Bracketology: 10 key storylines for Championship Week in 2019

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Mamadi Diakite #25 and the Virginia Cavaliers bench cheers in the second half during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs holds up the tournament MVP trophy after the 2018 Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

There are plenty of intriguing storylines for NCAA Basketball Championship Week. From a Bracketology standpoint, what should you look out for?

With some of the mid-majors already have gotten started with their respective conference tournaments, the power conferences are getting ready with the regular season ended. Now all of the focus for the next week will be about Bracketology. Who’s in, who’s out where teams will be placed on the seed lines and in what region.

For a complete viewing guide into Championship Week, here are 10 different storylines to look at before Selection Sunday coming up.

*We’ll have a daily Bracketology article up until Selection Sunday but the projections used in this specific piece was for Sunday, March 10

*Records and stats included are courtesy of CBBSportsreference

1. Battle for the one seed

Currently, Virginia, Gonzaga, Kentucky and North Carolina are projected as the No. 1 seeds, with Duke, Tennessee and Michigan State still in contention with a few days to go. The Blue Devils and Vols fell after losses this past week, with fellow conference mates taking their spots up top.

The scenarios for the seven teams to get a one seed are pretty simple. Virginia likely has solidified themselves on the top line but could guarantee the No. 1 overall seed by winning the ACC Tournament, giving them a preferred route close to home to the Final Four. And as long as Gonzaga wins the WCC Tournament, the one seed in the West Region will be theirs.

That leaves two spots left with five teams going it. If Michigan State wins the Big Ten Tournament. they’ll have the quality wins needed to make a legit case. However, the regular season sweep to Indiana probably doomed the Spartans for the one seed.

There’s a chance that three ACC teams (UVA, UNC, and Duke) could get a one seed. However, if either Tennessee or Kentucky wins the SEC Tournament, then that team will most likely take spot No. 3. That leaves Duke and UNC, with the Tar Heels beating the Blue Devils without Zion Williamson. If things go according to plan, these two will face off in the ACC Tourney semifinals. That game could decide the last seed line, with the winner heading to the Midwest Region.

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