***Bracketology March 8th 2024 Updated 9:30am***

 ***Bracketology March 8th 2024 Updated 9:30am***

Seed Power Team

1 1 Purdue*

1 2 Houston*

1 3 UConn*

1 4 Tennessee*

2 5 Arizona*

2 6 North Carolina*

2 7 Iowa St.

2 8 Baylor

3 9 Marquette

3 10 Kansas

3 11 Duke

3 12 Creighton

4 13 Alabama

4 14 Illinois

4 15 Auburn

4 16 Kentucky

5 17 BYU

5 18 San Diego St.

5 19 Clemson

5 20 South Carolina

6 21 Florida

6 22 Wisconsin

6 23 Utah St.*

6 24 Texas Tech

7 25 Washington St.

7 26 Nevada

7 27 Dayton

7 28 Saint Mary's (CA)*

8 29 Oklahoma

8 30 Gonzaga

8 31 Northwestern

8 32 Colorado St.

9 33 Michigan St.

9 34 Boise St.

9 35 Texas

9 36 Nebraska

10 37 TCU

10 38 Fla. Atlantic

10 39 Mississippi St.

10 40 Virginia

11a 41 Seton Hall

11b 42 Colorado

11c 43 Villanova

11d 44 New Mexico

11 45 Indiana St.*

11 46 South Fla.*

12 47 Richmond*

12 48 Princeton*

12 49 Grand Canyon*

12 50 McNeese*

13 51 App State*

13 52 Samford*

13 53 UC Irvine*

13 54 Vermont*

14 55 Col. of Charleston*

14 56 Oakland*

14 57 Akron*

14 58 High Point*

15 59 Eastern Washington*

15 60 Morehead St.*

15 61 Sam Houston St.*

15 62 Colgate*

16 63 Quinnipiac*

16 64 South Dakota St.*

16a 65 Stetson*

16a 66 Norfolk St.*

16b 67 Merrimack*

16b 68 Grambling St.*

Last Four In: New Mexico, Villanova, Colorado, Seton Hall

First Four Out: St. Johns, Providence, Iowa, Texas A&M

Next Four Out: Utah, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Drake

Notes:

- A mixed night for the two Pac-12 bubble teams. Colorado helped themselves with a Q1 road win at Oregon. This moved the Buffs from my 2nd team out to my 3rd team in today. Colorado is still only 1-5 against likely NCAA at-large teams which hurts them, but the other variables are decent enough to warrant inclusion. They have to win at Oregon State Saturday though to avoid a bad loss and keep their bid in my bracket heading into the conference tournaments. The other bubble team Utah wasnt as fortunate. They lost at Oregon State picking up a Q3 loss at a bad time. They finish up at Oregon so a chance to get another Q1 win, but they fell out of my bracket to the 5th team out this morning. A win at Oregon would get them back closer but they probably need at least 1 more quality win on top of that in the PAC-12 tournament to have a realistic chance now.

Big Bubble Games This Weekend:

- Missouri Valley Tournament. This kicks into full swing tonight with the quarterfinals as Indiana State battles Missouri State. I am not sure if Indiana States resume is good enough for at-large inclusion or not. They are 1-3 vs Q1 and 4-1 vs Q2, that is 5-4 so not bad. They have 1 Q4 loss though and no wins over at-large worthy teams. The metrics arent bad so they have a shot at inclusion, unless they lose to someone not named Drake or Bradley. Bubble teams should pull for Indiana State to win this tournament this weekend.

- Georgetown @ St. Johns - A must win for St. Johns. A win may not put them in, but a loss would make it very difficult. They need to win this one and probably pick up at least one quality win in the Big East tournament to have a chance.

- Texas A&M @ Ole Miss - Ole Miss has fallen far enough down that they likely have to win out to at least the SEC semis to have a shot. A&M would pick up a 5th Q2 win here to give them 11 Q1/Q2 wins. But they have 4 Q3 losses. They probably need to win this one and 1 or 2 quality wins in the SEC tournament to get a bid.

- Iowa State @ Kansas State - KSU is not even in my first 8 out right now. But this would be a Q1 win and if they stack this with a couple quality wins in the Big 12 tournament they would be in the convo.

Creighton @ Villanova - Huge game for Nova. A win would put them in decent shape heading into the Big East tournament. They would have to avoid a bad loss, but picking up 1 quality win there and they are probably in. However a loss and they fall to 17-14, only 3 games above .500, which is usually a disqualifier though not always. A loss would mean they probably have to at least get to the semifinals to have a decent chance. Odd resume.

South Carolina @ Mississippi St. - I think Miss St is probably in regardless of this although a loss here and a bad loss in the SEC tournament would make things perilous. Win here and most doubt is removed.

South Florida @ Tulsa - USF has an odd resume as well. They have to win here. But a win here and avoiding a bad loss in the AAC tournament would present an interesting case to the committee.

Colorado @ Oregon St. - As described above, a must win for Colorado to not pickup a bad loss right now. Win here and pick up a quality win in the PAC-12 tournament and the Buffs are likely in.

Clemson @ Wake Forest - A must win for Wake which would give them a third Q1 win to go with 5 Q2 wins and only one bad loss. But they likely have to also pick up at least 1 quality win in the ACC tournament to have any shot.

Utah @ Oregon - As described above a must win Q1 opportunity for Utah. But they likely have to stack this with at least 1 more quality win in the PAC-12 tournament.

NC State @ Pittsburgh - This isnt a quality win opportunity for Pitt, so they will likely need to pick up at least 2 quality wins in the ACC tournament on top of winning this one.

UConn @ Providence - Win this one and Providence is back in the picture and maybe back in my field. They need to win and maybe pick up one more quality win in the Big East tournament to get a bid.

Georgia Tech @ Virginia - A must win for Virginia. They also cant afford to pick up a bad loss right now. Win this one and avoid a bad loss in the ACC tournament and they may be in, win this one and pick up a quality win in the ACC tournament would likely be a lock.

Depaul @ Seton Hall - A must win for Seton Hall, a loss would be disastrous. A win and 1 quality win in the Big East tournament would have them sitting pretty.

New Mexico @ Utah State - A big opportunity for New Mexico. A win here would would put them in pretty good shape. But even with the win, they may need one more quality win in the MWC tournament.

A huge bubble today tomorrow, enjoy.