Bracketology 2024: Seton Hall, UNC, Utah State and Oregon among week's big winners

With both the start of the new year and conference play beginning for all 32 leagues, there are now true Bracketology implications for everyone play. This week alone, plenty of programs landed Quad 1 victories, while others have avoided bad losses as well.

Here's a look at this week's big winners from a Bracketology standpoint.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

After a 2-3 start to the season, Wake Forest has now won nine straight, including a key pair of wins in the past week. The first was against Boston College on the road, 84-78. All four main starters had big nights, including Hunter Sallis with 21 points and Efton Reid with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

The next game was at home against a Miami team projected to finish near the top of the ACC. They were off to a good start, up seven at halftime but ultimately went into overtime. The Demon Deacons ended up winning 86-82, thanks to 27 points from Kevin Miller, along with 23 points and five made three-pointers from Cameron Hildreth.

Coming into the game, Wake Forest had a NET ranking around 50. Miami is in the top-40, making it a Quad 2 victory. That's where Boston College is at too since they're around 80 but if they keep playing well, they could slide into a Quad 1 road victory. It also helps that losses to Utah and Georgia have started to look better than expected.

Wake Forest is undefeated with Reid in the lineup and they have a couple of key games coming up, including a Florida State squad playing much better as of late. They got them and Virginia at home next.