Today is a huge day for all bracketologists. At 12:30 PM, the selection committee will announce its preliminary top 16 teams. While this will show everybody who the committee believes the top 16 teams are, the reveal will give bracketologists key information as to what they’re looking at résumé-wise this season.
For example, if Missouri is within the top-16, it shows that the committee is looking at Quadrant 1 victories and good strength-of-schedule numbers. But if the Tigers are out, perhaps the committee is putting more emphasis on NET ranking and predictive metrics.
Depending on what factors the committee appears to value, Wednesday’s Bauertology could look radically different. But for now, we’re sticking with what we’ve been going with. Enjoy this Saturday morning Bauertology before we dive into a weekend full of great games.
THE BRACKET
TRUE SEED LIST
1 Seeds
1. Gonzaga (19-0)
2. Baylor (17-0)
3. Michigan (13-1)
4. Ohio State (16-4)
2 Seeds
5. Illinois (14-5)
6. Alabama (16-5)
7. Villanova (13-2)
8. Virginia (14-3)
3 Seeds
9. Houston (17-2)
10. West Virginia (14-5)
11. Iowa (14-6)
12. Tennessee (14-4)
4 Seeds
13. Texas (12-5)
14. USC (16-3)
15. Texas Tech (14-6)
16. Wisconsin (15-6)
5 Seeds
17. Oklahoma (12-5)
18. Missouri (13-4)
19. Kansas (14-7)
20. Florida State (10-3)
6 Seeds
21. Creighton (15-5)
22. Colorado (16-5)
23. Purdue (13-8)
24. Virginia Tech (14-4)
7 Seeds
25. Rutgers (11-7)
26. Florida (10-5)
27. Oklahoma State (12-6)
28. Louisville (11-4)
8 Seeds
29. Clemson (13-5)
30. BYU (15-5)
31. Xavier (11-2)
32. UCLA (13-5)
9 Seeds
33. San Diego State (15-4)
34. Loyola Chicago (17-3)
35. Arkansas (15-5)
36. Minnesota (13-7)
10 Seeds
37. LSU (12-6)
38. Seton Hall (11-8)
39. Indiana (11-8)
40. North Carolina (12-6)
11 Seeds
41. VCU (15-4)
42. Drake (19-1)
43. Boise State (15-4)
44. St. Bonaventure (10-3)
12 Seeds
*45. Oregon (11-4)
*46. Colorado State (14-4)
*47. Utah State (14-5)
*48. Stanford (12-8)
49. Western Kentucky (14-4)
50. Toledo (16-5)
13 Seeds
51. Belmont (21-1)
52. Winthrop (18-1)
53. Wright State (16-4)
54. UC Santa Barbara (13-3)
14 Seeds
55. Colgate (7-1)
56. UNC Greensboro (14-6)
57. Abilene Christian (17-3)
58. Liberty (16-5)
15 Seeds
59. Grand Canyon (12-3)
60. Siena (8-2)
61. UMBC (13-4)
62. Texas State (14-6)
16 Seeds
63. South Dakota (11-7)
64. Eastern Washington (9-6)
*65. Northeastern (8-6)
*66. Bryant (10-5)
*67. Prairie View A&M (7-4)
*68. Morgan State (11-4)
THE BUBBLE
Last Four Byes
1. North Carolina (12-6)
2. Drake (19-1)
3. Boise State (15-4)
4. St. Bonaventure (10-3)
Last Four In
1. Oregon (11-4)
2. Colorado State (14-4)
3. Utah State (14-5)
4. Stanford (12-8)
First Four Out
1. UConn (8-5)
2. Richmond (10-4)
3. Saint Louis (9-3)
4. Maryland (10-10)
Next Four Out
1. Penn State (7-9)
2. Ole Miss (11-8)
3. SMU (11-4)
4. St. John’s (13-8)
Also Considered
Dayton (11-6)
Georgia Tech (9-8)
Memphis (12-6)
Michigan State (10-7)
Saint Mary’s (11-5)
Syracuse (11-6)
TCU (11-7)
Wichita State (12-4)
BIDS BY CONFERENCE
Big Ten: 9
Big 12: 7
ACC: 6
SEC: 6
Pac-12: 5
Big East: 4
Mountain West: 4
Atlantic 10: 2
Missouri Valley: 2
WCC: 2