Editor’s note: For years, our very own Andy Bottoms has been projecting the NCAA Tournament bracket.
Why should you pay attention to Andy? Because according to Bracket Matrix, he is still the #1 ranked bracketologist in the world. He is also the host of podcast Bracketology.fm.
Below is Andy’s final set of projections for 2017.
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Below are my final projections for the field. Thanks for following along this week!
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The bracket
Here are my projections through all games on March 12.
I’ve also listed my last four in and first five out as usual, but my thoughts on those teams can all be found within the latest edition of Bracket Watch.
EAST (NEW YORK) | MIDWEST (KANSAS CITY) | |
Buffalo – March 16/18 | Tulsa – March 17/19 | |
1) Villanova | 1) Kansas | |
16) UC Davis / NC Central | 16) Mount St. Mary’s / New Orleans | |
8) Virginia Tech |
8) Arkansas | |
9) South Carolina | 9) Dayton | |
Buffalo – March 16/18 | Milwaukee – March 16/18 | |
5) Virginia |
5) SMU | |
12) UNC-Wilmington | 12) Vermont |
|
4) West Virginia | 4) Notre Dame | |
13) Princeton | 13) Bucknell | |
Indianapolis – March 17/19 | Sacramento – March 17/19 | |
6) Wisconsin | 6) Minnesota | |
11) Wake Forest / Providence | 11) Rhode Island | |
3) Louisville | 3) UCLA | |
14) Northern Kentucky | 14) Florida Gulf Coast | |
Sacramento – March 17/19 | Greenville – March 17/19 | |
7) Miami (FL) | 7) Saint Mary’s | |
10) Michigan St. | 10) Vanderbilt | |
2) Oregon | 2) Duke | |
15) North Dakota |
15) Texas Southern | |
SOUTH (MEMPHIS) | WEST (SAN JOSE) | |
Greenville – March 17/19 | Salt Lake City – March 16/18 | |
1) North Carolina | 1) Gonzaga | |
16) Jacksonville St. | 16) South Dakota St. | |
8) Northwestern | 8) Wichita St. | |
9) Oklahoma St. | 9) Marquette | |
Milwaukee – March 16/18 | Orlando – March 16/18 | |
5) Purdue | 5) Iowa St. | |
12) Kansas St. / USC | 12) Nevada | |
4) Butler | 4) Florida | |
13) East Tennessee St. | 13) Winthrop | |
Tulsa – March 17/19 | Orlando – March 16/18 | |
6) Cincinnati | 6) Michigan | |
11) Seton Hall |
11) Xavier | |
3) Baylor | 3) Florida St. | |
14) Iona | 14) New Mexico St. | |
Indianapolis – March 17/19 | Salt Lake City – March 16/18 | |
7) Creighton | 7) Maryland | |
10) Middle Tennessee | 10) VCU | |
2) Kentucky | 2) Arizona | |
15) Kent St. | 15) Troy |
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Note: I broke down the bubble teams in more detail in the latest Bracket Watch.
Last Four In
Wake Forest
USC
Kansas State
Rhode Island
First Five Out
Syracuse
Illinois State
Iowa
Illinois
California
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Here is how the bids broke down by conference:
ACC (9): Duke*, Florida State, Louisville, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Notre Dame, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Big Ten (7): Maryland, Michigan*, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin
Big East (7): Butler, Creighton, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova*, Xavier
Big 12 (6): Baylor, Iowa State*, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
SEC (5): Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky*, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
Pac-12 (4): Arizona*, Oregon, UCLA, USC
Atlantic 10 (3): Dayton, Rhode Island*, VCU
American (2): Cincinnati, SMU*
West Coast (2): Gonzaga*, Saint Mary’s
America East: Vermont*
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast*
Big Sky: North Dakota*
Big South: Winthrop*
Big West: UC Davis*
Colonial: UNC-Wilmington*
Conference USA: Middle Tennessee*
Horizon: Northern Kentucky*
Ivy: Princeton*
MAAC: Iona*
MAC: Kent State*
MEAC: NC Central*
Missouri Valley: Wichita State*
Mountain West: Nevada*
Northeast: Mount St. Mary’s*
Ohio Valley: Jacksonville St.*
Patriot: Bucknell*
Southern: East Tennessee St.*
Southland: New Orleans*
Summit: South Dakota St.*
Sun Belt: Troy*
SWAC: Texas Southern*
WAC: New Mexico State*
* – Denotes team has earned automatic bid
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Follow Andy on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops and to receive an update whenever new brackets are posted.