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Bracket Watch: Gonzaga headlines Field of 68
We’ve made it to Selection Sunday. And to no one’s surprise, the Gonzaga Bulldogs lead the latest Field of 68, followed on the No. 1 seed line by Arizona, Kansas and Baylor. The order became clear following Kentucky’s loss to Tennessee and the Jayhawks’ victory over Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game.
Bracket Report: Gonzaga clinches West Region
Following Gonzaga’s win over Saint Mary’s, we should have a least one piece of the No. 1 seed puzzle in place. The Zags will reign over the West Region – and they will likely be the NCAA Tournament’s top overall seed on Sunday night.
Today, action begins for some bubble teams:
Xavier battles Butler in its Big East opener;
Wake Forest takes on Boston College in the ACC;
Virginia meets Louisville (ACC).
A couple of minor adjustments on the Seed List – and Tuesday’s automatic qualifiers – are reflected in this morning’s bracket update. Tomorrow, we turn the pressure cooker up a few degrees.
Bracket Report: Gonzaga can secure West Region
Tuesday – March 8
Gonzaga can secure the West Region with a victory over Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference Championship game in Las Vegas. By taking care of San Francisco in the semifinals, the Zags wrapped up a No. 1 seed on Sunday. A loss to SMC could open the door for Arizona to potentially grab the West, if the Wildcats roll through the Pac-12 tourney.
Six NCAA Tournament invitations will be handed out tonight. Brief note about the Atlantic Sun championship: Bellarmine is ineligible due to its transition status; thus, if Bellarmine beats Jacksonville, it would send the A-SUN regular-season champion, Jacksonville State, to the NCAAs.
Congratulations to Georgia State and Chattanooga for earning automatic bids on Monday. The Mocs last-second victory over Furman will go down in March Madness lore.
Bracketology: Gonzaga grabs No. 1 overall seed
The Selection Committee has spoken – and to almost no one’s surprise – Gonzaga enters the stretch run toward Selection Sunday as the No. 1 overall seed in the Field of 68.
More thoughts on the Selection Committee’s Top 16 reveal soon. Other than a placement here or there, it was the same Top 16 as our seed list. It will ebb and flow a little over the next three weeks.
Other than perhaps the race for the Midwest Region (a strong preference for Kansas, obviously), significant debates now move to the cutline – i.e. bubble teams. The next three weeks will be very telling for 10-12 teams who are all vying for what could end up being 5-6 spots. And we’ll end up with a surprise or two. That much we expect.
Bracketology: Race for No. 1 seeds
With a month until Selection Sunday, the race for at least two spots on the No. 1 seed line is heating up. This morning, Gonzaga is the best bet to retain its position come Selection Sunday and could well end up as the No. 1 overall seed again. Auburn remains solid, despite an overtime loss at Arkansas. The final two spots are fully in play – with Kentucky and Kansas occupying those positions today – following Purdue’s rather deflating trip to Ann Arbor. The margins among those three is small, so until someone grabs the bull by the horns, so to speak, we could see a revolving door.
Over the next two weeks, we’ll find out more – including what the actual Selection Committee thinks when they reveal their initial Top 16 seeds (by Region). By the end of the month, the top line contenders may solidify. We’ll see. Arizona is next in line behind Purdue to return to a top-line position. Stay tuned.
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