Bracketology 2022: Gonzaga still No. 1, new teams join latest field of 68

Feb 16, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA;Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) and guard Paul Mulcahy (4) reacts during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

2 of 4

Bracketology Rutgers Scarlet Knights Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images /

East Region

(1) Duke vs. (16) Wagner/Florida A&M
(8) Seton Hall vs. (9) Loyola-Chicago
(4) Ohio State vs. (13) Norfolk State
(5) Providence vs. (12) Liberty
(6) UConn vs. (11) Rutgers/North Carolina
(3) Purdue vs. (14) Longwood
(7) Notre Dame vs. (10) Yale
(2) Villanova vs. (15) Vermont

The Duke Blue Devils overtake the No. 1 seed while the Villanova Wildcats move into the No. 2 seed in the East Region. Duke will have to solve their point guard woes going forward while Villanova is now 0.5 games back on the Friars in the Big East standings following their win over Providence on Tuesday.

Rutgers finds themselves as a new entrant in the field as one of the Last Four In in the play-in game against North Carolina, who just dropped a game at home to the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Scarlet Knights surely aren’t done moving.

Norfolk State still holds the automatic qualifier for now, but NC Central still looms at 6-2 in the MEAC on a three-game winning streak. They’ve made it to the First Four of the NCAA Tournament from 2017-19 as an automatic bid stealer.

Bubble Watch: North Carolina

The Tar Heels have zero room for error after suffering an ugly loss on Wednesday night to Q3-dweller Pittsburgh. It looked like the UNC turned a corner with their victory over the Seminoles but they’ll get everything they can handle on the road this Saturday against the Hokies.

Home/Bracketology