Wednesday morning’s bracket is largely unchanged from Tuesday’s version, thanks to the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ throttling the BYU Cougars in the WCC Tournament final in Las Vegas. The Zags’ triumph preserved a bubble team’s place in the field.
Bracketology 2018: How the ACC, Big 12, SEC, and Big East tournaments impact the bubble
Wednesday’s power conference tournament action features no fewer than 12 games with at-large implications.
The Bulldogs were one of five teams to secure an automatic bid last night, with the College of Charleston Cougars (Colonial Athletic Association), LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (Northeast Conference), South Dakota State Jackrabbits (Summit League) and Wright State Raiders (Horizon League) joining them. While this will be the Jackrabbits’ third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and Gonzaga’s 20th straight, the others all ended droughts. Charleston last appeared in 1999 under legendary head coach John Kresse, Wright State in 2007 and LIU Brooklyn in 2013. As in that season, the Blackbirds look destined to play in the First Four in Dayton.
Tonight’s Patriot League Tournament final between the top-seeded Bucknell Bison and second-seeded Colgate Raiders will be the last championship game until Saturday morning. Thus, for the next three days, the early rounds of the power conference tournaments take center stage. After today’s bracket and rundown I’ll preview today’s bubble action, which spans from Brooklyn to Las Vegas.
1. South (Left) and 2. East (Right)
Atlanta (Thu./Sat.) | Boston (Fri./Sun.) |
|---|---|
| Charlotte (Fri./Sun.) | Pittsburgh (Thu./Sat.) |
| 1. Virginia (ACC) | 1. Villanova |
| 16. SE La./Ark.-Pine Bluff | 16. LIU BROOKLYN/Hampton |
| 8. Arkansas | 8. Rhode Island (A 10) |
| 9. Butler | 9. Kansas State |
| San Diego (Fri./Sun.) | Boise (Thu./Sat.) |
| 5. Ohio State | 5. West Virginia |
| 12. Arizona State/Alabama | 12. Buffalo (MAC) |
| 4. Texas Tech | 4. GONZAGA (WCC) |
| 13. Vermont (AE) | 13. MURRAY STATE (OVC) |
| Wichita (Thu./Sat.) | Pittsburgh (Thu./Sat.) |
| 6. Texas A&M | 6. Kentucky |
| 11. Texas | 11. Marquette/Saint Mary's |
| 3. MICHIGAN (Big Ten) | 3. North Carolina |
| 14. Bucknell (Patriot) | 14. UNCG (SoCon) |
| Nashville (Fri./Sun.) | Detroit (Fri./Sun.) |
| 7. TCU | 7. Seton Hall |
| 10. N.C. State | 10. St. Bonaventure |
| 2. Cincinnati (American) | 2. Michigan State |
| 15. Harvard (Ivy) | 15. WRIGHT STATE (Horizon) |
4. West (Left) and 3. Midwest (Right)
Los Angeles (Thu./Sat.) | Omaha (Fri./Sun.) |
|---|---|
| Charlotte (Fri./Sun.) | Detroit (Fri./Sun.) |
| 1. Duke | 1. Xavier (Big East) |
| 16. LIPSCOMB (ASUN) | 16. RADFORD (Big South) |
| 8. Creighton | 8. Nevada (MW) |
| 9. Oklahoma | 9. Florida State |
| San Diego (Fri./Sun.) | Boise (Thu./Sat.) |
| 5. Florida | 5. Clemson |
| 12. New Mexico State (WAC) | 12. LOYOLA (ILL.) (MVC) |
| 4. Arizona (Pac-12) | 4. Wichita State |
| 13. SOUTH DAKOTA ST. (Summit) | 13. Louisiana (Sun Belt) |
| Dallas (Thu./Sat.) | Dallas (Thu./Sat.) |
| 6. Houston | 6. Miami (Fla.) |
| 11. USC | 11. UCLA |
| 3. Tennessee | 3. Auburn (SEC) |
| 14. Montana (Big Sky) | 14. COLL. OF CHARLESTON (CAA) |
| Nashville (Fri./Sun.) | Wichita (Thu./Sat.) |
| 7. Virginia Tech | 7. Missouri |
| 10. Providence | 10. Middle Tennessee (C-USA) |
| 2. Purdue | 2. Kansas (Big 12) |
| 15. UC Davis (Big West) | ↑15. IONA (MAAC) |
First Four
SOUTH (Automatic) | EAST (Automatic) | SOUTH (At-Large) | EAST (At-Large) |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Charlotte (Wed.) | To Pittsburgh (Tue.) | To San Diego (Wed.) | To Pittsburgh (Tue.) |
| 16. SE Louisiana (Southland) | *16. LIU BROOKLYN (NEC) | 12. Arizona State | 11. Marquette |
| 16. Ark.-Pine Bluff (SWAC) | 16. Hampton (MEAC) | 12. Alabama | 11. Saint Mary's |
| KEY: ALL CAPS = clinched auto bid | * = new to bracket | ↑ = seed rising | ↓ = seed falling |
Rundown
LAST EIGHT IN | FIRST EIGHT OUT | ALSO CONSIDERED | ARRIVALS | DEPARTURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | Syracuse | Oregon | LIU Brooklyn | Wagner |
| UCLA | Louisville | Nebraska | ||
| Texas | Utah | Penn State | ||
| USC | Baylor | Mississippi State | ||
| Marquette (Dayton) | Oklahoma State | LSU | ||
| Saint Mary's (Dayton) | Notre Dame | Georgia | ||
| Arizona State (Dayton) | Washington | |||
| Alabama (Dayton) | Boise State |
Bids by Conference
Conference | Bids | Teams (in Seed List Order) |
|---|---|---|
| ACC | 8 | Virginia (auto bid), Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech, Florida State, N.C. State |
| SEC | 8 | Auburn (auto bid), Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama (First Four) |
| Big 12 | 7 | Kansas (auto bid), Texas Tech, West Virginia, TCU, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas |
| Big East | 7 | Villanova, Xavier (auto bid), Seton Hall, Creighton, Butler, Providence, Marquette (First Four) |
| Big Ten | 4 | Michigan State, Purdue, Michigan (auto bid), Ohio State |
| Pac-12 | 4 | Arizona (auto bid), UCLA, USC, Arizona State (First Four) |
| American | 3 | Cincinnati (auto bid), Wichita State, Houston |
| A 10 | 2 | Rhode Island (auto bid), St. Bonaventure |
| WCC | 2 | Gonzaga (auto bid), Saint Mary's (First Four) |
Let’s go league-by-league and discuss what’s at stake in Wednesday’s early-round tournament matchups. All times Eastern.
ACC Tournament Second Round
No. 9 Louisville Cardinals (19-12, 9-9) vs. No. 8 Florida State Seminoles (20-10, 9-9), 12 p.m. (ESPN/ACC Network)
These teams split their regular season series, with each winning on the other’s home floor. After looking at the state of the bubble behind the Seminoles, I’m confident an FSU squad with six Group 1 wins, including a trio over top 25 opposition, will still be in with a loss. As for the Cardinals, a win is necessary. And if Louisville picks one up today, another shot at the Virginia Cavaliers would await in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.
No. 12 Boston College Eagles (18-14, 7-11) vs. No. 5 N.C. State Wolfpack (21-10, 11-7), approx. 2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ACC Network)
With four top 25 victories, the Wolfpack are in a similar position to Florida State as they attempt to knock off the Eagles for the second time in a pair of meetings.
No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (19-13, 8-10) vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies (21-10, 10-8), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Fighting Irish will need to put up a better effort tonight than they did in escaping a horrible Pittsburgh Panthers team yesterday afternoon. On the flip side, the Hokies are playing for seeding at this point. Note that Virginia Tech won in South Bend by five on January 27th and both Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell were out for the hosts.
Lost in the fanfare of Colson’s return and his strong performances is the fact that Notre Dame lost a pair of games that now fall under Group 3 — to the Ball State Cardinals and Indiana Hoosiers (overtime) — back in December. Colson played a total of 81 minutes and averaged 27 points in those losses. Therefore, I suspect defeating the Hokies won’t be enough to get the Fighting Irish in.
No. 11 Syracuse Orange (20-12, 8-10) vs. No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels (22-9, 11-7), approx. 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Orange took care of the “easy” part on Tuesday night, defeating the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to claim their first-ever ACC Tournament victory. Now comes the hard part, the one that will determine whether Syracuse remains or the bubble or is destined for the NIT. The Tar Heels defeated the Orange 78-74 on February 21st at the Carrier Dome. They’ve lost twice since. North Carolina likely needs to end this skid to remain among the three seeds.
Pac-12 Tournament First Round
No. 9 Arizona State Sun Devils (20-10, 8-10) vs. No. 8 Colorado Buffaloes (16-14, 8-10), 3 p.m (Pac-12 Networks)
This is a rubber match, with each squad winning a regular-season meeting at home. Having only beaten woeful Cal in its last five games, the Sun Devils really need a win over the Buffaloes to keep the Committee at bay.
No. 12 California Golden Bears (8-23, 2-16) vs. No. 5 Stanford Cardinal (17-14, 11-7), approx. 5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
Another rubber match, as both won on the road, though the Golden Bears’ win at Maples Pavilion came way back on December 30th. The Cardinal are healthier now and far more productive, having won four of five — a run that started in Berkeley on February 18th. While Stanford doesn’t have an at-large shot, bubble teams nationally will want them to lose since they’re playing well enough right now to potentially steal the Pac-12 auto bid.
No. 10 Oregon State Beavers (15-15, 7-11) vs. No. 7 Washington Huskies (20-11, 10-8), 9 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but these teams also split their regular season series, with the Huskies’ 97-94 double OT loss in Corvallis serving as one of the major red marks on their profile. Washington will be certain of an NIT trip if Oregon State wins here.
No. 11 Washington State Cougars (12-18, 4-14) vs. No. 6 Oregon Ducks (20-11, 10-8), approx. 11:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
Naturally, the Cougars and Ducks also split, with Washington State winning by a bucket in Pullman just six days ago. Had Oregon won that game, the current ninth team out would be a bit closer to the cut line.
Big 12 Tournament First Round
No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners (18-12, 8-10) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys (18-13, 8-10), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Yes, the Sooners are still likely to secure a bid even with a loss tonight, which would be their eighth in 10 games. Five top 25 wins and no bad losses should be more than enough even with a lousy finish. As for the Cowboys, winning the rubber match would give them the chance to knock off the Kansas Jayhawks for a third time — a quarterfinal win that might just put them in the field.
No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones (13-17, 4-14) vs. No. 7 Texas Longhorns (18-13, 8-10), approx. 9:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
While the Longhorns swept the season series, dropping this one to the Cyclones in Kansas City would be the dreaded “late bad loss” all bubble teams seek to avoid.
Big East Tournament First Round
No. 10 DePaul Blue Demons (11-19, 4-14) vs. No. 7 Marquette Golden Eagles (18-12, 9-9), approx. 9:30 p.m. (FS1)
The Golden Eagles have one of the more fascinating bubble profiles, but it won’t get much of a look if they lose to the Blue Demons for the second time in a week and a half.
SEC Tournament First Round
No. 13 Vanderbilt Commodores (12-19, 6-12) vs. No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs (16-14, 7-11), 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Three losses in their last four games have pushed the Bulldogs to the fringe of the bubble. Going 0-2 against a Commodore squad that went 6-12 league play might very well end Georgia’s NCAA and NIT hopes.
I’ll have a fresh bracket ready on Thursday morning, and at that point, things will really be ready to heat up.
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