ESPN overhauled Bracketology for 2023 March Madness following major conference upsets
After several major conference upsets, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi revealed his latest bracketology for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
There was major movement, including Kentucky being out of the field of 68, as in, Lunardi’s first team out of the bracket. The last team in is New Mexico while Kansas established itself as the No. 1 overall seed.
“Purdue is back to its rightful place as No. 2 overall after escaping the Breslin Center with a one-point win over Michigan State,” Lunardi wrote. “That was the easy part of the bracket. The tricky parts were seeding and bracketing the mother lode of Big Ten (10), Big 12 (7) and ACC (7) teams, as three conferences comprise over 35% of the field in this update.
“No bracketing principles are violated, but our headaches reveal the number of obstacles the selection committee will face in converting a lopsided seed list into a balanced bracket. For us, it’s just another day at the office.”
NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Last Four In/First Four Out
Last Four In (with byes): Indiana, Wisconsin, Memphis, Maryland
Last Four In: Boise State, Oklahoma, Penn State, New Mexico
First Four Out: Kentucky, West Virginia, Northwestern, Texas A&M
Next Four Out: USC, Utah State, Florida, Virginia Tech
Midwest Region (Kansas City)
No. 1 Kansas. No. 16 SE Louisiana/Fairleigh Dickinson
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Missouri
No. 5 Rutgers vs. No. 12 Oklahoma/New Mexico
No. 4 Marquette vs. No. 13 Marshall
No. 6 Providence vs. No. 11 Nevada
No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 14 Seattle
No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Charleston
No. 2 Gonzaga No. 15 SIU Edwardsville
West Region (Las Vegas)
No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Arizona State
No. 5 Illinois vs. No. 12 Liberty
No. 4 TCU vs. No. 13 Southern Illinois
No. 6 Arkansas vs. No. 11 Memphis
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 UC Riverside
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Wisconsin
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 Eastern Washington
South Region (Louisville)
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Southern/Morgan State
No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Pittsburgh
No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts
No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 13 Princeton
No. 6 Duke vs. No. 11 Boise State/Penn State
No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 14 Youngstown State
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Florida Atlantic
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Siena
East Region (New York)
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 16 UNC Asheville
No. 8 San Diego vs. No. 9 Ohio State
No. 5 Baylor vs. No. 12 Kent State
No. 6 Auburn vs. No. 11 Maryland
No. 3 UConn vs. No. 14 Colgate