East Region
(1) Duke vs. (16) Prairie View A&M/Robert Morris
(8) Washington vs. (9) Minnesota
(4) Purdue vs. (13) Yale
(5) LSU vs. (12) Murray State
(6) Wisconsin vs. (11) UCF/Florida
(3) North Carolina vs. (14) Northern Kentucky
(7) Mississippi State vs. (10) Wofford
(2) Kansas vs. (15) Loyola-Chicago.
Team to watch: Wisconsin Badgers
After stumbling a bit a few weeks ago, Wisconsin has returned to form as of late. The Badgers have won their last three games, including a home victory over Michigan, and are slowly but surely rising up bracketology seed lines. They find themselves as a No. 6 seed in this field and they have a couple of big opportunities approaching to shoot up the seed list even more soon. Three of their next four games may come on the road but predictive metrics believe they should be able to split that stretch. Wisconsin is adored by quality metrics (ranked between 10-15 in all of them) and that will help carry their seed.
Bubblicious squad to note: Florida Gators
Another darling of quality metrics, Florida is buoyed by its computer numbers. Despite showing just a 3-7 record in Q1/2 games this season, the Gators are rated in the top-30 of all predictive metrics and that is keeping them on the bubble despite low rankings in KPI and SOR. Florida needs to start winning games with more consistency in order to go dancing and they have two massive opportunities approaching with home games against Ole Miss and Kentucky next on the schedule.