Another week of college basketball gone, as we now sit 48 days away from Selection Sunday. The NCAA tournament selection committee announced Tuesday that they would reveal their top 16 seeds on February 11, so it should be interesting. Here is this week’s bracketology.
Biggest Winner: Gonzaga gives themselves a one seed for the first time this season. They are the class of the WCC far and wide, and have a legitimate shot at going unbeaten in the regular season. They play San Diego on Thursday followed by a tilt with Pepperdine on Saturday. (When is this team moving to the PAC-12?)
Biggest Loser: Duke is overrated, period. They are now under .500 in conference play, and they have lost three of their last four. In addition, losing to NC State Monday night at home does not look good. They need to make a turnaround, and do it fast. They will take on Wake Forest on Saturday, followed by Notre Dame on Monday.
Note: An (*) denotes a new team in the bracket.
East Region:
1: Villanova vs 16: Mount St. Mary’s*/Weber State
8: UNC Wilmington vs 9: North Carolina State
5: Cincinnati vs 12: Akron
4: Wisconsin vs 13: Monmouth
6: Florida vs 11: Michigan
3: Oregon vs 14: Vermont
7: Kansas State vs 10: VCU
2: North Carolina vs 15: Bucknell
South Region:
1: Kentucky vs 16: Middle Tennessee State
8: USC vs 9: Seton Hall
5: Purdue vs 12: Nevada
4: Notre Dame vs 13: Belmont
6: Maryland vs 11: Texas Tech/Miami
3: Butler vs 14: Valparaiso
7: Xavier vs 10: California
2: Florida State vs 15: Princeton
Midwest Region:
1: Kansas vs 16: Texas Southern/UNC Central
8: Dayton vs 9: Northwestern
5: St. Mary’s vs 12: New Mexico State
4: West Virginia vs 13: Chattanooga
6: Duke vs 11: Arkansas
3: Louisville vs 14: Florida Gulf Coast
7: SMU vs 10: Marquette
2: Arizona vs 15: North Dakota State
West Region:
1: Gonzaga vs 16: New Orleans
8: Virginia Tech vs 9: Illinois State
5: Creighton vs 12: Pittsburgh/TCU
4: Virginia vs 13: UT-Arlington
6: South Carolina vs 11: Indiana
3: UCLA vs 14: Winthrop
7: Iowa State vs 10: Utah
2: Baylor vs 15: UC-Irvine
Bids by conference:
- ACC, 9
- Big 12, 7
- Pac 12, Big East, Big 10, 6
- SEC, 4
- WCC, A-10, AAC, 2
