Tag: Bracketology

USA TODAY bracketology update has Penn State in the East

Where Penn State stands in the Selection Sunday bracket update form USA TODAY prior to the Big Ten championship game

Penn State is looking for its first Big Ten basketball championship in school history on Sunday and then will watch the NCAA selection committee’s final bracket decisions to learn its seed, destination and first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament.

The past week has gone exceptionally well for Penn State. The Nittany Lions have gone from floating on the bubble to a possible single-digit seed on Selection Sunday.

The final bracketology update before the Big Ten championship game from USA TODAY has the Nittany Lions comfortably in the tournament. The bracket outlook from USA TODAY on Sunday morning has Penn State receiving the ninth seed in the East Region and facing a first-round matchup with Arkansas from the SEC in Des Moines, Iowa.

The USA TODAY bracketology update has Penn State looking at a possible second-round matchup with No. 1 seed Kansas in the East.

Indiana (a No. 4 seed) and Michigan State (a No. 7 seed) would join Penn State in the East, although a potential matchup with another Big Ten team would not happen until the Sweet 16 at the earliest (Penn State and Indiana would both have to advance past the first weekend to allow for this matchup). An all-Big Ten regional final between Michigan State and either Penn State or Indiana is possible.

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi also has Penn State in a comfortable spot on Selection Sunday regardless of the result of the Big Ten championship game against Purdue, although Lunardi has Penn State getting a No. 10 seed at the moment.

If nothing else, Penn State certainly is a lock to end its NCAA Tournament drought, which extends back to 2011.

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Where is Penn State in Joe Lunardi’s Selection Sunday bracket update?

One final look at Joe Lunardi’s updated bracketology before Penn State plays in the Big Ten championship game

Penn State was already in a comfortable spot on the eve of Selection Sunday before beating Indiana in the Big Ten tournament semifinal on Saturday. The win over the Hoosiers, however, has put the Nittany Lions as close to a lock for the tournament as they have been in a long time.

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi upgraded Penn State’s tournament status slightly following a 77-75 victory over the Hoosiers before taking on Purdue in the Big Ten championship game on Sunday afternoon, just before the official NCAA bids are finalized.

A day ago, Lunardi had Penn State among his last four teams in the tournament that would not have to play in an opening-round game. But the win over the Hoosiers, Penn State’s third win in as many days in the Big Ten tournament, has elevated Penn State in Lunardi’s bracket one more time. Lunardi still has Penn State with a No. 10 seed in the tournament, but the Nittany Lions no longer are among the last four teams receiving a bye. That would seem to suggest Penn State is a lock to get in the tournament as if there was any remaining doubt about that outlook the way the past week has gone.

Penn State entered the Big Ten tournament with some serious momentum following regular-season wins at Northwestern and against Maryland at home. It upset Illinois in its first Big Ten tournament game, going 3-0 against the Illini this season. That was followed by an overtime victory over Northwestern on Friday night and a tense win against Indiana that saw the Nittany Lions fend off two serious bursts by the Hoosiers in the second half.

Penn State was 0-2 against Purdue in the regular season, and the Nittany Lions are an underdog in the Big Ten championship game. However, the work that needed to be done in Chicago appears to have been accomplished for the program that looks to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011.

A loss to Purdue, no matter the final score, will not knock Penn State out of the tournament on the final day before the bracket is set. A win over Purdue, however, could give Penn State one last push in the seeding, and the Nittany Lions could grab a single-digit seed with the first Big Ten title in program history.

As it stands right now, Lunardi has Penn State paired with Missouri in a 7-10 matchup in Des Moines, Iowa, as part of the South. Alabama has the top seed in the South and a victory over Missouri could set up a matchup with Big 12 champion Texas in the second round. Maryland would join Penn State as the only Big Ten schools in the South according to Lunardi. The Terrapins are a No. 9 seed in Lunardi’s bracket, with a drop in tournament stock while Penn State is trending up.

Selection Sunday is Sunday, and Penn State will watch the selection announcements in Chicago following its appearance in the Big Ten championship game.

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ESPN Bracketology: Joe Lunardi has good news for Rutgers basketball in his latest NCAA Tournament projections

Rutgers basketball ends up in a good spot in the latest Joe Lunardi NCAA Tournament projections.

There is no doubt that over the past week, Rutgers basketball has dramatically improved their NCAA Tournament stock. They showing in the Big Ten Tournament certainly appears to be a plus for the Scarlet Knights.

ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi now has Rutgers as a No. 11 seed in the Midwest part of the bracket. The opponent for Rutgers in the first round? No. 6 San Diego State

It is good news and a shift in outlook for Rutgers basketball given that at the beginning of the week, Lunardi had Rutgers as one of his ‘Last Four In’ and needing a play-in game to enter the field proper.

Now, Lunardi projects that Rutgers is properly in the bracket. In the latest NET Rankings on Saturday, Rutger is in a solid spot at No. 40.

San Diego State is 21-6 on the season and won the Mountain West Championship on Saturday in a tight 62-57 game with Utah State (No. 19 in the NET Rankings).

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The Big Ten Tournament was solid for Rutgers basketball, lifting them in the NET Rankings and also helping them win the eyeball test. They beat Michigan, another bubble team, by double digits behind a strong defensive performance in the second half. And they narrowly lost to Purdue, the Big Ten’s top regular season team, in a game where they held a lead at the midway point of the second half.

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NCAA Tournament basketball bracketology: Tennessee’s projected seed, opponents

NCAA Tournament basketball bracketology: A look at Tennessee’s projected seed and opponents

The 2023 NCAA Tournament will begin March 14 with the First Four.

The first round will tip off on March 16.

The 2023 NCAA Tournament will conclude with the Final Four at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on April 1-3.

Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament after being eliminated by Missouri in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

No. 5 seed Tennessee (23-10, 11-7 SEC) lost to No. 4 seed Missouri (24-8, 11-7 SEC), 79-71, Friday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee awaits its destination and opponent in the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Tournament selection show will take place Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT and will be televised by CBS.

Ahead of the NCAA Tournament selection show, Vols Wire looks at projections for Tennessee. Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament projections are listed below.

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Trojans are an 11 seed — not in the First Four — in USA TODAY bracketology

#USC might be an 11 seed, but all indications are that the Trojans will not have to go to Dayton for the First Four.

The USC Trojans suffered a tough loss to Arizona State on Thursday night in their opener in the Pac-12 Tournament. As such, the Trojans will anxiously await their fate for Selection Sunday, although they should be in the field regardless.

In the latest bracketology update from USA TODAY, USC is listed as an 11-seed and facing Kencutky in the first round.

The Sun Devils have also moved into the “Last Four In” category with a pair of wins in the Pac-12 Tournament, and the Sun Devils fell short in a tough test against Arizona on Friday night.

Kansas, Marquette, and Kansas State are the 1-3 seeds, respectively, in USC’s region in this update. With Arizona State’s inclusion, four Pac-12 teams enter the field.

The Trojans’ loss to the Sun Devils dropped them down a seeding line, but noticeably, nothing harmful happened on Saturday across the country. No surprise automatic bid teams emerged which could push USC down the seed list.

USC’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament shouldn’t be in jeopardy despite another early loss in Las Vegas. As Selection Sunday arrives, USC has to sit and wait.

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Big 12 CHAMPIONS: Texas tramples Kansas, 76-56

Drop the Tournament champs moniker. Texas is unequivocally your Big 12 Champion.

The Texas Longhorns splattered the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday night. The win left no doubt who was the better team this season. Texas is your Big 12 Champion.

Undoubtedly, some will quibble over semantics and make the claim that Kansas, who got bludgeoned in a virtual home game, is the true champion of the league. Nevertheless, one team will earn the Big 12’s automatic bid. That team won’t be Kansas.

Texas head coach Rodney Terry coached a masterpiece on Saturday night. Terry, or whoever orchestrated the offensive game plan, schemed up wide open dunks and layups with back door cuts and screens. One of those screens set by Marcus Carr sprung Dylan Disu for a wide open dunk.

In addition to earning the league’s automatic bid, Texas improved to 26-8 and earned yet another Quad 1 victory. The Longhorns (14) have more Quad 1 wins than everyone but Kansas (17).

It’s unclear whether the win will be enough to earn a No. 1 seed. What is clear is that Texas is among the hottest teams in the country heading into the NCAA Tournament.

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Latest bracketology roundup for the Hawkeyes ahead of Selection Sunday

Just ahead of Selection Sunday, here is a final bracketology roundup for the Iowa Hawkeyes from all of the major bracketology experts.

Alright, Hawkeyes fans! The Big Ten Tournament did not end as we all wanted, not by a long shot. I seriously doubt any Iowa fan hoped for a swift exit in the first game to 13th-seed Ohio State, even if that Buckeyes squad is currently set to play Purdue in the Semifinals at the time of writing.

While we may collectively feel down, we are not out quite yet! There is still an NCAA Tournament to play folks, and if this Big Ten Tournament has taught us anything, it’s that your previous body of work means NOTHING!

Anything can happen at the big dance, and no squad is safe from the dreaded upset watch. It’s the great time for redemption on an even playing field for Iowa, a team still projected by many to make it to the tournament.

In preparation for Selection Sunday, here is a roundup of all the bracketology projections for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Joe Lunardi’s updated bracket has Penn State in comfortable spot before Big Ten semifinal

Joe Lunardi’s updated bracket following Friday night’s games has Penn State in safe spot ahead of Big Ten semifinal

Penn State’s tournament stock continues to be rising at the perfect time, and because of it, the Nittany Lions could already be in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. According to the latest update from ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the Nittany Lions will be invited to the big dance on Sunday when tournament bids are officially extended.

Penn State arrived in Chicago for the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament likely needing to get at least one win to feel better about its tournament odds. After finishing the regular season with big wins against Northwestern and Maryland, the Nittany Lions were still a bubble team looking to pad their profile just a bit. They did that with a victory over Illinois on Thursday, but things look even better after knocking off Northwestern in overtime on Friday night.

Lunardi currently has Penn State among his last four teams in the tournament that will not have to play in the opening round games. And just to provide a little bit more of a cushion, Lunardi lists Penn State as his first of four teams not having to play an opening-round game. Even if Penn State were to lose on Saturday against Indiana in the Big Ten tournament semifinal round, things look very promising for Penn State to end its tournament drought with this run it has been on.

Lunardi has Penn State facing Missouri from the SEC in the West region. Lunardi’s updated bracket has Penn State with a 10-seed, with a seven-seed for the Tigers. Houston is Lunardi’s top seed in the West region. A potential victory over Missouri could pair Penn State up with future Big Ten member UCLA in the second round. Indiana is a four-seed in Lunardi’s bracket in the West, and Illinois joins the Nittany Lions and Hoosiers as a Big Ten representative in the West with the nine-seed.

The other three teams Lunardi feels will not have to play in an opening-round game include Providence, Utah State, and Rutgers. Mississippi State, NC State, Pittsburgh, and Arizona State (in that order) are Lunardi’s last four teams in. Oklahoma State, Nevada, Clemson, and Vanderbilt are the first four teams missing the tournament according to Lunardi. Penn State lost a game earlier this season to Clemson and is 0-2 against Rutgers. Wisconsin and Michigan, in all likelihood, will also miss the tournament according to Lunardi.

Penn State has a chance to punch its own ticket to the NCAA tournament though. The champion of the Big Ten tournament will receive an automatic spot in the big dance. Penn State would have to beat Indiana on Saturday and then the winner of the Purdue-Ohio State game on Sunday. Purdue and Indiana are already locks, but Ohio State is the bid-stealer to watch out for at this point in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are looking to make history by reaching the Big Ten championship game as a 13-seed. An Ohio State Big Ten championship could be dangerous for Penn State’s tournament chances, but even that may not be enough to squeeze Penn State out at this point, especially if the Nittany Lions can take down the Hoosiers to reach the Big Ten championship game as well.

Penn State has not been in the NCAA Tournament since 2011. The drought appears to be over.

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Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Rutgers basketball: How the win over Michigan impacts the Bracketology update from ESPN

Rutgers basketball seems to have solidified their NCAA Tournament outlook.

For Rutgers basketball, 62-50 win over Michigan in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament was good news for the Scarlet Knights. It puts Rutgers as one of the last four teams into the tournament according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi.

And if playing in the ‘First Four’ is the basement for Rutgers, that is good news given the slide the team has been on the past month. Coming into this week’s Big Ten Tournament, Rutgers had lost three of their last four games.

In his Bracketology update on Thursday evening (several hours after Rutgers’ win over Michigan), ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi has Rutgers as a No. 11 seed, with them projected to play No. 11 Utah State in the play-in game.

The projection from Lunardi has Rutgers in the NCAA Tournament but not in the field proper for what would be a second straight season.

On Thursday at noon, Rutgers is playing Purdue, the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament. A win would certainly upgrade the NCAA Tournament outlook for the Scarlet Knights but even a close, tightly contested game would likely put Rutgers in a strong position to make the field.

Purdue is a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament according to Lunardi.

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Penn State, who beat Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, are also included in Lunardi’s ‘Last Four In.’ They are projected to play No. 11 Oklahoma State in a play-in game.

Michigan is not in Lunardi’s projections and are the ‘Next Four Out.’

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Bracket Update: Texas’ seeding and other notable rankings

We look at notable bracket rankings in Joe Lunardi’s bracket update.

March Madness commences for Texas as it begins its bid for a Final Four berth in Houston. As it stands now, the team will have solid positioning in the field.

ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi has the Texas Longhorns (23-8) as a No. 2 seed slotted against Vermont as its No. 15 seed opponent. Vermont has made the tournament eight times since 2003, including last season.

The highly competitive Big 12 conference could have something to say about Texas’ tournament seed on Thursday, as the Longhorns face the Oklahoma State Cowboys (18-14) whose tournament fate is not yet certain.

Elsewhere in the Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma and Texas Tech were sent home in Round 1. Their losses effectively end their seasons, with both out of contention for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Let’s take a look at some of the notable bracket rankings in Joe Lunardi’s bracket update.