In theory, a basketball team’s recent results are supposed to count the same as those from earlier in the campaign. In practice, however, evaluators entering the bracketology fray must also account for trends, and right now some would-be contenders are moving in the wrong direction.
Our latest bracket projection has a couple of name-brand programs slipping outside the top 16, which could mean early upset exposure come March Madness. Kansas and Kentucky picked up important quality victories prior to conference play that will help come Selection Sun day, but the Jayhawks are now in fifth place in the Big 12 and the Wildcats have fallen behind the upper tier in the highly competitive SEC with just a 5-5 league record. Those usual powers find themselves as No. 5 regional seeds in our projection with Selection Sunday just over a month away.
On the other side of the conference coin, Arizona has used its strong start in the Big 12 to overcome some early setbacks and has moved comfortably into the upper quadrant of the bracket as a No. 3 seed, while Purdue rides a Big Ten hot streak to the No. 2 seed line. The projected No. 1’s remain unchanged this week with Duke and a trio of SEC squads still at the head of the class.
FOUR NO. 1 SEEDS?: SEC making its case after strong weekend
Bracketology: NCAA Tournament field projection
Last four in
Georgia, Virginia Commonwealth, Ohio State, San Diego State.
First four out
Arkansas, Brigham Young, North Carolina, SMU.
NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: SEC (13), Big Ten (10), Big 12 (8), ACC (4), Big East (4), Mountain West (3), Atlantic 10 (2), West Coast (2).
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