February is here, and that means it’s time for Bracketology. So I cranked up the ol’ spreadsheets, and here we go.
There is a long way to go, and lots of time for commentary over the coming weeks, so I will limit my initial comments to the ACC.
- North Carolina is tight with Arizona for the last #1 seed right now. A win over Duke this weekend would solidify it.
- Duke could be a 3, no worse than a 4.
- Clemson is safely in despite their so-so ACC record.
- Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are on the bubble. I have the Cavaliers in by virtue of their five-game winning streak. Virginia can solidify their position with a win at Clemson tomorrow. Virginia Tech needs to win at Miami.
- Syracuse, Miami, Florida State, Pitt, and NC State are within shouting distance but will have to do something exceptional down the stretch. Syracuse can maybe get themselves onto the bottom of the bubble with a win at Wake Forest this weekend.
Complete Bracket (auto bids in bold):
- Purdue, Houston, UConn, Arizona
- North Carolina, Wisconsin, Marquette, Tennessee
- Kansas, Alabama, Iowa State, Dayton
- Duke, Illinois, Auburn, Baylor
- Creighton, Utah State, Texas Tech, BYU
- Clemson, Kentucky, Oklahoma, TCU
- Florida Atlantic, South Carolina, San Diego State, Florida
- New Mexico, Indiana State, Northwestern, Ole Miss
- Colorado State, Michigan State, Utah, Nebraska
- Mississippi State, Boise State, St. Mary’s, Texas
- St. John’s, Colorado, Grand Canyon, Washington State, Virginia, Oregon
- Texas A&M, Providence, Princeton, McNeese State
- James Madison, Samford, Vermont, UC Irvine
- UNC Wilmington, Louisiana Tech, Akron, High Point
- Morehead State, Youngstown State, Eastern Washington, Quinnipiac
- Colgate, Lipscomb, Norfolk State, Southern, South Dakota St., Merrimack
Last Four Byes: Texas, St. John’s, Colorado, Washington State
Last Four In: Virginia, Oregon, Texas A&M, Providence
First Four Out: Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Drake
Next Four Out: Wake Forest, Seton Hall, Villanova, Xavier
And Then The Next Four After That: Richmond, Butler, Georgia, Syracuse
And How About Four More for Good Measure: Kansas State, Memphis, Nevada, Miami FL