ESPN shakes up its 2024 Bracketology projection after NBA Draft decisions
The 2022-23 college basketball season has only been over a couple weeks, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to look ahead to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi released an updated look at his 2024 Bracketology Tuesday in light of multiple NBA Draft decisions.
In the early look, Duke is Lunardi’s No. 1 overall seed after the return of Kyle Filipowski and the departure of Adama Sonogo from UConn, which stays on the one-line. Michigan State and Marquette are the other two No. 1 seeds in Lunardi’s projection. More draft decisions are sure to come, though, as some big name prospects — including Purdue big man Zach Edey and Kentucky star Oscar Tshiebwe — opted to maintain their eligibility while declaring for the draft.
The Big Ten has nine teams in the projection while the Big 12 and SEC had seven teams make the cut, according to Lunardi. The Big East received six projected bids while the ACC and Pac-12 both had five teams in the Bracketology field.
Bracketology: Last four in/First four out
Last Four Byes: Oregon, Illinois, Boise State, Indiana
Last Four In: Virginia, Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan
First Four Out: Washington State, Virginia Tech, Stanford, Northwestern
Next Four Out: Missouri, Iowa, Mississippi State, BYU
Bracketology: East Region (Boston)
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Texas Southern/New Orleans
No. 8 TCU vs. No. 9 Providence
No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 Indiana State
No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 13 Marshall
No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 Indiana
No. 3 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 14 Eastern Kentucky
No. 7 Wisconsin vs. No. 10 Oregon
No. 2 Arkansas vs. No. 15 Radford
West Region (Los Angeles)
No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 16 Iona
No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Texas
No. 5 USC vs. No. 12 Stephen F. Austin
No. 4 San Diego State vs. No. 13 Kent State
No. 6 Maryland vs. No. 11 Liberty
No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 14 Long Beach State
No. 7 Auburn vs. No. 10 Illinois
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 North Dakota State
Midwest Region (Detroit)
No. 1 Marquette vs. No. 16 Norfolk State/Wagner
No. 8 Florida vs. No. 9 Iowa State
No. 5 St. Mary’s vs. No. 12 Clemson/Michigan
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Furman
No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Yale
No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 14 UMass Lowell
No. 7 Xavier vs. No. 10 Boise State
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Colgate
South Region (Dallas)
No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 Tennessee State
No. 8 Colorado vs. No. 9 Memphis
No. 5 Texas A&M vs. No. 12 Dayton
No. 4 Miami vs. No. 13 UNC-Wilmington
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Virginia/Ohio State
No. 3 Kansas vs. No 14 Weber State
No. 7 Baylor vs. No. 10 Rutgers
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Wright State