With the start of the college basketball season comes the first Bauertology of the year! Of course, coming up with the full seed list and true seed lists was tricky, since it’s the preseason and we have no idea how good any of these teams will actually be this season, but maybe the most unique aspect of this year’s bracketology is placing teams into the bracket. It’s usually a pretty linear system, as the locations of the regional finals and first/second-round sites serve as a guide for where to place teams in the bracket, but with a lack of regional locations this year due to the NCAA deciding to play March Madness in a bubble, placing teams into the bracket was truly a crapshoot. Regardless, the college basketball season begins today, so let’s reveal the first of many Bauertology bracket projections.
TRUE SEED LIST
1 Seeds
1. Baylor
2. Gonzaga
3. Villanova
4. Kansas
2 Seeds
5. Iowa
6. Wisconsin
7. Creighton
8. Virginia
3 Seeds
9. Duke
10. Illinois
11. Michigan State
12. West Virginia
4 Seeds
13. Kentucky
14. Tennessee
15. Florida State
16. Arizona State
5 Seeds
17. Texas Tech
18. Houston
19. Rutgers
20. Florida
6 Seeds
21. Texas
22. Oregon
23. LSU
24. North Carolina
7 Seeds
25. Ohio State
26. Michigan
27. UCLA
28. Richmond
8 Seeds
29. Alabama
30. Louisville
31. Stanford
32. Indiana
9 Seeds
33. Memphis
34. San Diego State
35. UConn
36. Purdue
10 Seeds
37. Providence
38. Seton Hall
39. Loyola Chicago
40. Saint Louis
11 Seeds
41. Oklahoma
42. Syracuse
43. Miami
44. Northern Iowa
12 Seeds
45. Dayton*
46. USC*
47. Colorado*
48. Marquette*
49. UNC Greensboro
50. Western Kentucky
13 Seeds
51. New Mexico State
52. Vermont
53. South Dakota State
54. Georgia State
14 Seeds
55. Stephen F. Austin
56. Murray State
57. Winthrop
58. UC Irvine
15 Seeds
59. Wright State
60. Colgate
61. Siena
62. Eastern Washington
16 Seeds
63. Ohio
64. Liberty
65. Hofstra*
66. Fairleigh Dickinson*
67. Texas Southern*
68. NC Central*
BRACKET
Region 1
1 Baylor vs. 16 Ohio
8 Alabama vs. 9 Purdue
5 Houston vs. 12 Dayton / USC
4 Tennessee vs. 13 South Dakota State
6 Oregon vs. 11 Syracuse
3 Michigan State vs. 14 UC Irvine
7 Ohio State vs. 10 Saint Louis
2 Virginia vs. 15 Wright State
Region 4
1 Kansas vs. 16 Hofstra / Fairleigh Dickinson
8 Indiana vs. 9 UConn
5 Florida vs. 12 UNC Greensboro
4 Arizona State vs. 13 New Mexico State
6 LSU vs. 11 Oklahoma
3 Duke vs. 14 Winthrop
7 UCLA vs. 10 Seton Hall
2 Iowa vs. 15 Colgate
Region 2
1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Texas Southern / NC Central
8 Louisville vs. 9 Memphis
5 Rutgers vs. 12 Western Kentucky
4 Kentucky vs. 13 Vermont
6 Texas vs. 11 Miami
3 Illinois vs. 14 Murray State
7 Michigan vs. 10 Loyola Chicago
2 Creighton vs. 15 Siena
Region 4
1 Villanova vs. 16 Liberty
8 Stanford vs. 9 San Diego State
5 Texas Tech vs. 12 Colorado / Marquette
4 Florida State vs. 13 Georgia State
6 North Carolina vs. 11 Northern Iowa
3 West Virginia vs. 14 Stephen F. Austin
7 Richmond vs. 10 Providence
2 Wisconsin vs. 15 Eastern Washington
THE BUBBLE
Last Four Byes
1. Oklahoma
2. Syracuse
3. Miami
4. Northern Iowa
Last Four In
1. Dayton
2. USC
3. Colorado
4. Marquette
First Four Out
1. BYU
2. Virginia Tech
3. Arizona
4. SMU
Next Four Out
1. Arkansas
2. Maryland
3. Clemson
4. Ole Miss
BIDS BY CONFERENCE
Big Ten: 9
ACC: 7
Big 12: 6
Big East: 6
Pac-12: 6
SEC: 5
Atlantic 10: 3
American: 2
Missouri Valley: 2