SEC with two No. 1 seeds, while Big 12 and Big Ten dominate NCAA tournament Bracketology

Eddie Timanus, Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith, USA TODAY
·2 min read

In the final analysis, there’s really only one bracket that matters. But until that official announcement on Selection Sunday, there’s plenty of fun to be had for college hoops fans with all the various projections and predictions. So welcome to our little foray into the inexact science of bracketology.

There are several things that should be borne in mind when looking at anyone’s bracket projections. First and foremost, nothing is final with a little over a month remaining in the regular season. This bracket projection is a mere snapshot in time, and it will change over the next five weeks as teams post valuable wins or suffer damaging upsets. Unexpected bid thieves will surface in conference tournaments.

As matters stand right now, we have a pair of SEC teams holding down No. 1 seeds. But in terms of overall volume, the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences account for nearly a quarter of the 68-team field with eight teams each.

Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly (5) drives to the basket against LSU guard Cam Hayes (1) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly (5) drives to the basket against LSU guard Cam Hayes (1) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

We’ve endeavored to apply the same bracketing principles the NCAA committee employs. Where possible, teams from the same conference wouldn’t meet until after the Sweet16, and efforts are made to accommodate the preferred regional destination for the highest seeded schools.

BEHIND TIMES: Why can't college coaches embrace the reality of NIL?

HIGHS AND LOWS: Winners and losers from college basketball's weekend

WILD DAY: Indiana's upset was just one of the big Saturday results

So with all that out of the way, here’s a look at how things stand now. We’ll start looking more closely at which teams are on the right and wrong side of the proverbial bubble as March draws closer.

No. 1 seeds

Purdue, Alabama, Tennessee, Houston.

Last four in

Memphis, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M.

First four out

Florida, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Utah State.

Next four out

Penn State, Wisconsin, Missouri, Mississippi State.

Multi-bid conferences: Big 12 (8), Big Ten (8), ACC (7), SEC (6), Big East (5), Mountain West (4), Pac-12 (3), American Athletic (2), West Coast (2).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Bracketology: SEC has 2 No. 1 seeds, but Big Ten, Big 12 dominate

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • The NBA's newest stars have an opportunity in these playoffs: Who's ready to take the torch?

    Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the next generation of NBA superstars have a big challenge ahead on the league's biggest stage.

  • Weekend warming up before cooling off again

    Weekend warming up before cooling off again

  • Azerbaijani journalist remanded in latest move against independent media

    Turan said Imran Aliyev, head of the Meclis.info outlet, which reports mainly on Azerbaijan's parliament, was being held in connection with a case against the Abzas Media group. Police last November said they had found 40,000 euros ($42,700) in cash in the media outlet's Baku offices. Aliyev has been subjected to electric shocks and beatings since being taken into custody at Baku airport on Thursday, Turan quoted the journalist as saying.

  • Bitcoin's latest 'halving' has arrived. Here's what you need to know

    NEW YORK (AP) — The “miners” who chisel bitcoins out of complex mathematics are taking a 50% pay cut — effectively reducing new production of the world’s largest cryptocurrency, again. Bitcoin's latest “halving" appeared to occur Friday night. Soon after the highly anticipated event, the price of bitcoin held steady at about $63,907. Now, all eyes are on what will happen down the road. Beyond bitcoin’s long-term price behavior, which relies heavily on other market conditions, experts point to po

  • What is "pig-butchering"? Scam trend costs Americans millions

    A massive bust in New York is making national headlines this month. Prosecutors in Brooklyn seized nearly two dozen web domains associated with a scheme known as "pig butchering." But what is "pig butchering?" In short, it's when scammers strike up online conversations with unsuspecting victims, gain their trust, and then manipulate them into making bogus cryptocurrency investments.

  • School district administration criticizes board's decision to cancel gay actor's visit

    Cumberland Valley School District's superintendent and other administrators sent a letter to staff and faculty this week rebuking a vote by board members to cancel an anti-bullying event featuring a gay actor and author.

  • 15 Best Places to Retire in Ohio

    This article takes a look at the 15 best places to retire in Ohio. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on navigating retirement living in the US, you may go to 5 Best Places to Retire in Ohio. Adieu, Baby Boomers The last of America’s Baby Boomers will soon be entering retirement. The […]

  • Teachers say lawmakers should prioritize school funding over legislation like ‘pronoun bill’

    Educators say bills aimed at transgender students that continue to move through the Arizona Legislature are a distraction from issues such as school funding. Senate Bill 1166, which would require schools to notify parents within five days if a teacher or contractor calls a student by a different name or pronoun, has passed the Senate and is moving through the House.

  • Coyotes' move to Salt Lake City elicits opposing responses in 2 cities

    PHOENIX (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman sat next to the former Arizona Coyotes owner in a downtown Phoenix hotel meeting room, trying to put a positive spin on the funeral for a franchise. Later Friday, Bettman sat next to the new Coyotes owner in Salt Lake City to bask in the excitement of the league's newest city and a fan base that had been itching for another team to join the NBA's Utah Jazz. One day, two drastically different news conferences for the same hockey team. "If you look back

  • UPDATE 1-Bitcoin 'halving' has taken place, CoinGecko says

    Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, on Friday completed its "halving," a phenomenon that happens roughly every four years, according to according to CoinGecko, a cryptocurrency data and analysis company. Bitcoin was fairly stable immediately afterward, falling 0.47% to $63,747. Bitcoin enthusiasts had eagerly waited for the "halving" - a change to the cryptocurrency's underlying technology designed to cut the rate at which new bitcoins are created.

  • Collin Morikawa part of 4-way tie for the lead at Hilton Head. Scottie Scheffler lurks 3 shots back

    HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Collin Morikawa had another solid round Friday in the RBC Heritage with a 5-under 66 and appears to be getting back to the reliable form that made him a two-time major champion. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler's form never seems to change. Even after an emotionally taxing victory at Augusta National, a quick trip home to Dallas and only nine holes of practice, the world's No. 1 player is right in the mix. It's crowded at the top after two days of warm, ideal co

  • Phillies' Turnbull loses no-hit bid when Sheets singles for White Sox in 7th inning

    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia's Spencer Turnbull lost his bid for a second career no-hitter when he allowed a one-out single in the seventh inning Friday night to Gavin Sheets of the Chicago White Sox. The 31-year-old Phillies right-hander pitched a no-hitter for Detroit against Seattle on May 18, 2021, his only complete game in 63 starts entering the night. He walked one and struck out six over the first six innings. Sheets singled on a line drive to right field. Turnbull is 1-0 this season

  • Investigating signature fraud in Arizona's elections

    Investigating petition fraud.

  • Palm Beach Gardens, Dwyer tie 3-3 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium

    The baseball regular season will wrap up next week ahead of the district tournament.

  • Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department – live updates: What critics and fans are saying

    Pop star shares message with fans from Instagram as fans celebrate new album release, with many noticing several lyrical references to The 1975’s Matty Healy along with her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn

  • Police reviewing allegations against suspended Tory MP accused of pay-off to ‘bad people’

    Officers consider Labour call for Lancashire force to investigate

  • FBI warns of carjackings in New Mexico

    FBI warns of carjackings in New Mexico

  • Alex Meruelo talks about the Coyotes sale

    Will the Tucson Roadrunners move to Phoenix? Will the Coyotes return to Arizona eventually? There are still many uncertain questions surrounding the sale of the Coyotes to Salt Lake City.

  • Shareholders in Scientex Packaging (Ayer Keroh) Berhad (KLSE:SCIPACK) are in the red if they invested three years ago

    Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But if you try your hand...

  • Why Wall Street is balking at Netflix's decision to stop sharing subscriber data

    Netflix stock tanked on Friday despite a blowout earnings report as analysts instead focused on the firm's decision to stop sharing subscriber data.