Bracketology 2023: 8 biggest storylines during Championship Week

Feb 26, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) is congratulated by teammates after making a three point basket to tie the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Bracketology UAB Blazers guard Jordan Walker Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

“Championship Week” is the incredible set of days right before Selection Sunday that decides each of the 32 automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament. As of now, there are seven programs that have had their tickets punched today:

Fairleigh Dickinson – Northeast Conference

Southeast Missouri State – Ohio Valley Conference

UNC Asheville – Big South Conference

Drake – Missouri Valley Conference

Kennesaw State – Atlantic Sun Conference

Louisiana – Sun Belt Conference

Furman – Southern Conference

There are not only 25 more but also 36 programs that are hoping to hear their names called on Selection Sunday as at-large bids. From a Bracketology standpoint, there is plenty to still be decided. Here’s a list of eight major storylines that’ll have an impact on what happens on Sunday.

1. Will there be any bid thieves?

The biggest topic during this time is how many teams will “steal” a bid. These are programs that wouldn’t have gotten an at-large bid otherwise but managed to get the auto-bid in a multi-bid league. The usual suspects are the AAC, Atlantic 10, Mountain West, and at least one smaller conference. Assuming that College of Charleston needs to win the CAA Tournament to get in, all eyes will be on Florida Atlantic in Conference USA. If they lose, that’s a bid that’ll be stolen from somewhere else.

Besides that though, there aren’t many other clear options for where bids can be stolen. There are four teams in the Mountain West (Utah State, Boise State, San Diego State, Nevada) that are either on the cutline or safely in. Maybe a New Mexico or San Jose State can make some noise. The A-10 is a one-bid league, while the odds are heavily in either Houston or Memphis’s favor to win the AAC Tournament.

Sometimes, surprises happen among the power conferences and the ACC (more on that) is one to watch. But it could ultimately be a quiet week for the bubble busters out there, which teams currently on the bubble would love to see.

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