ESPN releases updated Bracketology as conference play gets underway

Conference play is upon us. As we head out of the Christmas weekend, league schedules are set to open for college basketball teams across the country. With that being the case, that means we’re one step closer to March Madness as Selection Sunday is just over 75 days away. That’s why, as of today, Joe Lunardi at ESPN updated his Bracketology to give us a good look at what The Big Dance could look like come March 12th.

With all the big wins and upsets that have happened so far this season, he currently has the Purdue Boilermakers as the team that has survived it all to take the tournament’s top seed.

ESPN’s NCAA Tournament Bracketology:

Last Four In

With Byes: Arizona State, Creighton, Oklahoma, Penn State
Last Four In: Texas Tech, Utah State, Rutgers, Iowa

First Four Out

First Four Out: NC State, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Utah
Next Four Out: USC, UAB, UNLV, Providence

West Region

1) Arizona vs. 16) Norfolk State
8) Marquette vs. 9) Kansas State

5) Kentucky vs. 12) Texas Tech/Iowa
4) North Carolina vs. 13) Bradley

6) Auburn vs. 11) Utah State/Rutgers
3) Texas vs. 14) UC Santa Barbara

7) Illinois vs. 10) Arizona State
2) Houston vs. 15) Longwood

Midwest Region

1) Kansas vs. 16) Grambling State/Nicholls State
8) Iowa State vs. 9) Saint Mary’s

5) Wisconsin vs. 12) FAU
4) Duke vs. 13) Oral Roberts

6) Memphis vs. 11) Penn State
3) Gonzaga vs. 14) Liberty

7) Miami vs. 10) Michigan State
2) Alabama vs. 15) SIU Edwardsville

East Region

1) UConn vs. 16) Colgate
8) TCU vs. 9) San Diego State

5) Indiana vs. 12) Sam Houston State
4) Virginia vs. 13) Dayton

6) Maryland vs. 11) Kent State
3) Baylor vs. 14) UMass Lowell

7) Virginia Tech vs. 10) Creighton
2) Tennessee vs. 15) Furman

South Region

1) Purdue vs. 16) Milwaukee/Wagner
8) New Mexico vs. 9) Missouri

5) Xavier vs. 12) Iona
4) West Virginia vs. 13) Yale

6) Ohio State vs. 11) Charleston
3) Arkansas vs. 14) Southern Mississippi

7) Mississippi State vs. 10) Oklahoma
2) UCLA vs. 15) Montana State

The Boilermakers lead the way with a group of UConn, Kansas, and Arizona as No. 1 seeds. UCLA, Tennessee, Alabama, and Houston are next in line in the race to take those spots, though, as Lunardi’s No. 2 seeds.

Meanwhile, teams that started strong this season like Creighton, Penn State, Texas Tech, and Iowa are now barely hanging on to seeds. All four are currently on the bubble and reside in ESPN’s Last Four Byes or Last Four In.

The Big Ten is continuing its dominance come March with 10 selections in Lunardi’s projected field. The Big 12 is close behind them with nine with the SEC (seven), ACC (five), and the Big East (four) rounding out the Top-5 for ESPN’s Bracketology.

Lunardi always provides a detailed preview of what the madness could look like come springtime. Still, a lot can change from now until then with conference play making a big difference in how this will all officially look come Selection Sunday.