How good has Purdue been?
Let’s take a quick peek ... the Boilermakers haven’t lost since returning from Atlantis in November. They are 5-0 in true road games, own a 6-2 mark against the NCAA’s new “Group 1" category, and have won 19 games by an average margin of 22.6 points. This morning, Purdue ranks No. 1 on the Sagarin index and No. 2 at Ken Pom. The Boilers also have a favorable Big Ten schedule; they only play Ohio State (home) and Michigan State (road) once. In other words, without a slip up, Purdue is well on its way toward a potential No. 1 seed come March.
UPDATED: January 22, 2018
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)
- Kansas State vs. USC | South Region
- Houston vs. Missouri | West Region
- WAGNER vs. NC A&T | East Region
- FLA GULF COAST vs. ARK-PINE BLUFF | Midwest Region
BRACKET PROJECTION
| EAST - Boston | MIDWEST - Omaha | |
| Pittsburgh | Detroit | |
| 1) VILLANOVA | 1) PURDUE | |
| 16) NC A&T / WAGNER | 16) FL GULF CST / ARK-PB | |
| 8) Miami-FL | 8) SAINT MARY’S | |
| 9) Alabama | 9) Florida State | |
| Boise | Dallas | |
| 5) Florida | 5) Tennessee | |
| 12) BUFFALO | 12) MID TENNESSEE | |
| 4) Ohio State | 4) Texas Tech | |
| 13) E TENNESSEE ST | 13) LOYOLA-CHICAGO | |
| Wichita | Nashville | |
| 6) Kentucky | 6) Wichita State | |
| 11) SMU | 11) Washington | |
| 3) Oklahoma | 3) Clemson | |
| 14) VERMONT | 14) WILLIAM & MARY | |
| Nashville | Detroit | |
| 7) Michigan | 7) NEVADA | |
| 10) Butler | 10) Arkansas | |
| 2) North Carolina | 2) Xavier | |
| 15) CANISIUS | 15) MONTANA | |
| WEST - Los Angeles | SOUTH - Atlanta | |
| Charlotte | Charlotte | |
| 1) Duke | 1) VIRGINIA | |
| 16) RADFORD | 16) PENNSYLVANIA | |
| 8) TCU | 8) Providence | |
| 9) Marquette | 9) Texas | |
| San Diego | Boise | |
| 5) RHODE ISLAND | 5) Arizona State | |
| 12) NEW MEXICO ST | 12) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | |
| 4) Michigan State | 4) CINCINNATI | |
| 13) BELMONT | 13) LOUISIANA | |
| San Diego | Dallas | |
| 6) Gonzaga | 6) Seton Hall | |
| 11) Houston / Missouri | 11) Kansas State / USC | |
| 3) ARIZONA | 3) AUBURN | |
| 14) S.F. AUSTIN | 14) WRIGHT STATE | |
| Wichita | Pittsburgh | |
| 7) Creighton | 7) Louisville | |
| 10) Texas AM | 10) Georgia | |
| 2) KANSAS | 2) West Virginia | |
| 15) HAWAII | 15) BUCKNELL |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed - followed by Purdue, Virginia, and Duke
Last Four Byes (at large): Butler, Texas AM, SMU, Washington
Last Four IN (at large): Houston, Missouri, USC, Kansas State
First Four OUT (at large): Boise State, NC State, Baylor, Notre Dame
Next four teams OUT (at large): Syracuse, Maryland, UCLA, LSU
Breakdown by Conference ...
SEC (9): AUBURN, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Texas AM, Missouri
ACC (7): VIRGINIA, Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Louisville, Miami-FL, Florida State
Big East (7): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Seton Hall, Creighton, Providence, Marquette, Butler
BIG 12 (7): KANSAS, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, TCU, Texas, Kansas State
Big 10 (4): PURDUE, Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan
American (4): CINCINNATI, Wichita State, SMU, Houston
Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA, Arizona State, Washington, USC
West Coast (2): SAINT MARY’S, Gonzaga
Atlantic 10 (1): RHODE ISLAND
Mountain West (1): NEVADA
ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Canisius (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Penn (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Wright State (HORIZON), S.F. Austin (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), Hawaii (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), William & Mary (CAA), Radford (BSO), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Wagner (NEC), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC)
Bracketing principles: read them for yourself at www.ncaa.com.
