As we inch ever closer to the New Year it’s time to update the bracket and see where teams stack up. With only a couple of weeks left until conference play begins most teams have some cupcake tune ups before the long battle of league play. However, there still are some great matchups before Jan. 1, and some of these could have a big effect on the next bracket. Among these are a clash of bluebloods when Kentucky and North Carolina meet as well as a battle in the desert when Kansas and Arizona State meet in a matchup of top 20 teams.

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Here are some notes on the bracket.

Midwest

 

Kansas moves to the number one overall seed. The Jayhawks once again have been so impressive in the non-conference season. Bill Self’s team has four quadrant 1 wins, the most of any team.

Two things jump out to me in this bracket. First, both Iowa and Iowa State are in this region. It’s the first time in many years that the Cyclones and Hawkeyes have made the dance in the same year.

Secondly, as one scans down the bracket, there sits Buffalo as a six seed. The Bulls are undefeated and looked very impressive knocking off both Syracuse and West Virginia on the road.

 

 

West

 

The Tennessee Volunteers have vaulted to a number one seed in large part because of their neutral court win over Gonzaga.

With Kentucky struggling, the Vols have a great chance to take charge of the SEC. Tennessee edged out Gonzaga and Virginia for the last one seed. The Zags were rewarded though, garnering a two seed and staying out west.

This region is loaded with perennial college hoops powers highlighted by the first four game in the region between Arizona and Syracuse. Yes, once again the Orange are on the bubble.

 

 

 

East

 

Duke heads a strong list of top four seeds in this region.

Michigan State has the two seed with Oklahoma sitting on the three line. Auburn, who had been on the two line just 10 days ago, has dropped to a four seed.

Defending national champion Villanova has struggled with a lot of new faces in their lineup. The Wildcats are currently a seven seed but I feel strongly as the season rolls along that ‘Nova will move up a few lines before March.

 

 

 

 

South

 

Michigan soars to the top seed after an undefeated non-conference slate.

Virginia, the two seed, is also undefeated but has played a much weaker schedule. Texas Tech, who suffered its first loss of the season to Duke, comes in at the three line.

A couple of schools have dropped: Kentucky to a seven seed and UCLA to a ten seed. But what would be a great opening-round match up that would be. And there are three teams from the state of Texas in this region. Texas State and North Texas join Texas Tech in the South region.

 

 

 

 

 

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LAST FOUR IN

Syracuse, Arizona, VCU, Oregon

FIRST FOUR OUT

Temple, Seton Hall, Missouri, UCF

NEXT FOUR OUT

Florida, Utah State, Colorado, Boston College

 

CONFERENCES WITH MULTIPLE BIDS

Big Ten (9)

ACC (9)

SEC (8)

Big 12 (6)

Big East (4)

Pac-12 (4)

AAC (2)

A-10 (2)

 

At note about the automatic bids. The teams from one-bid leagues were chosen using NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) standings. The highest ranked team from each conference received the automatic bid. When conference season starts in a few weeks we will then give the auto bids to conference leaders.

Look for my next bracket on January 7th and weekly thereafter. Follow my updates throughout the season @tkbrackets.