Bracketology 1/22/16

1) I'm a tier one bracketologist over at the Bracket Matrix Rankings, which you should definitely check out.

2) Remember that all seed lines are read left to right.

3) Teams that are currently projected as auto-bids are listed in the bubble section at the bottom with respect to where they would be without their auto-bid.

4) All RPI data used for this comes from Warren Nolan. If you're as much of a college basketball geek as I am, it should be one of your bookmarks along with KenPom and the Bracket Matrix.

5) Not as many upsets at the top of the bracket in the past two days, but interesting things going on near the bubble. For the first time ever, I have a play-in game on the 10 line. Part of the reason is my new system of awarding auto-bids to the conference leader (leading to VCU and Central Florida being in the field) and part is the historic weakness of the mid-tier conferences this year.

6) I always cheer for low-major at-large bids, but unfortunately the odds of a Monmouth at-large seem considerably slimmer after their loss to Manhattan yesterday. Using the previous MAAC at-large of Iona 2012 as a guide, I'd think Monmouth can only afford 2 more losses, including the conference tournament.

1: Oklahoma, Villanova, North Carolina, Kansas

2: Xavier, Iowa, Texas A&M, Iowa State

3: Oregon, Miami (FL), Virginia, Maryland

4: Kentucky, Michigan State, West Virginia, Dayton

5: Arizona, South Carolina, Providence, Utah

6: USC, Texas, Purdue, Baylor

7: Duke, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Indiana

8: Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan, California

9: St. Mary's, Butler, Wichita State, Colorado

10: Texas Tech, St. Joseph's, UCLA, (Oregon State/Seton Hall)

11: (Connecticut/George Washington), Valparaiso, Washington, UC-Irvine

12: VCU, Chattanooga, IPFW, San Diego State

13: Princeton, Arkansas-LR, Stony Brook, Belmont

14: Northern Illinois, James Madison, UAB, North Florida

15: Weber State, Cal State Bakersfield, Navy, High Point

16: Hampton, Central Florida, (Saint Peter's/Wagner), (Texas Southern/Houston Baptist)

First Four Out: Stanford, Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Alabama

Next Four Out: Syracuse, Florida State, Clemson, Boise State

Also Considered: Monmouth, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Kansas State, VCU, Mississippi, Evansville, Arkansas-LR, Auburn, Georgia Tech, St. Bonaventure, UT-Arlington, Marquette, Arizona State, Davidson, Tulsa, Wisconsin, Ohio State, LSU, Northwestern, Creighton, BYU