Bracketology 2024: North Carolina earns a No. 1 seed in latest field of 68 projection

Midwest Region (Detroit)

1.) Purdue vs. 16.) Colgate/Southern

8.) Seton Hall vs. 9.) Nevada

5.) Alabama vs. 12.) Saint Mary's

4.) Kentucky vs. 13.) Charleston

6.) Villanova vs. 11.) Miami/New Mexico

3.) Baylor vs. 14.) Oakland

7.) Texas A&M vs. 10.) Nebraska

2.) Duke vs. 15.) Troy

There has been some shake-up on the top seed line since our last projection, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the No. 1 overall seed, the Purdue Boilermakers still hold the top spot in the Midwest region and the No. 1 overall seed. Not only do the Boilermakers hold the No. 1 strength of schedule, but they also have 10 wins in the first two quads, including six Quad 1 wins. As we head towards February the Boilermakers are in the driver’s seat for the No. overall seed.

The path to the final four won’t be easy for Purdue. Duke is sitting in wait as the No. 2 seed, Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears are the 3-seed, and young upstart Kentucky is looming with a team that may just be among the most talented in the country when the cylinders are clicking. In terms of lower seeds to watch, both defending SEC champ Texas A&M (No. 7) and No. 11 Miami are more than capable of going on a run.

The team to watch in this region may be the Saint Mary’s Gaels. After the 12-seed was picked to win the WCC, they began the year 3-5 and we all wondered what was wrong with Randy Bennett’s team. Since then, they have found their defensive footing and won nine out of 10 heading into Saturday’s big tilt at San Francisco.