The Varying States of Bracketology
The 2020-21 college basketball season is unique. All involved - coaches, players, administrators, media, fans - can expect postponements, cancellations and adjustments to the normal cycle of games and the postseason.
This includes the NCAA tournament, which is under the largest microscope after the abrupt end to the 2019-20 season. The 2021 tourney is on schedule, albeit at a single site, but it would be foolish to proceed without pandemic contingencies.
In addition to the standard 68-team NCAA projections, Bracketology now includes 48-team and 16-team versions. The truth is there is no way to know at this point what Selection Sunday will bring, so all bases must be covered .
68-Team Bracket
Bracket Watch
Michigan was thisclose to reaching the top line, but Andrew Jones' last-second heroics at West Virginia ensured that Texas would remain a No. 1 seed. The Longhorns would have eclipsed Villanova for No. 3 overall if not for the Wildcats' earlier victory in Austin. It will be important to monitor the Cats level of play when they finally return to the court, scheduled for Friday night at UConn. The Wolverines, meanwhile, host Wisconsin in their next chance to move up.
On the Bubble
Last Four Byes
First Four Out
Last Four In
Next Four Out
68-Team Bracket
First Four
48-Team Bracket
Bracket Watch
Neither Michigan State nor Duke appear in this edition of the 48-team bracket. Both of these perennial powers took a two-seed tumble in our most recent evaluation. It's not so much that either suffered a bad loss, it's a case of other teams piling up impressive wins while the Spartans and Blue Devils tread water. Duke has yet to post a Q1 or Q2 victory, while Sparty's best win to date is at Cameron Indoor Stadium. In other words, both have considerable work to do.
On the Bubble
Last Four In (at-large)
Last Four In (auto qualifiers)
First Four Out (at-large)
First Four Out (auto qualifiers)
48-Team Bracket
16-Team Bracket
Bracket Watch
The toughest evaluations for this bracket involved the prospective No. 2 seeds. At least seven teams -- all four No. 2s along with Creighton, Wisconsin and Houston -- have a legitimate case. And it would have been eight before Illinois lost at home to Maryland. There is a serious drop-off, however, after that. None of the teams seeded No. 4 or below is close to cracking the top dozen spots on the seed list.