Daniel Evans (@bracketexpert) is RTC’s new resident bracketologist. According to Bracket Matrix, he ranks as one of the top several bracketologists among those who have produced brackets for more than three years, including two seasons with perfect bracket projections. He updates the field daily on his site, Bracketology Expert, and will be producing a weekly bracket update here at RTC on Fridays. RTC Bubble Watch will publish on Sunday nights and Thursday afternoons for the rest of the season.
New in This Update:
- After last night’s buzzer beating win against No. 1 Indiana, Illinois moves back into the field. The Illini are still only 3-7 in conference play, but wins over Butler, Gonzaga, Ohio State, and Indiana are too good to ignore.
- Since my last update, we have seen three No. 1 seeds lose. Florida lost to Arkansas, Indiana fell to Illinois, and Kansas was embarrassed by TCU. For the first time all season, Kansas moves to the No. 2 line. Florida and Indiana remain on the No. 1 line, for now. Duke is finally playing like a No. 1 seed again, so the Blue Devils are back on my top line.
- Missouri, a team I have continued to leave as a “lock” in my bubble watch articles is no longer a lock. Losses to LSU and Texas A&M in the last week are completely unforgivable. The Tigers are now a nine seed in my bracket after being a top 10 team early in the season.
LAST FOUR IN: Saint Louis, Temple, La Salle, Illinois
FIRST FOUR OUT: Boise State, Arizona State, Wyoming, Maryland
(full bracket after the jump)
Conference Roundup:
Big East (8), Big Ten (7), Big 12 (6), Atlantic 10 (5), Pac-12 (4), SEC (4), Mountain West (4), Missouri Valley (3), West Coast (2)
S Curve Rankings:
- 1s: Michigan, Duke, Florida, Indiana
- 2s: Kansas, Arizona, Syracuse, Miami (FL)
- 3s: Michigan State, Gonzaga, Louisville, New Mexico
- 4s: Ohio State, Kansas State, Marquette, Butler
- 5s: Cincinnati, Minnesota, Georgetown, San Diego State
- 6s: Ucla, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State
- 7s: N. C. State, Creighton, North Carolina, Colorado State
- 8s: Wisconsin, Kentucky, Iowa State, Mississippi
- 9s: Missouri, Notre Dame, Wichita State, Unlv
- 10s: Oklahoma, Vcu, Baylor, Colorado
- 11s: Indiana State, Memphis, Villanova, Saint Mary’s
- 12s: Saint Louis, Temple, La Salle, Illinois, Belmont, Middle Tennessee
- 13s: Bucknell, Louisiana Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Akron
- 14s: Harvard, Valparaiso, Stony Brook, Florida Gulf Coast
- 15s: Western Illinois, Davidson, Montana, Long Beach State
- 16s: Niagara, Bryant, Northeastern, Southern, Charleston Southern, Norfolk State