Bracketology: Updated projected field as conference tournaments begin

South Region

(1) Virginia vs. (16) Bethune-Cookman/Arkansas-Pine Bluff

(8) Seton Hall vs. (9) Arizona State

(4) Wichita State vs. (13) Vermont

(5) Arizona vs. (12) Mississippi State/Providence

(6) Michigan vs. (11) Texas

(3) Auburn vs. (14) Montana

(7) Butler vs. (10) USC

(2) Michigan State vs. (15) Bucknell

Underdog to watch: Vermont Catamounts

Vermont has won 17 of their 18 games. Even with that one slip up in the middle to Hartford, the Catamounts are one of the hottest teams in the country. Now at 24-6 with a torching hot streak, head coach John Becker’s team is poised to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. The Catamounts were turned away from an upset bid in the first round last season but they gave the Purdue Boilermakers everything they could handle.

While they might fall in the first weekend once again, Vermont is hot enough to make any team scared. The “12 over 5 upset” is incredibly common and the Catamounts will be looking for revenge for last season. Of course, they do need to win the America East Tournament to go dancing. However, it would be a major surprise if they do not. The team currently leads the conference with a 14-1 record while being second in scoring offense and tops in scoring defense during league play.