As we prepare to usher in 2017, the Villanova Wildcats reside in familiar territory - atop our current bracket projection. Simply put, the reigning national champions find ways to win. Kansas, Baylor, and UCLA join Villanova as early No. 1 seeds. Baylor has the best collection of wins; in fact, one could make the case for the Bears to be the No. 1 overall seed. UCLA looks the part, too. A last-second road loss at Oregon doesn’t change that scenario. Today, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Gonzaga fall on the two-line.
A couple of housekeeping notes:
- Conference play is just getting started; league road games tend to separate contenders from pretenders.
- Conference leaders are projected, based on the Seed List and/or RPI and overall record. Once we have a few league games in tact, bracket positions will begin to take shape - especially for one-bid leagues.
- We have some very odd resumes out there, with huge variations in the RPI, KenPom, etc. Those will even out in January.
- You can find the Seed List at Bracketville.
Enjoy your New Year’s weekend. Regular updates to the bracket return in January.
UPDATED: December 30, 2016 | 9:00 a.m. (ET)
Regarding bracketing principles, can read them for yourself at www.ncaa.com. For example: teams from the same conference may now meet before a Regional final, even if fewer than eight teams are selected. The goal is to keep as many teams as possible on their actual seed line.
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)
- Marquette vs. Michigan State | Midwest Region
- TCU vs. Texas AM | South Region
- UC-IRVINE vs. TX-SOUTHERN | Midwest Region
- LOYOLA-MD vs. LIU-BROOKLYN | East Region
BRACKET PROJECTION ...
| EAST - New York | MIDWEST - Kansas City | |
| Buffalo | Tulsa | |
| 1) VILLANOVA | 1) KANSAS | |
| 16) LOYOLA-MD/LIU BROOKLYN | 16) UC-IRVINE/TX-SOUTHERN | |
| 8) Michigan | 8) Northwestern | |
| 9) Pittsburgh | 9) SMU | |
| Sacramento | Milwaukee | |
| 5) Oregon | 5) Arizona | |
| 12) NC-WILMINGTON | 12) VALPARAISO | |
| 4) West Virginia | 4) Xavier | |
| 13) NEVADA | 13) MONMOUTH | |
| Salt Lake City | Indianapolis | |
| 6) Notre Dame | 6) USC | |
| 11) VCU | 11) Marquette/Michigan St | |
| 3) Creighton | 3) Louisville | |
| 14) NEW MEXICO ST | 14) AKRON | |
| Greenville | Salt Lake City | |
| 7) Maryland | 7) Virginia Tech | |
| 10) Iowa State | 10) WICHITA STATE | |
| 2) North Carolina | 2) GONZAGA | |
| 15) YALE | 15) NORTH DAKOTA ST | |
| WEST - San Jose | SOUTH - Memphis | |
| Sacramento | Tulsa | |
| 1) UCLA | 1) Baylor | |
| 16) E. WASHINGTON | 16) NC-CENTRAL | |
| 8) Clemson | 8) South Carolina | |
| 9) Seton Hall | 9) Minnesota | |
| Orlando | Orlando | |
| 5) Florida | 5) Wisconsin | |
| 12) UT-ARLINGTON | 12) MID TENNESSEE ST | |
| 4) Butler | 4) Florida State | |
| 13) TENNESSEE STATE | 13) CHATTANOOGA | |
| Milwaukee | Buffalo | |
| 6) Saint Mary’s | 6) Indiana | |
| 11) Miami-FL | 11) TCU/Texas AM | |
| 3) PURDUE | 3) Virginia | |
| 14) FLA GULF COAST | 14) WINTHROP | |
| Greenville | Indianapolis | |
| 7) Oklahoma State | 7) CINCINNATI | |
| 10) Arkansas | 10) Dayton | |
| 2) DUKE | 2) KENTUCKY | |
| 15) VERMONT | 15) SAM HOUSTON ST |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Kansas, Baylor, and UCLA
Last Four Byes (at large): Arkansas, Iowa State, Dayton, Miami-FL
Last Four IN (at large): TCU, Texas AM, Michigan State, Marquette
First Four OUT (at large): Ohio State, Providence, Illinois, Temple
Next four teams OUT (at large): NC State, Rhode Island, Wake Forest, Ole Miss
Breakdown by Conference ...
ACC (10): DUKE, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisville, Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Pittsburgh, Miami-FL
Big 10 (8): PURDUE, Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Michigan State
Big 12 (6): KANSAS, Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, TCU
Big East (6): VILLANOVA, Creighton, Xavier, Butler, Seton Hall, Marquette
SEC (5): KENTUCKY, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas AM
Pac 12 (4): UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, USC
American (2): CINCINNATI, SMU
West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s
Atlantic 10 (2): VCU, Dayton
Missouri Valley (1): WICHITA STATE
Mountain West (1): NEVADA
ONE BID LEAGUES: Monmouth (MAAC), Middle Tennessee State (C-USA), UT-Arlington(SBELT), Yale (IVY), Eastern Washington (BSKY), Valparaiso (HORIZON), Sam Houston St (SLND), Chattanooga (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Akron (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Tennessee State (OVC), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), Winthrop (BSO), NC-Central (MEAC), North Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Loyola-MD (PAT), LIU-Brooklyn (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)
