Bracketology 2023: Duke, Auburn, Texas, UCLA among biggest winners

Bracketology 2023: Duke, Auburn, Texas and UCLA among biggest winners

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 04: Kyle Filipowski #30 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean E. Smith Center on March 04, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Duke won 62-57. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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Bracketology Isaac Johnson (C) #20 of the Utah State Aggies (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) /

Utah State Aggies

The Aggies’ resume is one of the most complicated ones, boosted by incredible metrics but a lack of marquee victories from a Quad perspective. Entering this past week, they had more Quad 4 losses (2), than Quad 1 wins (2). They put them squarely on the cutline with a huge need for a 2-0 week against a Quad 1 and 2 opponent.

The first game was on the road at UNLV, which isn’t in the NCAA Tournament but still a top-100 team and is capable. The final score was 91-66, another result that boosted the metrics for Utah State. They had just one more game, which was at home against a Boise State team that was safely in the field of 68. And since the Broncos are in the top 30, that was not only a Quad 1 game but also the best chance the Aggies were going to get a marquee win.

And that’s what happened, as Utah State pulled off the 86-73 win at home. Taylor Funk had 24 points in the game, while Steven Ashford had 19 points and eight assists. If gives them not only their lone Quad 1 win but the NET ranking now at 21.

Historically, there hasn’t been a team with those great metrics to not have been given an at-large bid. That win over Boise State likely puts the Aggies in the field, regardless of what happens in the Mountain West Tournament.

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