Conference tournaments are a week away, and just three weeks remain in the regular season for the power conferences. There is still a lot to be sorted out across the country. Still, for the power conferences, these remaining games are less about the upcoming conference tournaments and more about adding to their resumes in hopes of convincing the selection committee they are worthy of a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
No power conference had a more influential week than the Big 12. The most dominant conference in the country had a week that began with Iowa State getting a big win over Houston on Monday and ended on Saturday with Houston falling to Arizona, and Iowa State was upset by BYU. In between, there was a key bubble battle between TCU and UCF on Tuesday. The Knights got the key victory, and Texas Tech followed up its win over Arizona with a loss at Arizona State. Wednesday saw Arizona knock off BYU. This week helped bring a little clarity to the top two seed lines in the latest bracket projection.
Midwest Region (Chicago)
Philadelphia
1.) Michigan vs. 16.) Long Island
8.) SMU vs. 9.) Auburn
Tampa
5.) Tennessee vs. 12.) South Florida
4.) Virginia vs. 13.) Stephen F. Austin
Portland
6.) NC State vs. 11.) TCU/Missouri
3.) Gonzaga vs. 14.) North Dakota State
Oklahoma City
7.) Utah State vs. 10.) Texas A&M
2.) Houston vs.15.) Utah Tech
East Region (Washington, D.C.)
Greenville
1.) Duke vs. 16.) Merrimack
8.) Kentucky vs. 9.) UCF
Greenville
5.) Arkansas vs. 12.) Belmont
4.) Kansas vs. 13.) UNC-Wilmington
Buffalo
6.) St. John's vs. 11.) Miami (OH)
3.) Michigan State vs. 14.) Appalachian State
Buffalo
7.) Villanova vs. 10.) Georgia
2.) Purdue vs. 15.) Wright State
West Region (San Jose)
San Diego
1.) Arizona vs. 16.) UMBC/Bethune Cookman
8.) Saint Mary's vs. 9.) Texas
Portland
5.) BYU vs. 12.) Yale
4.) Alabama vs. 13.) UC-Irvine
Oklahoma City
6.) Louisville vs. 11.) UCLA/Santa Clara
3.) Nebraska vs. 14.) Portland State
Tampa
7.) Iowa vs. 10.) Miami
2.) Florida vs.15.) Navy
South Region (Houston)
Philadelphia
1.) UConn vs. 16.) Howard/SE Miss. State
8.) Wisconsin vs. 9.) Clemson
San Diego
5.) Vanderbilt vs. 12.) Liberty
4.) Texas Tech vs. 13.) High Point
St. Louis
6.) North Carolina vs. 11.) Ohio State
3.) Illinois vs. 14.) Austin Peay
St. Louis
7.) Saint Louis vs. 10.) Indiana
2.) Iowa State vs.15.) East Tennessee State
The Bubble
Last four in
UCLA
TCU
Missouri
Santa Clara
First four out
Virginia Tech
USC
New Mexico
San Diego State
Next four out
VCU
California
Stanford
West Virginia