmaha
7) Michigan State7) VCU
10) Colorado State10) Mississippi
2) ARIZONA2) KANSAS
15) UC DAVIS15) NEW MEXICO ST

NOTES on the BRACKET: Kentucky is the overall No. 1 seed followed by Virginia, Duke, and Gonzaga. Next in line: Villanova, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Kansas.

Last Five teams in (at large): Temple, Texas AM, Tulsa, Davidson, Boise State

First Five teams out (at large): Illinois, Stanford, Miami-FL, Texas, Pittsburgh

Next five teams out (at large): Old Dominion, UCLA, BYU, Saint Mary’s, Rhode Island

Breakdown by Conference ...

Big 10 (7): Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa, Purdue

Big 12 (6): Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma State

ACC (6): Virginia, Duke, Notre Dame, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State

Big East (6): Villanova, Butler, Georgetown, Providence, Xavier, St. John’s

SEC (6): Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, Texas AM

American (4): SMU, Temple, Cincinnati, Tulsa

Pac 12 (3): Arizona, Utah, Oregon

Mountain West (3): San Diego State, Colorado State, Boise State

Atlantic 10 (2): VCU, Dayton

Missouri Valley (2): Wichita State, Northern Iowa

Conference USA (1): Louisiana Tech

West Coast (1): Gonzaga

ONE BID LEAGUES: UL Monroe (SBELT), Harvard (IVY), Eastern Washington (BSKY), Valparaiso (HZN), S.F. Austin (SLND), Wofford (STHN), UC Davis (BWEST), Central Michigan (MAC), Iona (MAAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Murray State (OVC), Northeastern (CAA), High Point (BSO), North Carolina Central (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Albany (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), St. Francis - Brooklyn (NEC), Texas Southern (SWAC)