Bracketology: Baylor Clinging to No. 1 Seed, Undefeated Murray State Rising

This bracketology will evaluate teams based on how they have performed up to this point in the season. It will not factor in how they are projected to do in the rest of the season.

A conference in parentheses next to a team indicates a team that would have an automatic bid as a conference champion.

With the 68-team format, there will be four play-in games. There will be two play-in games for the bottom four at-large teams and two play-in games for the bottom four conference tournament winners who earned automatic bids.

In the bracket, the winner of the South Region plays the winner of the West Region and the winner of the Midwest Region plays the winner of the East Region.

The South Region and the West Region hold the overall No. 1 and No. 4 seeds, respectively. The Midwest Region and East Region hold the overall No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively.

East Region

No. 1 Syracuse (Big East) vs. No. 16 Boston (A-East)/Mississippi Valley State (SWAC)

Syracuse warded off Pittsburgh on Monday to remain undefeated. The Orange face Notre Dame on Saturday as the start of a two-game road trip.

Boston has won its last five games, taking control of first place in the America East.

Mississippi Valley State is the final unbeaten team in the SWAC.

No. 8 Harvard (Ivy) vs. No. 9 Purdue

Harvard stands at 1-0 in Ivy League play and rematches Dartmouth on Saturday.

Purdue rebounded from the loss to Wisconsin with a win over Iowa on Tuesday.

No. 5 Murray State (OVC) vs. No. 12 Oklahoma/UCF

Murray State survived a close match with rival Morehead State on Wednesday.

Oklahoma has won its last two games to improve to 2-3 in Big 12 play. Three of the Sooners' next six opponents are ranked in the top 10.

UCF defeated Memphis on Keith Clanton's three-point play in the final seconds to move into second play in C-USA.

No. 4 UNLV vs. No. 13 Long Beach State (Big West)

UNLV bounced back from the loss at San Diego State with a 101-78 pounding of TCU. The Rebels sit one game out of first place in the conference.

Long Beach State defeated Cal Poly for the second time this year behind Casper Ware's 30 points on Thursday.

East Region (Continued)

No. 6 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Southern Miss

Gonzaga's only WCC loss is at St. Mary's. 

Southern Miss stands at 3-1 in C-USA competition and the Golden Eagles take on first place Marshall on Saturday.

No. 3 Georgetown vs. No. 14 Milwaukee (Horizon)

Georgetown swept its road trip with wins over St. John's and DePaul. The Hoyas host Rutgers on Saturday.

Milwaukee currently sits in first place in the Horizon League. The Panthers take on third place Cleveland State on Sunday.

No. 7 Mississippi State vs. No. 10 Dayton

Mississippi State's two-game winning streak ended with 75-68 loss at Ole Miss.

Dayton plays Xavier on Saturday with first place in the Atlantic 10 on the line.

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Norfolk State (MEAC)

Ohio State defeated Indiana on Sunday, splitting the season series with the Hoosiers.

Norfolk State holds a one-game lead on Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC.

West Region

No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Bucknell (Patriot)

Baylor's undefeated season came to an end with a 92-74 loss at Kansas on Monday. The Bears host No. 5 Missouri on Saturday.

Bucknell has dominated the Patriot League so far with three of its four wins coming by double digits.

No. 8 California (Pac-12) vs. No. 9 Xavier (A-10)

California took complete control of the Pac-12 with a 69-66 win over Washington on Thursday.

Xavier has won four straight games and holds a half-game lead over Dayton in the Atlantic 10.

No. 5 Florida vs. No. 12 Middle Tennessee (Sun Belt)

Florida sits in third place in the SEC behind Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The Gators host LSU on Saturday.

Middle Tennessee stands tall at 18-2. The Blue Raiders hold a 3.5-game lead over Florida Atlantic in the Sun Belt East.

No. 4 Marquette vs. No. 13 Colorado State/Saint Louis

Marquette has won its last three games, improving to 4-2 in the Big East. The Golden Eagles play at Providence on Saturday.

Colorado State has won its last eight games and is 2-0 in the Mountain West. The Rams start a two-game road trip at Wyoming on Saturday.

Saint Louis survived at Charlotte 68-67 last Saturday to pull itself back up to .500 in Atlantic 10 play.

West Region (Continued)

No. 6 Creighton (MVC) vs. No. 11 Marshall (C-USA)

Creighton came from behind at Missouri State to win 66-65 on Wednesday. The Bluejays will host Indiana State on Saturday.

Marshall lost to West Virginia this week but the Thundering Herd is still undefeated in C-USA play.

No. 3 Connecticut vs. No. 14 Nevada (WAC)

Connecticut lost to Cincinnati this week but the Huskies maintain a respectable 4-3 Big East record.

Nevada is tied with New Mexico State in the WAC at 4-0. The Wolfpack plays Fresno State this weekend and then travels to play New Mexico State next Thursday.

No. 7 Seton Hall vs. No. 10 New Mexico

Seton Hall desperately needs to beat Notre Dame on Wednesday. The Pirates have lost their last two games to South Florida and Villanova.

New Mexico's 13-game winning streak ended with a rare loss at home, courtesy of No. 16 San Diego State. The Lobos get another shot at a top 25 opponent, taking on UNLV on Saturday.

No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Belmont (A-Sun)

North Carolina rebounded from an embarrassing loss at Florida State with an 82-68 win at Virginia Tech on Thursday.

Belmont defeated Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast to remain in first place in the Atlantic Sun. The Bruins have a one-game lead over Mercer and East Tennessee State.

Midwest Region

No. 1 Kentucky (SEC) vs. No. 16 UNC-Asheville (Big South)/Texas-Arlington (Southland)

Kentucky is tied with Vanderbilt at 4-0 in the SEC, but the Wildcats will not play the Commodores head-to-head until February 11.

UNC-Asheville lost to Charleston Southern 93-88 on Thursday for its first loss in Big South play.

Texas-Arlington survived a tough match with Texas A&M-CC to improve to 5-0 in Southland competition.

No. 8 Temple vs. No. 9 Cincinnati

Temple has one last non-conference game against Maryland on Saturday.

Cincinnati has won its last three games, including two wins over the top 15.

No. 5 Virginia vs. No. 12 Iowa State

Virginia rebounded from a close loss to Duke with a 70-38 rout of Georgia Tech.

Iowa State lost a pair of close games to top 10 teams but the Cyclones picked up a much-needed win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday.

No. 4 San Diego State (MWC) vs. No. 13 Davidson (SoCon)

San Diego State sits at 16-2 and holds a nine-game winning streak.

Davidson beat Charleston 97-69 to stretch its lead over the second place Cougars to three games.

Midwest Region (Continued)

No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Memphis

West Virginia defeated Marshall 78-62 in its final non-conference game of the year. The Mountaineers host Cincinnati on Saturday.

Memphis fell for the first time in C-USA play at UCF 68-67.

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 Weber State (Big Sky)

Michigan State lost a pair of road games within the last week. The Spartans are in need of a win over Purdue on Saturday.

Weber State continues to dominate the Big Sky, defeating Montana and Northern Arizona this week.

No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Wichita State

Illinois' three-game winning streak ended with a 54-52 loss at Penn State on Thursday.

Wichita State went 2-0 on its tough road trip with wins over Indiana State and Northern Iowa.

No. 2 Missouri vs. No. 15 George Mason (CAA)

Missouri is currently tied for second place in the Big 12 with No. 3 Baylor.

George Mason defeated James Madison and Delaware this week to maintain control of first place in the CAA.

South Region

No. 1 Duke (ACC) vs. No. 16 Long Island (NEC)

Duke is the only undefeated team left in the ACC after North Carolina's loss to Florida State.

Long Island holds a one-game lead over Wagner for first place in the NEC, but the Blackbirds visit the Seahawks on Saturday.

No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 9 Alabama

Kansas State ended its two-game slide with an 84-80 win over Texas on Wednesday.

Alabama has lost its last two games and things don't get much easier. The Crimson Tide plays at No. 2 Kentucky on Saturday.

No. 5 Indiana vs. No. 12 Florida State

Indiana has lost its last three games. The Hoosiers host Penn State on Sunday, hoping to end the slide.

Florida State is in the field this week after demolishing No. 3 North Carolina last Saturday.

No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. No. 13 Oral Roberts (Summit)

Vanderbilt has won eight consecutive games since its mediocre 6-4 start to the season.

Oral Roberts is 9-0 in Summit League play and holds a 1.5-game lead over second place South Dakota State.

South Region (Continued)

No. 6 St. Mary's (WCC) vs. No. 11 Wisconsin

St. Mary's is currently 7-0 in WCC competition. The Gaels only losses this year are at Denver and Baylor.

Wisconsin snapped out of its funk with wins in its last three games. However, the Badgers remain 0-4 against the top 25.

No. 3 Michigan (Big Ten) vs. No. 14 Iona (MAAC)

Michigan rebounded from a 16-point loss at Iowa with a 60-59 win over Michigan State on Tuesday.

Iona rebounded from a loss to Manhattan with wins over Loyola (MD) and Rider this week.

No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 10 Stanford

Louisville has lost three of its last four and is 2-5 in its last seven.

Stanford lost to Washington State in its first game of a three-game road trip. The Cardinal plays at Washington on Saturday.

No. 2 Kansas (Big 12) vs. No. 15 Akron (MAC)

Kansas defeated No. 3 Baylor on Monday to stretch its winning streak to eight games.

Akron lost at Buffalo on Wednesday but the Zips are still in first place in the MAC.

Wrong Side of the Bubble

First Four Out

Oregon, Texas, NC State, Minnesota

Next Four Out

BYU, Northwestern, Cleveland State, Denver

Breakdown by Conference

Big East—8

Big Ten—7

Big 12—6

SEC—5

ACC—4

A-10—4

C-USA—4

MWC—4

MVC—2

Pac-12—2

WCC—2