March Insanity Bracket 7.Zero Predictions: Projection of the 68 subject for the 2021 NCAA event

Selection Sunday for the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is only a few days away.

The 68-team field takes shape during the conference tournament week and 33 conference tournament games are scheduled for Wednesday. A lot can change from Seed # 1 to Bladder in the next four days, and SN will be following the action with daily updates from here through Selection Sunday.

Here’s a look at Sporting News’ updated ’68 field from Saturday March 13th:

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March Madness Bracket Predictions for the 2021 NCAA Tournament

Projected seeds # 1

• ** Gonzaga 26-0 (west coast)
• Baylor 22-2
• Michigan 20-3 (Big Ten)
• Illinois 21-6

Lowdown: Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference tournament for the eighth time in nine seasons and is a virtual suspension for the tournament’s top seed. Baylor also appears to be suspended for the number 1 despite losing to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 semi-finals. Michigan and Illinois took care of business in the Big Ten quarterfinals, which should be enough to get the conference a pair of No. 1 seeds. That is, unless Iowa or Ohio State win the Big Ten tournament.

Projected seeds # 2

• Iowa 21-7
• Alabama 22-6 (SEC)
• Houston 22-3 (American)
• Ohio State 20-8

Lowdown: The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes will likely be just below the # 1 starting line, but their victories yesterday almost ensure the Big Ten will have four teams on the first two starting lines. It has never happened before. Alabama has yet to withhold Arkansas to keep a No. 3 seed.

Projected seeds # 3

• Oklahoma State 20-7 (Big 12)
• Arkansas 22-5
• Kansas 20-8
• Virginia 18-6

Lowdown: Kansas and Virginia withdrew from their respective conference tournaments because the players tested positive for COVID-19. This will be a real dilemma for the selection committee as both teams are firmly on the # 3 line. With the restrictions of seven days, both teams would theoretically have to play in the first round on Saturday. The state of Oklahoma could win either the state of Ohio or Houston for a second seed based on a strong performance in the Big 12 tournament.

Projected seeds # 4

• Texas 18-7
• West Virginia 18-9
• Florida State 16-5 (ACC)
• Purdue 18-9

Lowdown: The state of Florida can stay on that line with a win in the ACC championship game against Georgia Tech. A 69-66 win over North Carolina made this fall stronger, but the Seminoles are likely a stretch to move up to the # 3 line. Purdue missed a chance to move up after an 87-78 extra time against the state of Ohio.

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Projected seeds # 5

• Villanova 16-6
• Creighton 20-7 (Big East)
• Colorado 22-7 (Pac-12)
• Tennessee 18-7

Lowdown: Villanova and Creighton are likely to fall on the same line, and Bubble teams will prepare for the Blue Jays to get Georgetown out of the way in Saturday’s Big East championship game. Colorado probably deserves the highest seed among the Pac-12 teams no matter what happens in the championship game against the state of Oregon. Tennessee is the SEC team

Projected seeds # 6

• Wisconsin 17-12
• USC 22-7
• Texas Tech 17-10
• Florida 14-9

Lowdown: Wisconsin has a higher KenPom rating, but this still seems like the logical landing place at this point. Some bracketologists might have the Badgers # 5. LSU could bring one of these teams onto the track with a win against Arkansas on Saturday.

Projected seeds # 7

• LSU 17-8
• Oregon 20-6
• San Diego State 22-4 (mountain west)
• North Carolina 18-10

Lowdown: The tar heels heat up at the right time, and the win over Virginia Tech should pull them off line # 8. The loss to the Seminoles didn’t hurt too much. LSU, who have won seven of their last nine games, remain on that line. Oregon is struggling here after losing to Oregon State in the Pac-12 quarter-finals.

Projected seeds # 8

• Clemson 16-7
• Connecticut 15-6
• ** Loyola-Chicago 24-4 (Missouri Valley)
• BYU 20-6

Lowdown: Clemson could likely slide onto that line after a 67-64 loss to Miami on Thursday. Loyola-Chicago is the team the No. 1 seeds might be wary of. The Ramblers have only lost one game since January 11th.

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Remaining field projections

Seed No. 9: Oklahoma 15-10, St. Bonaventure (A-10) 15-4, Virginia Tech 15-6, Missouri 17-9
No. 10 seeds: Georgia Tech 16-8, Maryland 16-13, Rutgers 15-10, VCU 19-6
Seed No. 11: UCLA 17-9, Louisville 13-7, Michigan State 15-12, Utah State * 19-7, Syracuse 16-9 *
No. 12 seeds: Western Kentucky 20-6 (C-USA), UC Santa Barbara 21-4 (Big West), Wichita State 16-4, St. Louis * 14-6, Drake * 25-4
No. 13 seeds: ** Liberty 22-5 (A-Sun), ** Winthrop 23-1 (Big South), Ohio 15-7 (MAC), Colgate 12-7 (Patriot)
Seed # 14: ** UNC-Greensboro 20-8 (South), ** Morehead State 23-7 (Ohio Valley), Grand Canyon 16-6 (WAC), East Washington 14-7 (Big Sky)
No. 15 seeds: ** Cleveland State 19-7 (Horizon), Nicholls State 18-6 (Southland), ** Oral Roberts 16-10 (Summit), ** Drexel 12-7 (Colonial)
No. 16 seeds: Iona 11-5 (MAAC), Hartford 15-8 (America East), Norfolk State * 15-7 (MEAC), Prairie View A & M * 15-4 (SWAC), ** Appalachian State * 17-11 (Sun Belt ), ** Mount St. Mary’s * 12-10 (northeast)

* The first four teams
** Teams that have placed automatic bids

The last four in

• Drake 25-4
• Utah State 20-7
• Syracuse 16-9
• St. Louis 14-6

Lowdown: Syracuse is back in the bubble after losing 72:69 to Virginia in the ACC quarter-finals. However, the Orange could be helped if Duke missed the rest of the ACC tournament. Drake didn’t win his conference tournament, but the Bulldogs should be able to break the field of 68. The state of Utah likely prevailed with a win over the state of Colorado.

The first four out

• Colorado State 18-6
• Xavier 13-8
• Be Miss 15-11
• Boise State 18-8

Lowdown: Xavier is in trouble after a 70-69 loss to Seton Hall in Thursday’s Big East tournament. This loss of overtime could blow the musketeers off the bladder. Xavier had a 14 point lead in the defeat. Boise State lost 89-82 to Nevada, which might have thrown the Broncos out of consideration. Seton Hall’s bubble burst after a 66:58 loss to Georgetown in the Big East semi-finals.