ESPN releases updated Bracketology ahead of 2022 NCAA Tournament

With just three weeks remaining before conference tournaments begin, the race for the 2022 NCAA Tournament is in full swing. Many teams need to finish strong in the regular season to have a shot at playing into March, setting up an intriguing end to the year. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi just released his updated Bracketology, which has some interesting teams just on the outside looking in.

ESPN Bracketology: First four out/Last four in

Last four in (with byes): Wake Forest, UNC, San Francisco, Oklahoma

Last four in (without byes): Iowa State, Creighton, BYU, Oregon

First four out: Memphis, Michigan, San Diego State, Florida

Next four out: Rutgers, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Belmont

ESPN Bracketology field: West region

1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Colgate
8. Colorado State vs. 9. Notre Dame

5. Alabama vs. 12 Chattanooga
4. Wisconsin vs. 13. South Dakota State

6. LSU vs. 11. San Francisco
3. Texas Tech vs. 14. Montana State

7. Marquette vs. 10. Murray State
2. Duke vs. 15. Yale

East region

1. Kentucky vs. 16. Longwood/Norfolk State
8. Seton Hall vs. 9. Indiana

5. Texas vs. 12. North Texas
4. Houston vs. 13. Vermont

6. Arkansas vs. 11. Oklahoma
3. Providence vs. 14. Liberty

7. Wyoming vs. 10. Miami
2. Purdue vs. 15. Cleveland State

Midwest region

1. Auburn vs. 16. Southern/New Orleans
8. Saint Mary’s vs. 9. Loyola Chicago

5. Michigan State vs. 12. Davidson
4. Villanova vs. 13. Toledo

6. Xavier vs. 11. SMU
3. UCLA vs. 14. Seattle

7. Iowa vs. 10. Wake Forest
2. Kansas vs. 15. Long Beach State

South region

1. Arizona vs. 16. UNC Wilmington
8. Boise State vs. 9. TCU

5. Ohio State vs. 12. Creighton/Oregon
4. Tennessee vs. 13. Iona

6. UConn vs. 11. Iowa State/BYU
3. Illinois vs. 14. Wagner

7. USC vs. 10. UNC
2. Baylor vs. 15. Texas State

Gonzaga earns the top overall seed in the latest ESPN Bracketology

In Lunardi and ESPN’s latest Bracketology, Gonzaga returns to re-claim the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The first team outside of the tournament is Memphis, who is playing better down the stretch after a disappointing start to the season. Oregon sneaks in as the last team in.

The Big 12 looks extremely strong this season, and is tied with the Big Ten and Big East with seven teams in this projected tournament field. Oklahoma and Iowa State, though, are two of the final teams into the tournament, meaning that the end of the regular season and Big 12 tournament will be very important. The Big Ten has two teams just on the outside looking in, with Michigan listed in the first four out and Rutgers leading the next four out.

The SEC has six selections in this field, while the ACC has five. Both the WCC and Pac-12 have four selections, while the Mountain West has three. The American finishes with two selections.