We are less than four weeks away from Selection Sunday, and one would think that parts of the field would be coming into focus. However, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. As expected, 10-12 teams continue to bounce on and off the bubble daily. What hasn’t been expected is that the top seed line is still in flux, thanks to some late-season gauntlets facing some teams.
Duke lost to North Carolina, took care of business against Clemson at home, and now hosts Michigan next week before finishing the season with games against Virginia, NC State, and a return engagement with UNC. Arizona was knocked from the ranks of the unbeatens by Kansas, which then got beat by Iowa State. Then Texas Tech went into Tucson and handed them a second loss on Saturday. Now they have BYU and Houston on deck this week. Michigan has Purdue and Duke this week before a first-place road battle at Illinois at the end of the month. On Tuesday, chaos ensued with Nebraska, North Carolina, Illinois, and Iowa State all losing. Here is how the field looks after a tumultuous week
Midwest Region (Chicago)
Buffalo1.) Michigan vs. 16.) Long Island8.) NC State vs. 9.) Indiana Portland5.) Tennessee vs. 12.) South Florida4.) Michigan State vs. 13.) Hawaii Tampa6.) Louisville vs. 11.) TCU/Santa Clara3.) Florida vs. 14.) High Point Oklahoma City7.) Utah State vs. 10.) Texas2.) Houston vs. 15.) Portland State
East Region (Washington, D.C.)
Greenville1.) Duke vs. 16.) Navy/Bethune-Cookman8.) Iowa vs. 9.) Auburn Tampa5.) North Carolina vs. 12.) Liberty4.) Vanderbilt vs.) 13.) UNC-Wilmington San Diego6.) St. John’s vs. 11.) UCLA3.) Texas Tech vs. 14.) Wright State St. Louis7.) Kentucky vs. 10.) SMU2.) Purdue vs. 15.) Tennessee-Martin
West Region (San Jose)
San Diego1.) Arizona vs. 16.) NJIT/Morgan State8.) Saint Mary’s vs. 9.) Texas A&M Greenville5.) Alabama vs. 12.) Belmont4.) Kansas vs. 13.) Stephen F. Austin Portland6.) BYU vs. 11.) Georgia/Virginia Tech3.) Gonzaga vs. 14.) Austin Peay Buffalo7.) Villanova vs. 10.) Miami2.) Illinois vs. 15.) South Alabama
South Region (Houston)
Philadelphia1.) UConn vs. 16.) Merrimack8.) Wisconsin vs. 9.) UCF Philadelphia5.) Arkansas vs. 12.) Yale4.) Virginia vs. 13.) Cal Baptist Oklahoma City6.) Saint Louis vs. 11.) Miami (OH)3.) Nebraska vs. 14.) North Dakota State St. Louis7.) Clemson vs. 10.) USC2.) Iowa State vs. 15.) East Tennessee State
The Bubble
Last four in:GeorgiaTCUSanta ClaraVirginia Tech
First four out:Ohio StateMissouriSan Diego StateNew Mexico…