In college basketball, about the only thing certain is uncertainty. The final NCAA men’s tournament bracket still won’t be announced for over a month, and it will in all likelihood look quite different from this latest projection from our USA TODAY Sports team of bracketologists.
In just the last few days since our most recent effort, we’ve seen half the teams that were projected as top two seeds lose. That includes Arizona, though the Wildcats are still comfortably on the first line. Iowa State, which lost to a TCU team much farther down the Big 12 standings, will slip back to a No. 3.
The Big Ten shook things up as well. Purdue replaces Nebraska on the No. 2 line as the Boilermakers outlasted the Cornhuskers in overtime. Also falling back is Illinois to a No. 3 seed after the Fighting Illini lost in overtime for the second consecutive game.
In the ACC, Virginia is back in the top 16 as a No. 4 seed, while North Carolina slides a line after losing at Miami. Virginia Tech inched closer to the bubble with a win at Clemson but still has work to do to make the field.
Bracketology: Latest NCAA tournament projection for March Madness
March Madness Last four in
Miami (Fla.), Southern California, San Diego State, UCLA.
March Madness First four out
: New Mexico, Virginia Tech, TCU, Missouri.
NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (11), SEC (10), ACC (8) Big 12 (7), Big East (3), West Coast (3), Mountain West (2).