Bracketology 2020 Projected Field: Virginia Tech, Wisconsin on the rise

WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 14: Teammates Jalen Cone #15 and Wabissa Bede #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies react against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during their game at LJVM Coliseum Complex on January 14, 2020 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 04: Culver of the Mountaineers looks. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

East Region (New York)

(1) Butler vs. (16) Winthrop

(8) Kentucky vs. (9) Indiana

(4) Maryland vs. (13) Stephen F. Austin

(5) Colorado vs. (12) East Tennessee State

(6) Arkansas vs. (11) Minnesota/Georgetown

(3) Florida State vs. (14) Georgia State

(7) Iowa vs. (10) Arizona

(2) West Virginia vs. (15) Belmont

West Virginia could make a claim to be on the No. 1 seed line given how well it has played this season. Behind the efforts of a superb frontcourt, the Mountaineers are elite defensively and have launched out to a 14-2 (3-1 B12) record. They are tied for the nation’s lead for Q1+2 wins with Butler at nine of them and that gives them a valid reason to be placed as a No. 1 seed. The top of the Big 12 has been seriously impressive so far this season and it will be interesting to see which 1-2 teams actually wind up on the top line. I already have Baylor and Kansas there in this bracket projection but WVU has just as good of an argument as anyone else.

While West Virginia’s resume is pretty straightforward as one of the best in the nation, No. 11 seed Minnesota is almost impossible to figure out. While the Golden Gophers have secured five Q1+2 wins already this season, it took them 12 tries to do so. On the whole, I do not feel comfortable including many 10-7 teams in the projected field right now (I feel the same about Purdue) but they are yet to suffer a bad loss and have collected a few very nice wins. Minnesota will need to maintain a decent record in order to stay in the field, though, regardless of its SOS.

Next. Complete Bracketology Bubble Watch. dark

That concludes this week’s edition of my bracketology projected field.

Here is a quick look at some of the teams considered that did not make the field (in NET order): Washington, Alabama, VCU, Saint Louis, Texas, Duquesne, Oregon State, Georgia, TCU, Richmond, Rhode Island, DePaul, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Virginia, Xavier, Utah, Iowa State, Mississippi State, Temple, Tennessee, Clemson, St. John’s, Missouri, Furman, UNCG, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Utah State, and Miami-FL

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