ESPN updates Bracketology, NCAA Tournament predictions as conference races heat up

The end of the regular season grows closer every day. While some teams have positioned themselves in a comfortable spot, others are feeling the heat. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi updated his Bracketology, accordingly.

As usual, the weekend was full of upsets. Nine teams ranked in the AP Top 25 suffered losses. Six of those losses were against unranked opponents. The action-packed weekend created a shift in Lunardi’s vision for March. Now, Lunardi expects the SEC and Big 12 to each have nine teams in the Big Dance.

Lunardi certainly had no shortage of new evidence to properly adjust his NCAA Tournament predictions, starting with the Midwest Region.

Midwest Region (Detroit)
(1) Purdue vs. (16) Eastern Kentucky/Merrimack

Purdue retained its top spot despite falling in jaw-dropping fashion to Ohio State on Sunday. It was the Buckeyes’ first game since they parted ways with head coach Chris Holtmann. Interim head coach Jake Diebler took advantage of his opportunity, halting Purdue’s nine-game winning streak.

Turnovers were Purdue’s downfall in the outing. The Boilermakers committed 14 turnovers compared to OSU’s mere six. In turn, the Buckeyes scored 22 points off turnovers. While standout Zach Edey tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds in the loss, he turned the ball over a game-high six times.

(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Quinnipiac

After falling to Texas A&M last Saturday, Tennessee has been on a tear. On Wednesday, Tennessee downed Arkansas 92-63 and forced the Razorbacks to commit 15 turnovers in the process. The Vols didn’t stop there.

On Saturday, the team wiped out Vanderbilt in an 88-53 effort. In the triumph, Tennessee was a hive mind, recording 28 assists on 33 baskets. Standouts Dalton Knecht and Zakai Zeigler led the charge for Tennessee, scoring 14 points apiece.

(3) Baylor vs. (14) Oakland

Baylor put the nation on notice this week, starting with a comfortable 79-62 victory over No. 25 Oklahoma. In the win, the Bears were automatic from deep, draining 11-of-their-21 attempts 3-point range. Jayden Nunn scored a season-high 27 points against the Sooners.

Baylor rode its momentum into Saturday to handily defeat West Virginia 94-81. Baylor’s offense was red-hot again, with six players scoring double figures. The Bears combined for 19 total assists in the winning effort.

(8) Texas vs. (9) Virginia
(5) Kentucky vs. (12) South Florida
(4) San Diego State vs. (13) Akron
(6) Saint Mary’s vs. (11) Grand Canyon
(7) Utah State vs. (10) Nebraska

South Region (Dallas)
(1) Houston vs. (16) Sam Houston State

Houston picked up perhaps its most important win of the regular season on Monday with a 73-65 victory over No. 6 Iowa State. The Cyclones have been on a tear, earning the No. 2 spot in the Big 12 standings. On Monday, Houston reminded everyone why it owns the No. 1 spot.

Senior guard Jamal Shead led the way for the Cougars, notching a game-high 26 points and six assists while shooting 6-10 from the field. Emmanuel Sharp added 20 points and four steals, as well. Houston has now won 20 straight games at home, the longest active streak in the country.

(2) Marquette vs. (15) Morehead State

Marquette has some soul searching to do after suffering a 81-53 loss to UConn on Saturday; the Golden Eagles’ first loss since Jan. 10. All-American guard Tyler Kolek couldn’t find a rhythm in the highly-anticipated matchup, finishing with seven points and four turnovers on 2-11 shooting.

Nonetheless, Kolek wasn’t the only Golden Eagle who struggled. As a team, Marquette shot a poor 5-23 (21.7%) from downtown. For reference, Marquette is shooting 34.5% from behind the arc this season. Marquette will have a chance to avenge its loss against UConn on March 6.

(3) Alabama vs. (14) High Point

Alabama only played one game last week, but Crimson Tide fans got their money’s worth. On Saturday, Alabama steamrolled over Texas A&M, securing a 100-75 triumph. The Crimson Tide were red-hot in the contest, knocking down 18 3-pointers at a 44% clip.

Five Alabama players scored double figures in the win, headlined by Mark Sears, who stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. After the game, Sears said he expects Alabama to be “a special team come March.”

(8) Washington State vs. (9) Northwestern
(5) Dayton vs. (12) McNeese State
(4) Illinois vs. (13) Yale
(6) Texas Tech vs. (11) Butler/Gonzaga
(7) Michigan State vs. (10) Mississippi State

West Region (Los Angeles)
(1) Arizona vs. (16) Norfolk State/North Dakota

Arizona’s offense is scary. The Wildcats are averaging 90.7 points per game, tied with Alabama for the most in the nation. On Saturday, Arizona outdid itself, tallying 105 points in a 45-point blowout over Arizona State. After the game, ASU head coach Bobby Hurley gave the Wildcats a rave review.

“They have size, they’ve got shooting, guys that can pass, guys who can attack the paint off the dribble,” Hurley said. “It’s hard to come up with a clear weakness that they have.”

(2) Kansas vs. (15) Eastern Washington

On Tuesday, Kansas fans were left in shock after Texas Tech bludgeoned the Jayhawks in 79-50 fashion. Texas Tech sophomore Darrion Williams shot a perfect 12-12 from the field in the upset victory.

Understandably, the loss didn’t sit well with Kansas. On Saturday, No. 25 Oklahoma was on the blunt end of the Jayhawks’ pent-up aggression. Fueled by Hunter Dickinson’s 20 points and 16 rebounds, Kansas comfortably defeated No. 25 Oklahoma 67-57.

(3) Duke vs. (14) Charleston

Since falling to North Carolina on Feb. 3, Duke has looked like a runaway train. On Saturday, Florida State was the Blue Devils’ latest victim. Duke defeated FSU 76-67 to pick up its fourth win in a row. It was a record-setting night for freshman Jared McCain.

In the win, McCain set a Duke freshman record with eight 3-pointers. Further, he finished with 35 points, tying Zion Williamson for the most ever by a first-year Blue Devil. McCain hit seven 3-pointers in the first half alone in the win.

(8) Oklahoma vs. (9) Boise State
(5) Clemson vs. (12) Samford
(4) Creighton vs. (13) UC Irvine
(6) BYU vs. (11) Texas A&M
(7) South Carolina vs. (10) New Mexico

East Region (Boston)
(1) UConn vs. (16) Southern

After UConn’s 81-53 beatdown on No. 4 Marquette on Saturday, there’s no confusion why the Huskies are the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25. The win also solidified UConn’s spot atop the Big East standings. The program now leads Marquette by three games in the loss column with five to play.

In the win, UConn tallied 24 assists compared to Marquette’s mere nine. Donovan Clingan led the way for the Huskies, notching a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 7-8 from the field. Hassan Diarra added 14 points off the bench, as well.

(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Colgate

North Carolina had a tumultuous week, beginning with a shocking 86-79 loss to Syracuse on Tuesday. In the loss, the Tar Heels couldn’t slow down Syracuse, who shot a jaw-dropping 30-48 (62.5%) from the floor.

Of course, North Carolina didn’t let one loss deter it. The Tar Heels rallied back on Saturday in a statement 96-81 triumph over Virginia Tech. Armando Bacot went nuclear in the win, dropping 25 points and 12 rebounds.

(3) Iowa State vs. (14) Vermont

Iowa State couldn’t dethrone Houston to claim the crown in the Big 12 standings on Monday, but the Cyclones have nothing to be ashamed of. The team went shot-for-shot with a heavyweight for 12 rounds, and almost came out on top.

“We just weren’t able to make enough plays to cut into that lead to get position where we needed to be to be successful tonight,” Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger said. “Anytime we had any type of surge or push, they would hit a big shot and answer.”

(8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) TCU
(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) Indiana State
(4) Auburn vs. (13) Appalachian State
(6) Colorado State vs. (11) Seton Hall/Ole Miss
(7) Florida vs. (10) Nevada