It's a big week in the world of college basketball. Okay, every week's a big week when there's only a handful remaining in the regular season. But this week seems to stand out.
The next six days will feature eight games between ranked teams, including two top-10 matchups. It kicks off Monday night when No. 4 Virginia visits No. 8 UNC, and concludes with a bang on Saturday when No. 1 Tennessee visits No. 5 Kentucky.
Both local powers will be part of the fun. No. 11 Michigan State hits the road on Tuesday to take on No. 20 Wisconsin, then No. 6 Michigan hosts No. 24 Maryland Saturday afternoon.
And just in case you're not yet sold, No. 2 Duke visits No. 16 Louisville Tuesday night. There are big wins, lots of them, on the table.
Thus we bring you to 'Moving Week' and the third installment of Ticket Bracketology, a look at how the NCAA Tournament field would shake out if the season ended today. It's assembled, as always, by our college basketball expert Kyle Beery.
Keep a particular eye this week on the Wolverines. They avenged their first loss of the season by beating Wisconsin over the weekend -- and watched Charles Matthews get back on track in the process -- and could very well jump to a No. 1 seed if Virginia and Kentucky falter in the days ahead.
In a tournament where delaying a matchup with mighty Duke is in every contender's best interest, the top seed line is prime real estate -- even if Michigan's best player insists he wants a shot at Zion and the Blue Devils.
Without further ado, here's the field. (As always, teams earning an automatic bid are denoted by their respective conference.)
EAST REGIONAL – Washington, D.C.
Columbia, SC
1. Duke (ACC) vs. 16. Norfolk State (MEAC)/Monmouth (MAAC)
8. Auburn vs. 9. Ohio State
San Jose, Calif.
4. Iowa State vs. 13. Hofstra (CAA)
5. Virginia Tech vs. 12. Belmont (OVC)
Jacksonville, Fla.
6. Iowa vs. 11. VCU (A-10)
3. Marquette vs. 14. South Dakota State (Summit)
Columbus, Ohio
7. TCU vs. 10. Alabama
2. Michigan (Big Ten) vs. 15. Radford (Big South)
East Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Duke (21-2, 9-1 ACC)
- The Blue Devils got a massive road win at Virginia for the season sweep and are now our new No. 1 overall seed.
- On the rise: Alabama (15-8, 6-4 SEC)
- The Tide are part of a messy bubble picture. A 2-0 week helped them move away from Dayton for now. No real big tests until March could help them stack wins.
- Falling: Virginia Tech (18-5, 7-4 ACC)
- The Hokies took two losses last week, one against Louisville and the other an emerging Clemson team.
- Mid-Major to watch: Belmont (18-4, 10-2)
- The OVC could become a two-bid league if Belmont and Murray State both win out and play each other in the conference championship game.
SOUTH REGIONAL – Louisville, Ky.
Columbia, SC
1. Tennessee (SEC) vs. 16. Prairie View A&M (SWAC)/Robert Morris (NEC)
8. Syracuse vs. 9. Wofford (SOCON)
San Jose, Calif.
4. Texas Tech vs. 13. NMSU (WAC)
5. Florida State vs. 12. Arizona State/Seton Hall
Des Moines, Iowa
6. Kansas State (Big 12) vs. 11. Clemson
3. Purdue vs. 14. Old Dominion (C-USA)
Columbus, Ohio
7. Texas vs. 10. NC State
2. Kentucky vs. 15. Montana (Big Sky)
South Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Tennessee (22-1, 10-0 SEC)
- UT was right on the heels of Duke for the committee's top overall seed in last weekend's bracket reveal. A huge showdown at Kentucky is looming Saturday.
- On the rise: Purdue (17-6, 10-2 Big Ten)
- The Boilermakers were placed as the top 3-seed in Saturday's top-16 reveal. 11 wins against Q1+Q2 look real nice, but a Q3 loss to Notre Dame is an eyesore.
- Falling: Arizona State (16-7, 7-4 Pac-12)
- Taking an ugly loss to Washington State will probably do more damage in the long-term, but for now the Devils are on the right side of the bubble. Barely.
- Mid-Major to watch: Wofford (18-4, 13-0 SOCON)
- Wrote about the Terriers last week, but they keep rising. So this time I'll tell you about Fletcher Magee (20 PPG). Remember that name.
MIDWEST REGIONAL – Kansas City, Mo.
Hartford, Conn.
1. Virginia vs. 16. Sam Houston State (Southland)
8. Washington (Pac-12) vs. 9. Mississippi State
Jacksonville, Fla.
4. LSU vs. 13. Vermont (America East)
5. Villanova (Big East) vs. 12. Lipscomb (A-Sun)
Tulsa, Okla.
6. Wisconsin vs. 11. UCF
3. Kansas vs. 14. Northern Kentucky (Horizon)
Des Moines, Iowa
7. Cincinnati vs. 10. Oklahoma
2. Michigan State vs. 15. Loyola-Chicago (MVC)
Midwest Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Virginia (20-2, 8-2 ACC)
- A second loss to Duke wasn't enough to knock the Hoos off the top line. They still own 10 Q1 wins and their only losses are to our top overall seed.
- On the rise: LSU (19-4, 9-1 SEC)
- LSU got a pair of nice wins against Auburn and at Mississippi State. A win at Kentucky on Tuesday night would be massive.
- Falling: Wisconsin (17-7, 9-4 Big Ten)
- A loss at Michigan certainly isn't bad. But it's what the other teams around the Badgers did over the weekend that knocked them down a line.
- Mid-Major to watch: Lipscomb (18-4, 11-0 A-Sun)
- The Bisons have risen to the top 35 in both the NET and KenPom, but a lack of true signature wins could ultimately keep them from single-digit seed range.
WEST REGIONAL – Anaheim, Calif.
Salt Lake City, Utah
1. Gonzaga (WCC) vs. 16. Bucknell (Patriot)
8. Baylor vs. 9. Ole Miss
Salt Lake City, Utah
4. Nevada (MWC) vs. Yale (Ivy)
5. Louisville vs. 12. Butler/Temple
Tulsa, Okla.
6. Maryland vs. 11. Arkansas
3. Houston (AAC) vs. 14. UC Irvine (Big West)
Hartford, Conn.
7. Buffalo (MAC) vs. 10. St. John's
2. North Carolina vs. 15. Texas State (Sun Belt)
West Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Gonzaga (23-2, 10-0 WCC)
- While the Zags continue to crush WCC competition, there is cause for concern: Killian Tillie could be out for the rest of the season.
- On the rise: Butler (14-10, 5-6 Big East)
- The Dawgs are back in our field, but have a ton of work to do. Nearly every game could be make-or-break the remainder of the season.
- Falling: Baylor (15-8, 6-4 Big 12)
- The Bears got a ton of love last week while riding a six-game win streak, but an 0-2 week brought them back to reality.
- Mid-Major to watch: Houston (23-1, 10-1 AAC)
- I hate calling Houston a mid-major out of the AAC, but no other good candidates this region. Houston is a second-weekend team with Final Four aspirations.
Last 4 byes: Arkansas, UCF, Clemson, Alabama
Last 4 in (First Four in Dayton): Butler, Temple, Arizona State, Seton Hall
First 4 out: Indiana, Florida, Utah State, Minnesota
Next 4 out: San Francisco, UNC Greensboro, Toledo, Murray State
