Now that we are into February, Selection Sunday will be here before we know it. With every week that goes by, the bubble gets softer, and soon those bubbles will begin to pop as the hourglass of opportunity for those with at-large aspirations will run out. Just four weeks remain in the regular season, and there is a lot left to be sorted out, from the top seed line all the way down to those who will be headed to Dayton for the First Four.
All season long, we look at Bracketology to see which teams are in the hunt for an at-large berth. But we are three weeks away from the start of conference tournaments, and these weeks are important for seeding in the first tournaments. This week was a big week for first-place battles in those one-bid leagues. On Sunday, East Tennessee State knocked off Wofford to take first place in the Southern Conference. Then on Monday, Stephen F. Austin took care of business against McNeese State to secure the top spot in the Southland. Wednesday saw Lipscomb and Austin Peay play for first place in the Atlantic Sun, with Austin Peay coming out on top. These are just some of the big mid-major matchups that affected this week’s bracket.
West Region (San Jose)
San Diego
1.) Arizona vs. 16.) NJIT/Morgan State
8.) Utah State vs. 9.) SMU
Portland
5.) BYU vs. 12.) Yale
4.) Gonzaga vs. 13.) UC-Irvine
Tampa
6.) Clemson vs. 11. ) USC/Oklahoma State
3.) Florida vs. 14.) Winthrop
Buffalo
7.) Auburn vs. 10.) Saint Mary's
2.) Purdue vs. 15.) East Tennessee State
East Region (Washington, D.C.)
Greenville
1.) Duke vs. 16.) Navy/Bethune Cookman
8.) UCF vs. 9.) Georgia
Portland
5.) North Carolina vs. 12.) Liberty
4.) Alabama vs. 13.) Troy
Greenville
6.) Arkansas vs. 11.) Miami/Ohio State
3.) Kansas vs. 14.) Wright State
St. Louis
7.) Kentucky vs. 10.) Wisconsin
2.) Illinois vs. 15.) Tennessee-Martin
Midwest Region (Chicago)
Buffalo
1.) Michigan vs. 16.) Long Island
8.) Texas A&M vs. 9.) Villanova
San Diego
5.) Tennessee vs. 12.) Tulsa
4.) Texas Tech vs. 13.) Charleston
Philadelphia
6.) St. John's vs. 11.) Miami (OH)
3.) Michigan State vs. 14.) Cal Baptist
St. Louis
7.) Iowa vs. 10.) Texas
2.) Iowa State vs. 15.) Austin Peay
South Region (Houston)
Philadelphia
1.) UConn vs. 16.) Merrimack
8.) NC State vs. 9.) UCLA
Tampa
5.) Vanderbilt vs. 12.) Belmont
4.) Virginia vs. 13.) Stephen F. Austin
Oklahoma City
6.) Louisville vs. 11.) Santa Clara
3.) Nebraska vs. 14.) North Dakota State
Oklahoma City
7.) Saint Louis vs. 10.) Indiana
2.) Houston vs. 15.) Portland State
The Bubble
Last four in
USC
Miami
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
First four out
Virginia Tech
New Mexico
California
San Diego State
Next four out
Seton Hall
TCU
Missouri
Baylor