The introduction of this season’s NET rankings adds an interesting element to bracketology, as well as a number of questions. Of course, one of the most obvious questions is how much the selection committee will rely on the NET rankings when building the bracket. In years past, it seems like they used it as a loose guideline rather than a strict ranking list to adhere to. Will that change with this strange season? Who knows?
Another question: How does the introduction of NET into bracketology change how bracketologists evaluate teams? For example, Drake is 13-0 but without any Quad I or II wins. And yet, the Bulldogs are No. 12 in the NET rankings at the moment. Does that drastically change their bracket outlook? Or is it too early to make any kinds of conclusions?
Clearly, there’s a lot of questions unanswered at the moment, and we’ll get some more clarity when the selection committee reveals their early top 16 sometime next month. For now, all we can do is make our best guess of what the bracket might look like if the season ended today. Without further ado, here’s today’s Bauertology bracket projection.
TRUE SEED LIST
1 Seeds
1. Gonzaga (12-0)
2. Baylor (11-0)
3. Texas (10-1)
4. Villanova (8-1)
2 Seeds
5. Tennessee (9-1)
6. Michigan (10-0)
7. Wisconsin (10-2)
8. Kansas (10-2)
3 Seeds
9. Iowa (10-2)
10. Illinois (9-3)
11. Creighton (10-2)
12. Houston (10-1)
4 Seeds
13. Clemson (9-1)
14. Ohio State (9-3)
15. Missouri (7-2)
16. Oregon (9-2)
5 Seeds
17. Texas Tech (10-3)
18. Saint Louis (7-1)
19. UConn (6-1)
20. Virginia Tech (8-2)
6 Seeds
21. Louisville (8-1)
22. Minnesota (10-3)
23. UCLA (9-2)
24. Colorado (8-3)
7 Seeds
25. Rutgers (7-4)
26. West Virginia (9-4)
27. Alabama (9-3)
28. USC (8-2)
8 Seeds
29. Florida State (5-2)
30. LSU (8-2)
31. Arkansas (10-2)
32. Stanford (8-3)
9 Seeds
33. Seton Hall (9-5)
34. Oklahoma State (8-3)
35. Xavier (9-2)
36. BYU (9-3)
10 Seeds
37. San Diego State (9-2)
38. Purdue (8-5)
39. Virginia (7-2)
40. Boise State (10-1)
11 Seeds
41. Florida (5-3)
42. Michigan State (8-4)
43. Drake (13-0)
44. Oklahoma (6-4)
12 Seeds
*45. Indiana (7-5)
*46. North Carolina (7-4)
*47. Syracuse (7-2)
*48. Richmond (9-3)
49. Winthrop (10-0)
50. Toledo (10-3)
13 Seeds
51. Western Kentucky (9-4)
52. Furman (8-3)
53. Belmont (12-1)
54. Georgia State (7-2)
14 Seeds
55. Liberty (11-4)
56. Abilene Christian (10-2)
57. Wright State (8-3)
58. South Dakota State (8-3)
15 Seeds
59. Siena (3-0)
60. Grand Canyon (6-3)
61. Bryant (9-2)
62. UMBC (8-2)
16 Seeds
63. Southern Utah (9-1)
64. Colgate (2-1)
*65. UC Irvine (6-4)
*66. Northeastern (5-5)
*67. Norfolk State (4-4)
*68. Texas Southern (2-5)
BRACKET
Region 1
1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Norfolk State / Texas Southern
8 Florida State vs. 9 Seton Hall
5 Texas Tech vs. 12 Syracuse / Richmond
4 Ohio State vs. 13 Western Kentucky
6 UCLA vs. 11 Michigan State
3 Creighton vs. 14 South Dakota State
7 West Virginia vs. 10 San Diego State
2 Wisconsin vs. 15 Siena
Region 4
1 Villanova vs. 16 Colgate
8 Arkansas vs. 9 Oklahoma State
5 Saint Louis vs. 12 Toledo
4 Clemson vs. 13 Georgia State
6 Louisville vs. 11 Oklahoma
3 Iowa vs. 14 Liberty
7 USC vs. 10 Purdue
2 Kansas vs. 15 Grand Canyon
Region 2
1 Baylor vs. 16 Southern Utah
8 Stanford vs. 9 BYU
5 UConn vs. 12 Indiana / North Carolina
4 Missouri vs. 13 Furman
6 Minnesota vs. 11 Florida
3 Houston vs. 14 Abilene Christian
7 Alabama vs. 10 Virginia
2 Michigan vs. Bryant
Region 3
1 Texas vs. 16 UC Irvine / Northeastern
8 LSU vs. 9 Xavier
5 Virginia Tech vs. 12 Winthrop
4 Oregon vs. 13 Belmont
6 Colorado vs. 11 Drake
3 Illinois vs. 14 Wright State
7 Rutgers vs. 10 Boise State
2 Tennessee vs. 15 UMBC
THE BUBBLE
Last Four Byes
1. Boise State (10-1)
2. Florida (5-3)
3. Michigan State (8-4)
4. Oklahoma (6-4)
Last Four In
1. Indiana (7-5)
2. North Carolina (7-4)
3. Syracuse (7-2)
4. Richmond (9-3)
First Four Out
1. Providence (7-4)
2. Northwestern (6-4)
3. NC State (6-3)
4. Duke (5-2)
Next Four Out
1. VCU (9-3)
2. Pittsburgh (6-2)
3. Colorado State (8-2)
4. St. Bonaventure (4-1)
Also Considered
Loyola Chicago (7-2)
Marquette (6-6)
Saint Mary’s (9-3)
SMU (6-2)
TCU (9-4)
Tulsa (7-3)
Utah State (9-3)
Wichita State (6-3)
BIDS BY CONFERENCE
Big Ten: 10
ACC: 7
Big 12: 7
SEC: 6
Big East: 5
Pac-12: 5
Atlantic 10: 2
Mountain West: 2
WCC: 2