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Bracketology: Updated projected field for the 2018 NCAA Tournament (Week 15)

By Lukas Harkins

CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 03: Members of the Xavier Musketeers celebrate after a four point play to tie the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Cintas Center on February 3, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 03: Members of the Xavier Musketeers celebrate after a four point play to tie the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Cintas Center on February 3, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 07: Angola
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 07: Angola /

West Region

(1) Purdue vs. (16) Florida Gulf Coast

(8) Florida State vs. (9) Missouri

(4) Arizona vs. (13) Louisiana

(5) Creighton vs. (12) Middle Tennessee

(6) St. Mary’s vs. (11) St. Bonaventure/UCLA

(3) North Carolina vs. (14) Belmont

(7) Florida vs. (10) Louisville

(2) Kansas vs. (15) Bucknell

Trending up: St. Bonaventure

Honest confession: After St. Bonaventure started 2-4 in Atlantic 10 play, I thought they were out of consideration for the NCAA Tournament. Yet, here we are. The Bonnies have won six straight games since that point and are clearly the second-best team in the conference. While it may be difficult for the Atlantic 10 to be a multi-bid league this year, St. Bonaventure may be the team to get it done.

The Bonnies have a favorable closing schedule and will have a shot at beating Rhode Island in their next game. A home win over the Rams could go a long way in putting St. Bonaventure in the field at the end of the year. They are 3-2 in Group 1 games this year and their matchup with Rhody will certainly qualify.

Trending down: Florida State

Dropping a game to Virginia is no big deal. But, Florida State has also lost to Notre Dame and Wake Forest in their past four games. This stretch has been unkind to the Seminoles and they are in need of turning the ship back around. In the final five games of the year, Florida State has a schedule filled with trap games and quality opponents.

In addition to facing off against bottom-tier teams in the ACC in Pittsburgh and Boston College, the team will have to go on the road to play NC State. Also, they have both their home and road game with Clemson left on the schedule before the ACC Tournament. This is a dangerous time for the Seminoles to fall into the double-digit seed lines or rise up.

Next: Bubble Watch

First four out: Syracuse, USC, Boise State, Marquette

Next four out: NC State, Baylor, Nebraska, Temple

That completes this edition of Bracketology. We are less than a month away from Selection Sunday but there is still plenty of time to make moves. Which teams will play their way into the field (or out of the field) in the coming weeks?

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