It’s 2017, and that means March Madness is only three months away. Most schools are underway with their conference schedules, so the best part of the year has started, and we can now see what teams will really be like for the rest of the season. Here is my first bracketology of the new calendar year.
Biggest Winner: Oregon is the obvious choice here. Two undefeated teams came into Eugene this week, UCLA and USC, and they both fell to the powerful Ducks’ squad. These two huge wins helped Oregon jump from 21st to 15th in the nation, and with a big three of Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey and Villanova transfer Dylan Ennis getting big minutes, it’s only up from here. The Ducks have a two-game road trip in Washington this week, taking on Washington on Wednesday night before a tilt with Washington State on Saturday.
Biggest Loser: This may come as a surprise, but it’s Duke. This team has fallen off for a number of reasons. It started on December 21, when the Grayson Allen tripping saga emerged once again, when he tripped Elon’s Steven Santa Ana. He was suspended indefinitely the following day. The next circumstance on Saturday, when the Allen-less Blue Devils fell to Virginia Tech by 14. To top it all off, yesterday, head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that he was leaving the team to undergo back surgery. The Blue Devils have to turn this around, and they have three games this week. They will take on Georgia Tech tomorrow at home, a game against Boston College at home on Saturday before hitting the road next Tuesday as they visit Florida State, a dark horse in the ACC.
Please note: New teams are denoted by (*)
East Region:
1: Villanova vs 16: Samford*/Bucknell
8: Northwestern vs 9: Wichita State
5: St. Mary’s vs 12: New Mexico State
4: Oregon vs 13: Valparaiso
6: Florida vs 11: Rhode Island
3: Wisconsin vs 14: Vermont
7: South Carolina vs 10: Kansas State
2: Duke vs 15: Middle Tennessee State
West Region:
1: Gonzaga vs 16: UNC Central
8: Clemson vs 9: Iowa State
5: Purdue vs 12: UNC Wilmington
4: Florida State vs 13: Ft. Wayne
6: Cincinnati vs 11: Michigan State/SMU
3: Creighton vs 14: Belmont
7: Virginia Tech vs 10: Miami
2: UCLA vs 15: Rider*
Midwest Region
1: Kansas vs 16: UC Davis/Nicholls*
8: Michigan vs 9: Seton Hall
5: Butler vs 12: UT-Arlington
4: Arizona vs 13: FGCU
6: Indiana vs 11: Nevada
3: Louisville vs 14: Yale
7: Maryland vs 10: Illinois*
2: Kentucky vs 15: Winthrop
South Region:
1: Baylor vs 16: LIU Brooklyn
8: VCU vs 9: Arkansas
5: Xavier vs 12: Pittsburgh/Dayton
4: North Carolina vs 13: Akron
6: Notre Dame vs 11: TCU
3: Virginia vs 14: Texas Southern
7: USC vs 10: Arkansas
2: West Virginia vs 15: Weber State
Bids by conference:
- ACC, 10
- Big 10, 9
- Big 12, 6
- Big East, 5
- PAC 12, SEC, 4
- Atlantic 10, 3
- WCC, AAC, 2
