This is the first Bauertology bracket to be released since the selection committee’s top 16 preview show on Saturday, so many of the changes you will see in today’s projection are reflections of what we learned from the reveal.
The changes at the top are reflective of the committee’s top 16 teams (adjusted for the results that have occurred since Saturday), while the changes in the lower seeds are reflective of what I believe the committee valued the most in its preview show—things like road wins, strength of schedule and especially elite wins.
For example, I had a difficult choice for the final team in between Stanford and Colorado State. Although the Rams are better in NET, strength of schedule and overall record, I feel that the Cardinal’s elite win over Alabama on a neutral floor is enough to give them the edge.
With that introduction out of the way, here is the Wednesday morning edition of Bauertology for Feb. 17.
THE BRACKET
TRUE SEED LIST
1 Seeds
1. Gonzaga (20-0)
2. Baylor (17-0)
3. Michigan (14-1)
4. Ohio State (17-4)
2 Seeds
5. Illinois (15-5)
6. Alabama (17-5)
7. Houston (17-2)
8. Villanova (13-3)
3 Seeds
9. Virginia (15-4)
10. West Virginia (14-6)
11. Oklahoma (13-5)
12. Iowa (15-6)
4 Seeds
13. Texas Tech (14-6)
14. Tennessee (14-5)
15. Florida State (12-3)
16. Texas (13-5)
5 Seeds
17. USC (17-3)
18. Creighton (16-5)
19. Missouri (13-6)
20. Wisconsin (15-7)
6 Seeds
21. Kansas (15-7)
22. Purdue (14-8)
23. Virginia Tech (14-4)
24. Arkansas (17-5)
7 Seeds
25. Rutgers (12-7)
26. Colorado (16-6)
27. Clemson (13-5)
28. Oklahoma State (14-6)
8 Seeds
29. LSU (13-6)
30. Florida (10-6)
31. BYU (15-5)
32. Louisville (11-4)
9 Seeds
33. Loyola Chicago (18-4)
34. San Diego State (15-4)
35. UCLA (14-5)
36. Seton Hall (12-8)
10 Seeds
37. Minnesota (13-8)
38. Oregon (12-4)
39. Xavier (11-4)
40. VCU (15-4)
11 Seeds
41. Drake (20-2)
42. Indiana (11-9)
43. UConn (10-5)
44. Boise State (16-4)
12 Seeds
*45. Maryland (12-10)
*46. North Carolina (12-7)
*47. St. Bonaventure (10-3)
*48. Stanford (13-8)
49. Western Kentucky (15-4)
50. Belmont (22-1)
13 Seeds
51. Toledo (17-6)
52. Winthrop (18-1)
53. Wright State (17-4)
54. UC Santa Barbara (14-3)
14 Seeds
55. Colgate (9-1)
56. UNC Greensboro (15-6)
57. Abilene Christian (18-3)
58. Liberty (17-5)
15 Seeds
59. South Dakota State (12-5)
60. Grand Canyon (12-3)
61. Vermont (9-3)
62. Siena (8-2)
16 Seeds
63. Eastern Washington (10-6)
64. Texas State (15-6)
*65. James Madison (13-5)
*66. Wagner (7-5)
*67. Prairie View A&M (7-4)
*68. Norfolk State (12-7)
THE BUBBLE
Last Four Byes
1. Drake (20-2)
2. Indiana (11-9)
3. UConn (10-5)
4. Boise State (16-4)
Last Four In
1. Maryland (12-10)
2. North Carolina (12-7)
3. St. Bonaventure (10-3)
4. Stanford (13-8)
First Four Out
1. Colorado State (14-4)
2. Saint Louis (11-3)
3. Utah State (14-5)
4. Richmond (11-4)
Next Four Out
1. Ole Miss (12-8)
2. St. John’s (14-8)
3. Syracuse (12-6)
4. Penn State (7-10)
Also Considered
Dayton (11-7)
Georgia Tech (10-8)
Marshall (12-5)
Memphis (12-6)
Providence (11-11)
Saint Mary’s (11-6)
SMU (11-4)
Wichita State (12-4)
BIDS BY CONFERENCE
Big Ten: 10
Big 12: 7
ACC: 6
SEC: 6
Big East: 5
Pac-12: 5
Atlantic 10: 2
Missouri Valley: 2
Mountain West: 2
WCC: 2