Who will be the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region?
That’s one of the biggest questions we’ll all wait to have answered later tonight. With Louisville’s win over Syracuse on Saturday, combined with Indiana’s loss to Wisconsin, the floor is open for debate. It will come down to this: Which of those two teams is the top overall seed when the Selection Committee puts together its final seeding list - often referred to as the s-curve. Both the Cardinals and the Hoosiers would relish the opportunity to go through Indianapolis. Based on Indiana’s outright Big Ten regular season title, we’re leaving the Hoosiers in the Midwest. After a fresh review, we’ll see if that stands. The other pending question at the top of the bracket is whether Kansas will be a one-seed over either Duke or Gonzaga? Valid arguments can be made for all three.
At the bottom of the bracket, Mississippi is making a push toward an at-large bid (and an automatic berth). By beating Vanderbilt, the Rebels avoided an untimely loss and play Florida in the SEC title game. Given that scenario, the Rebels have slid into the First Four - along with Tennessee, La Salle, and Saint Mary’s. That leaves Middle Tennessee as the first team out. For a lot of reasons, it would be rewarding for the Committee to recognize the Blue Raiders on their excellent season. And depending on your point of view, valid arguments can be made for any of the last few in or first few out. It’s the nature of the bubble.
We’ll post a final update Sunday afternoon before the NCAA Selection Show. It’s going to be a great tournament.
UPDATED: March 17, 2013 | 1:40 a.m. ET
Teams in CAPS represent the projected AUTOMATIC bid based on current standings. Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (UTEP, BYU, etc). Records are for games against Division I teams only.
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)
- Mississippi vs. Saint Mary’s | South Region
- Tennessee vs. La Salle | West Region
- JAMES MADISON vs. LIBERTY | Midwest Region
- SOUTHERN vs. N. CAROLINA A&T | East Region
BRACKET PROJECTION ...
| EAST - Washington, DC | MIDWEST- Indianapolis | |
| Lexington | Dayton | |
| 1) LOUISVILLE | 1) Indiana | |
| 16) SOUTHERN / NC A&T | 16) LIBERTY / JAMES MADISON | |
| 8) North Carolina | 8) OREGON | |
| 9) San Diego State | 9) MEMPHIS | |
| Austin | San Jose | |
| 5) Oklahoma State | 5) Saint Louis | |
| 12) BELMONT | 12) BUCKNELL | |
| 4) Wisconsin | 4) Marquette | |
| 13) AKRON | 13) VALPARAISO | |
| Dayton | Austin | |
| 6) Butler | 6) UCLA | |
| 11) Oklahoma | 11) Temple | |
| 3) Ohio State | 3) Florida | |
| 14) HARVARD | 14) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | |
| Lexington | Philadelphia | |
| 7) CREIGHTON | 7) Colorado State | |
| 10) Villanova | 10) Minnesota | |
| 2) Miami-FL | 2) Georgetown | |
| 15) ALBANY | 15) IONA | |
| SOUTH - Dallas | WEST - Los Angeles | |
| Philadelphia | Salt Lake | |
| 1) Duke | 1) GONZAGA | |
| 16) LIU-BROOKLYN | 16) WESTERN KENTUCKY | |
| 8) Illinois | 8) Missouri | |
| 9) Cincinnati | 9) Wichita State | |
| Kansas City | San Jose | |
| 5) Arizona | 5) UNLV | |
| 12) Saint Mary’s / Mississippi | 12) Tennessee / La Salle | |
| 4) Kansas State | 4) Syracuse | |
| 13) DAVIDSON | 13) NEW MEXICO STATE | |
| Auburn Hills | Auburn Hills | |
| 6) Notre Dame | 6) Pittsburgh | |
| 11) California | 11) Boise State | |
| 3) Michigan State | 3) Michigan | |
| 14) FLA GULF COAST | 14) NORTHWESTERN STATE | |
| Salt Lake | Kansas City | |
| 7) VCU | 7) NC State | |
| 10) Iowa State | 10) Colorado | |
| 2) NEW MEXICO | 2) Kansas | |
| 15) PACIFIC | 15) MONTANA |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Indiana is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Louisville, Duke, and Gonzaga. Next in line: Kansas, Georgetown, New Mexico, Miami-FL
Last Five teams in (at large): Boise State, Tennessee, La Salle, Mississippi, Saint Mary’s
First Five teams out (at large): Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts
Next five teams out (at large): Iowa, Alabama, Southern Miss, Arizona State, Stephen F. Austin
Breakdown by Conference ...
Big East (8): Louisville, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Villanova
Big Ten (7): Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois
Mountain West (5): San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State, Boise State
Pac 12 (5): Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon, California
Big 12 (5): Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Iowa State
Atlantic 10 (5): Butler, VCU, Temple, La Salle, Saint Louis
ACC (4): Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Miami-FL
SEC (4): Missouri, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi
Missouri Valley (2): CREIGHTON, Wichita State
West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s
Conference USA (1): Memphis
Conference Automatic Qualifiers ... BELMONT (Ohio Valley), WESTERN KENTUCKY (Sun Belt), BUCKNELL (Patriot), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit), VALPARAISO (Horizon), DAVIDSON (Southern), NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC), IONA (MAAC), NORTHWESTERN STATE (Southland), AKRON (MAC), FLORIDA GULF COAST (A-Sun), HARVARD (IVY), PACIFIC (Big West), JAMES MADISON (Colonial), ALBANY (American East), MONTANA (Big Sky), NORTH CAROLINA A&T (MEAC), LIBERTY (Big South), LIU-BROOKLYN (NEC), SOUTHERN (SWAC)
