Bracketology is both the art and the science of looking at the resumes of 70+ teams and deciding which teams should be “in” and “out” of the field, not based on what I think, but based on the historical trends of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Predicting what the Committee will do is often a difficult venture but that’s the fun and the challenge. I’ll be updating my bracket projection at least once a week from here until Selection Sunday and including some analytical posts delving deeper into the science of Bracketology.
For starters, check out the Bracketology 101 post to give some baseline for how the Committee develops the bracket.
Here is my latest bracket projection of the 2017-2018 College Basketball Season. Once again, I will be taking part in The Bracket Matrix‘s annual bracket competition where I am ranked in the Top 50 in the nation.
(Current conference leaders are presumed as conference champions and appear in bold.)
Bracket Date: 3/17 – Final Projection
Seed List:
Key – tournament champion, highest remaining seed in conference tournament
1. Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, Gonzaga
2. Tennessee, Michigan St, Kentucky, Michigan
3. Houston, LSU, Texas Tech, Purdue
4. Kansas, Florida St, Wisconsin, Kansas St
5. Virginia Tech, Villanova, Marquette, Auburn
6. Iowa St, Mississippi St, Maryland, Louisville
7. Nevada, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Wofford
8. UCF, Iowa, Seton Hall, Washington
9. Minnesota, Ole Miss, Baylor, Oklahoma
10. Ohio St, Syracuse, Florida, TCU
11. St. Mary’s, Utah St, VCU, Indiana, Arizona St, St John’s
12. Oregon, Murray St, New Mexico St, Liberty
13. UC-Irvine, Georgia St, St. Louis, Old Dominion
14. Vermont, Northeastern, Yale, Northern Kentucky
15. Colgate, Bradley, Montana, Gardner-Webb
16. Abilene Christian, North Dakota St, Iona, Prairie View A&M, Fairleigh Dickinson, NC Central
Last 4 Byes: Ohio St, Syracuse, Florida, TCU
Last 4 IN: VCU, Indiana, Arizona St, St John’s
First 4 OUT: Temple, NC State, Alabama, Creighton
Bracket
East Region
Columbia, SC
1. Duke vs 16. Fairleigh Dickinson/NC Central
8. Iowa vs 9. Ole Miss
San Jose, CA
4. Kansas St vs 13. UC-Irvine
5. Marquette vs 12. Oregon
Des Moines, IA
3. Purdue vs 14. Vermont
6. Louisville vs 11. St Mary’s
Columbus, OH
2. Kentucky vs 15. Colgate
7. Cincinnati vs 10. TCU
South Region
Columbia, SC
1. Virginia vs 16. Abilene Christian
8. Seton Hall vs 9. Oklahoma
Hartford, CT
4. Wisconsin vs 13. Georgia St
5. Auburn vs 12. Liberty
Tulsa, OK
3. Houston vs 14. Yale
6. Maryland vs 11. Utah St
Jacksonville, FL
2. Tennessee vs 15. Gardner-Webb
7. Wofford vs 10. Ohio St
Midwest Region
Jacksonville, FL
1. North Carolina vs 16. Prairie View A&M/Iona
8. UCF vs 9. Minnesota
San Jose, CA
4. Kansas vs 13. St Louis
5. Virginia Tech vs 12. New Mexico St
Tulsa, OK
3. LSU vs 14. Northeastern
6. Iowa St vs 11. Arizona St/St John’s
Columbus, OH
2. Michigan St vs 15. Bradley
7. Buffalo vs 10. Syracuse
West Region
Salt Lake City, UT
1. Gonzaga vs 16. North Dakota Sy
8. Washington vs 9. Baylor
Hartford, CT
4. Florida St vs 13. Old Dominion
5. Villanova vs 12. Murray St
Salt Lake City, UT
3. Texas Tech vs 14. Northern Kentucky
6. Mississippi St vs 11. VCU/Indiana
Des Moines, IA
2. Michigan vs 15. Montana
7. Nevada vs 10. Florida
