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Bracketology: No. 1 seed line remains unsettled

Darrun Hilliard II

AP Photo

AP

Jay Wright, Kris Jenkins, Daniel Ochefu, Josh Hart

AP Photo

AP

With just over a week until Selection Sunday, the No. 1 seed line remains unsettled. Kentucky will be the No. 1 overall seed; that much is clear. We’re also confident that some combination of these teams will comprise the other three spots on the top line: Virginia, Duke, Villanova, Wisconsin, Arizona, or Gonzaga. That’s six teams for three spots.

Virginia also looks pretty locked-in as a one-seed; it would take a loss Saturday at Louisville, and an earlier-than-expected exit from the ACC tournament, to create the potential for a slip. Which leaves us, more realistically, with five teams for two spots. In today’s bracket, Duke and Villanova hold spots three and four on the Seed List, with Wisconsin and Arizona next in line. Gonzaga will be discussed, but the Bulldogs likely need every team ahead of them to lose in order to move back up.

Order of the final Seed List is also uncertain - after you get past Kentucky. It matters because it helps determine which team(s) end up in which regions. Virginia has second choice today, so the Cavaliers slot East. Duke (South) and Villanova (West) are next. Arizona would stay West regardless of which No. 1 seed position they might obtain, but if the Tucson version of the Wildcats remains a two-seed, slots three and four will determine which of those teams remains closer to home.

Championship Week begins tomorrow. Our next bracket update is Monday. For the complete Seed List regarding today’s bracket, visit Bracketville.

UPDATED: March 6, 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).

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Boise State vs. BYU | West Region
  • Texas AM vs. Illinois | West Region
  • BUCKNELL vs. ST. FRANCIS (NY) | Midwest Region
  • NORTH FLORIDA vs. GA SOUTHERN | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

MIDWEST - ClevelandEAST - Syracuse
LouisvilleCharlotte
1) KENTUCKY1) VIRGINIA
16) ST. FRANCIS / BUCKNELL16) NO FLORIDA / GA SOUTH
8) DAYTON8) VCU
9) Xavier9) Mississippi
SeattleJacksonville
5) North Carolina5) West Virginia
12) S.F. Austin12) WOFFORD
4) WICHITA STATE4) Arkansas
13) HARVARD13) IONA
ColumbusPittsburgh
6) Georgetown6) Providence
11) LSU11) Davidson
3) Iowa State3) Maryland
14) CENTRAL MICHIGAN14) NC-CENTRAL
ColumbusOmaha
7) SAN DIEGO ST7) Butler
10) NC State10) Purdue
2) WISCONSIN2) KANSAS
15) NORTHEASTERN15) SO DAKOTA ST
WEST - Los AngelesSOUTH - Houston
PittsburghCharlotte
1) VILLANOVA1) Duke
16) TEXAS-SOUTHERN16) ALBANY
8) Georgia8) Ohio State
9) Oregon9) Oklahoma State
JacksonvillePortland
5) Louisville5) Northern Iowa
12) Texas AM / Illinois12) MURRAY STATE
4) Baylor4) Utah
13) LOUISIANA TECH13) VALPARAISO
LouisvilleOmaha
6) Iowa6) SMU
11) Boise State / BYU11) Colorado State
3) Notre Dame3) Oklahoma
14) HIGH POINT14) UC-DAVIS
PortlandSeattle
7) St. John’s7) Michigan State
10) Indiana10) Cincinnati
2) ARIZONA2) GONZAGA
15) NEW MEXICO ST15) EASTERN WASHINGTON

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

Last Five teams in (at large): Davidson, Boise State, BYU, Texas AM, Illinois

First Five teams out (at large): Tulsa, Temple, Texas, UCLA, Miami-FL

Next five teams out (at large): Old Dominion, Stanford, Richmond, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island

Breakdown by Conference ...

Big 10 (8): Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa, Purdue, Illinois

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, St. John’s, Xavier

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

Pac 12 (3): Arizona, Utah, Oregon

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

Atlantic 10 (3): Dayton, VCU, Davidson

American (2): SMU, Cincinnati

Missouri Valley (2): Wichita State, Northern Iowa

West Coast (2): Gonzaga, BYU

Conference USA (1): Louisiana Tech

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