Bracketology

Welcome to Bracketville’s home for Bracketology. This is where you will find bracket projections for the 2016 NCAA Tournament. At the time of publication (update) the bracket reflects an overview of where the NCAA landscape currently stands.

UPDATED: March 13, 2016  |  5:10 p.m. ET  – FINAL

Now that we’ve reached Championship Week, teams in CAPS represent the AUTOMATIC bid. The other automatic bids are noted by the highest remaining seed in the conference tournament (as eligible). Exceptions are made for teams that use an abbreviation (ex: UCLA)

Several new bracketing principles were introduced a couple of years ago. You can read them for yourself at http://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)

• Monmouth vs. Syracuse | West Region
• Temple vs. Michigan | East Region
• HOLY CROSS vs. SOUTHERN | Midwest Region
• FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON vs. FLA GULF COAST | South Region

BRACKET PROJECTION …

MIDWEST – Chicago		EAST – Philadelphia
Des Moines		Raleigh
1) KANSAS		1) NORTH CAROLINA
16) HOLY CROSS / SOUTHERN		16) HAMPTON
8) Wisconsin		8) SAINT JOSEPH’S
9) Cincinnati		9) USC
Denver		Denver
5) Duke		5) Arizona
12) SOUTH DAKOTA ST		12) NORTHERN IOWA
4) California		4) Indiana
13) YALE		13) IONA
Providence		St. Louis
6) Texas		6) Notre Dame
11) Wichita State		11) Michigan / Temple
3) Miami-FL		3) Xavier
14) BUFFALO		14) MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Brooklyn		Brooklyn
7) Iowa		7) Colorado
10) VCU		10) St. Bonaventure
2) Villanova		2) West Virginia
15) GREEN BAY		15) UNC-ASHEVILLE
WEST – Anaheim		SOUTH – Louisville
St. Louis		Raleigh
1) MICHIGAN STATE		1) Virginia
16) FLA GULF CST / FDU		16) AUSTIN PEAY
8) Oregon State		8) Texas Tech
9) CONNECTICUT		9) Butler
Oklahoma City		Providence
5) Iowa State		5) Maryland
12) ARK-LITTLE ROCK		12) STONY BROOK
4) Texas AM		4) KENTUCKY
13) HAWAII		13) UNC-WILMINGTON
Des Moines		Spokane
6) Baylor		6) SETON HALL
11) Monmouth / Syracuse		11) CHATTANOOGA
3) Purdue		3) Utah
14) S.F. AUSTIN		14) FRESNO STATE
Spokane		Oklahoma City
7) Dayton		7) Providence
10) Pittsburgh		10) GONZAGA
2) OREGON		2) Oklahoma
15) WEBER STATE		15) CSU-BAKERSFIELD

NOTES on the BRACKET: Kansas is the No. 1 overall seed followed by North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan State. Next in line: Oregon, Villanova, Oklahoma, West Virginia

Last Four Byes (at large): Pittsburgh, VCU, St. Bonaventure, Wichita State

Last Four IN (at large): Monmouth, Temple, Syracuse, Michigan

First Four OUT (at large): South Carolina, Saint Mary’s, San Diego State, Vanderbilt

Next four teams OUT (at large): Florida, Valparaiso, George Washington, Georgia

Breakdown by Conference …

Pac 12 (7): OREGON, Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado, USC, Oregon State

Big 12 (7): KANSAS, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Iowa State, Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech

ACC (7): NORTH CAROLINA, Virginia, Miami, Duke, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse

Big 10 (7): MICHIGAN STATE, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan

Big East (5): SETON HALL, Villanova, Xavier, Providence, Butler

Atlantic 10 (4): SAINT JOSEPH’S, Dayton, VCU, St. Bonaventure

American (3): CONNECTICUT, Cincinnati, Temple

SEC (2): KENTUCKY, Texas AM

Missouri Valley (2): NORTHERN IOWA, Wichita State

MAAC (2): IONA, Monmouth

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

Mountain West (1): FRESNO STATE

ONE BID LEAGUES: Iona (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Ark-Little Rock (SBELT), Yale (IVY), Weber State (BSKY), Green Bay (HORIZON), Stephen F. Austin (SLND), Chattanooga (STHN), Hawaii (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Austin Peay (OVC), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), UNC-Asheville (BSO), Hampton (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), CSU-Bakersfield (WAC), Stony Brook (AEAST), Holy Cross (PAT), Fairleigh-Dickinson (NEC), Southern (SWAC)