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2020 NCAA Basketball Bracketology: Updated March 10

Welcome to the Madness...

Gonzaga NCAA practice Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

With conference tournaments kicking off in earnest today (sorry, Ivy League), it’s time to take a look at the latest and greatest with STL Bracketology.

Midwest and East Regionals

Midwest Regional East Regional
Midwest Regional East Regional
1. Kansas (1) 1. Dayton (4)
16. Norfolk State / Siena 16. Winthrop
9. Wichita St. 9. LSU
8. Colorado 8. Oklahoma
5. Louisville 5. Michigan
12. Louisiana Tech 12. Yale
13. Northern Colorado 13. New Mexico State
4. Ohio St. 4. Kentucky
3. Florida St. 3. Maryland
14. Bradley 14. Texas State
11. Xavier 11. Richmond / Stanford
6. Iowa 6. Virginia
7. Illinois 7. BYU
10. Arizona 10. Indiana
15. Belmont 15. North Dakota State
2. Creighton 2. Villanova

South and West Regionals

South Regional West Regional
South Regional West Regional
1. Baylor (2) 1. Gonzaga (3)
16. Northern Kentucky 16. Prairie View A&M / Saint Francis (PA)
9. Providence 9. USC
8. Saint Mary's 8. Rutgers
5. Wisconsin 5. West Virginia
12. Utah St. 12. Vermont
13. Liberty 13. Akron
4. Butler 4. Oregon
3. Duke 3. Seton Hall
14. UC Irvine 14. Stephen F. Austin
11. Texas / Arizona St. 11. East Tennessee St.
6. Auburn 6. Penn St.
7. Marquette 7. Houston
10. Florida 10. Texas Tech
15. Hofstra 15. Colgate
2. Michigan St. 2. San Diego St.

Last Four Byes: Florida, Texas Tech, Indiana, Xavier

Last Four In: Stanford, Arizona State, Richmond, Texas

First Four Out: Purdue, Cincinnati, Memphis, NC State

Next Four Out: Mississippi State, Saint Louis, Arkansas, Rhode Island

Bracket Thoughts:

The Last Number One: The race for the final top seed remains a revolving door. San Diego State would have wrapped it up with a win in the Mountain West Championship. Now the Aztecs will sweat out the Flyers who have the first crack at it. However, keep an eye out for a major conference champion who looks good in their title run. Reminiscent of 2014 when the Hoos rode an ACC Tournament Title to a 5-6 spot jump over the final weekend, a team like Villanova, Michigan State, or Florida State could rise with a great weekend and some help.

UVA’s Rise: In just a little over two weeks, the Virginia Cavaliers have risen quite a bit in these rankings. Moving from a 10 seed to a 6 seed, the Hoos have gone from not in, to bubble team, to “hoping to dodge an 8/9 game,” to a favored seed in a very short time. Winning eight games in a row will do that for a squad this time of year. While I’ve seen the Hoos as a seven seed in a lot of spots, it’s their computer metrics that actually bring them down. I don’t believe the Committee uses the straight number as much as we’d like to believe, so I think they’ll look at the Hoos and see a six seed, if not a five depending on how things shake out in Greensboro.

Bid Stealers: Given the teams on the bubble and those who are safely in the field, this year’s tournament might feature the fewest number of bid stealers than any other year I can remember. Unless something crazy happens in the big leagues (looking at you North Carolina), the only tournaments with potential bid thieves are the American and A-10. In the American, Houston and Wichita State look safe while Dayton and Richmond (last four in) are currently in the field from the A-10. Bubble teams will be watching Richmond closely, as they likely need a semifinal, if not a finals appearance to feel good come Sunday.