It’s championship week! For a handful of small conferences — and the Big Ten — at least.
Entering the busiest couple of weeks of the college basketball season, there are bound to be surprise teams picking up steam — looking at you, Houston — and others falling off of cliffs.
We already talked about Oklahoma.
But before things get wild, let’s take one more crack at the field of 68 and beyond:
Ed. Note: all-caps denote a current conference leader.
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SOUTH REGIONAL | Atlanta, Ga.
(Charlotte, N.C.)
No. 1 VIRGINIA
No. 16 MONTANA
No. 8 Alabama
No. 9 Seton Hall
(Boise, Idaho)
No. 5 NEVADA
No. 12 VERMONT
No. 4 Clemson
No. 13 LOYOLA-CHICAGO
(Nashville, Tenn.)
No. 6 Michigan
No. 11 Virginia Tech
No. 3 AUBURN
No. 14 BUCKNELL
(Nashville, Tenn.)
No. 7 Butler
No. 10 MIDDLE TENNESSEE
No. 2 North Carolina
No. 15 CHARLESTON
EAST REGIONAL | Boston, Mass.
(Pittsburgh, Pa.)
No. 1 Villanova
No. 16 FLORIDA GULF COAST / No. 16 BETHUNE-COOKMAN
No. 8 Florida State
No. 9 Houston
(San Diego, Calif.)
No. 5 GONZAGA
No. 12 USC / No. 12 Baylor
No. 4 Tennessee
No. 13 NEW MEXICO STATE
(Wichita, Kan.)
No. 6 Florida
No. 11 Louisville
No. 3 CINCINNATI
No. 14 NORTHERN KENTUCKY
(Detroit, Mich.)
No. 7 Miami
No. 10 Oklahoma
No. 2 MICHIGAN STATE
No. 15 UC IRVINE
MIDWEST REGIONAL | Omaha, Neb.
(Pittsburgh, Pa.)
No. 1 XAVIER
No. 16 NICHOLLS STATE / No. 16 GRAMBLING
No. 8 TCU
No. 9 NC State
(Boise, Idaho)
No. 5 West Virginia
No. 12 BUFFALO
No. 4 Ohio State
No. 13 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
(Dallas, Tex.)
No. 6 Texas A&M
No. 11 Kansas State
No. 3 Wichita State
No. 14 UNC GREENSBORO
(Detroit, Mich.)
No. 7 Creighton
No. 10 Arkansas
No. 2 Purdue
No. 15 PENNSYLVANIA
WEST REGIONAL | Los Angeles, Calif.
(Charlotte, N.C.)
No. 1 Duke
No. 16 UNC ASHEVILLE
No. 8 Saint Mary’s
No. 9 Arizona State
(Dallas, Tex.)
No. 5 RHODE ISLAND
No. 12 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
No. 4 Texas Tech
No. 13 RIDER
(San Diego, Calif.)
No. 6 Kentucky
No. 11 Texas / No. 11 Providence
No. 3 ARIZONA
No. 14 MURRAY STATE
(Wichita, Kan.)
No. 7 Missouri
No. 10 St. Bonaventure
No. 2 KANSAS
No. 15 WAGNER
Oh, and here’s a look at the bubble:
Last Four Byes
St. Bonaventure
Virginia Tech
Louisville
Kansas State
Last Four In
Providence
Texas
USC
Baylor
First Four Out
Syracuse
Boise State
Washington
Temple
Next Four Out
UCLA
Nebraska
Penn State
Maryland
Four More
Marquette
Western Kentucky
Mississippi State
Georgia
