USA TODAY Sports' preseason college basketball bracketology for 2016-17
College basketball season tips off Friday, and it's never too early to project the NCAA tournament field.
Yet it's always a crapshoot trying to put together a bracket before any games are played as there are so many unknowns. We know Duke will be good, but how good? The same can be said for Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova and several others. Will the freshmen live up to expectations? Will the veterans help lead and integrate well with those freshmen? What teams are over-hyped? Under-hyped? We will learn much of this in November as the trek towards March begins.
► No. 1 seeds: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova
► Last four in: Colorado, Clemson, Alabama, SMU
► First four out: Georgia, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Michigan
► Others considered for at-large bids (in no particular order): Georgia Tech, Houston, Temple, Tulsa, George Washington, Richmond, Saint Bonaventure, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Georgetown, Providence, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, TCU, Middle Tennessee State, Evansville, Illinois State, Arkansas, UNLV, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arizona State, Stanford, Washington, BYU, Nebraska, Colorado State, Northern Iowa, Boise State, Memphis, Saint Josephs, Old Dominion, Kansas State, Davidson, Utah, Ohio State, Auburn, Iowa, Oregon State, Nevada, New Mexico.
High-flying Grayson Allen takes on veteran role for title-ready Duke
► Multi-bid conferences: ACC (10), Big 12 (6), Pac-12 (6), Big Ten (5), Big East (5), SEC (5), A-10 (3), AAC (3), WCC (2).
► Leaders or highest RPI from projected one-bid conferences - (23 total): Vermont (America East), FGCU (Atlantic Sun), Montana (Big Sky), Winthrop (Big South), UC Irvine (Big West), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), UAB (C-USA), Valparaiso (Horizon), Princeton (Ivy), Monmouth (MAAC), Akron (MAC), Hampton (MEAC), Wichita State (Missouri Valley), San Diego State (Mountain West), Wagner (Northeast), Belmont (Ohio Valley), Bucknell (Patriot), Chattanooga (Southern), Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC), North Dakota State (Summit), Texas-Arlington (Sun Belt), New Mexico State (WAC).
- Banned from participating: Hawaii, Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State, Savannah State, Northern Colorado
- Transition Schools, ineligible for the tourney: Abilene Christian (Southland), Grand Canyon (WAC), Incarnate Word (Southland), Massachusetts-Lowell (American East)
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Note: All RPI and statistical data is used from WarrenNolan.com.
About our bracketologist: Shelby Mast has been projecting the field since 2005 and has finished as one of the top 5 national bracketologists for his website, Bracket W.A.G. He’s predicted for The Indianapolis Star, collegeinsider.com and is an inaugural member of the Super 10 Selection Committee. Follow him on Twitter @BracketWag.
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