Tag: ESPN bracketology

Duke basketball misses out on a No. 1 seed in updated ESPN Bracketology

The Duke Blue Devils still haven’t worked their way back into a No. 1 seed in ESPN’s projected bracket despite their four-game win streak.

The Duke Blue Devils have won four straight games, including their home victory over the Auburn Tigers to start the month of December, but ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi still needs to see more to put them atop a region.

In his updated Bracketology projection on Tuesday, Lunardi put [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] and his teammates as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest region.

Two early losses put a dent in Duke’s chances for a top seed, but considering that they came against the Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks, neither will be disqualifying. Auburn is Lunardi’s top overall seed, after all, so that win will carry plenty of weight come decision time.

The Tennessee Volunteers slid into the top spot in the Midwest, joining Auburn, Kentucky, and the Iowa State Wildcats on the opening line. Duke’s projected region also included 3-seed Texas A&M, 4-seed Purdue, and 6-seed Illinois. The Blue Devils drew Norfolk State for the opening round with either Dayton or Penn State waiting for them if they advance.

Only three other ACC teams made Lunardi’s full tournament field: the Clemson Tigers (No. 6, East), Pittsburgh Panthers (No. 7, South), and North Carolina Tar Heels (No. 9, South).

Oregon Ducks named 3 seed in latest ESPN bracketology

In the latest ESPN bracketology outlook, the Oregon Ducks would receive an outstanding draw and play close to home out west.

If this is where the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team ends up in March, the Ducks wouldn’t complain in the slightest.

In the latest ESPN bracketology outlook by Joe Lunardi, the Ducks would be the No. 3 seed in the West Regional and play 13-seed Princeton in Seattle. The two western sites in the first two rounds are Seattle and Denver with the West Regional being playing in San Francisco. That scenario would be ideal for the Ducks and their fans should it come to fruition.

Oregon has plenty of chances to even improve on that 4-seed as they are 9-1 on the season with Big Ten play just around the corner. The Ducks got an early taste of conference action last week as they split their first two games with a win at USC, but then a heartbreaking loss to UCLA at home.

But the non-conference action isn’t over yet as the Ducks still have Stephen F. Austin, Stanford and Weber State still on the docket before Oregon welcomes Illinois to Matthew Knight Arena on Jan. 2.

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Duke basketball still can’t crack Joe Lunardi’s top four spots despite Auburn victory

The Duke Blue Devils have slowly put together a top resume, but longtime bracket expert Joe Lunardi still sees them as a No. 2 seed.

The Duke Blue Devils lifted their resume from good to great last week with a home victory over the undefeated Auburn Tigers, but ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi still needs a little more for the storied program to snatch back one of his four No. 1 seeds.

Lunardi released his updated bracket on Tuesday morning, and the Blue Devils occupied the No. 2 spot in the South region. The Tigers kept their grip on his top overall seed, also slated for the South, while the Tennessee Volunteers, Marquette Golden Eagles, and Iowa State Cyclones led the other three corners of the bracket.

None of those four teams have multiple losses like the Blue Devils, and two Kansas losses dropping the Jayhawks down to a No. 3 seed doesn’t help the argument. However, Marquette has only played one team within the top 12 of the KenPom efficiency rankings, and that resulted in a road loss to the Cyclones. Duke has played three teams in the top 11, including its Auburn win.

Lunardi paired Duke with the Little Rock Trojans for the first round, and should the Blue Devils avoid that upset, they’d play the winner of St. John’s and Texas Tech in the next game.

If the Cameron Crazies want a little good news, two major Duke rivals continue to fall in Lunardi’s eyes. The North Carolina Tar Heels have tumbled down to a No. 8 seed (interestingly enough, also in the South region) thanks to four early losses, and Caleb Love’s Arizona Wildcats are now the First Team Out after a 4-4 start.

Duke basketball just misses No. 1 seed in latest ESPN Bracketology projection

The Duke Blue Devils, despite two early losses, remain in contention for a No. 1 seed in ESPN’s latest bracket projection.

Most preseason national championship favorites would be frustrated with a 5-2 start to the season, but most national championship favorites haven’t played the schedule that the Duke Blue Devils have.

Head coach Jon Scheyer and his team have lost to the Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks, two other blue-blood programs, by a combined eight points. ESPN’s longtime bracket expert Joe Lunardi thought neither loss demanded a reevaluation of the Blue Devils, and in his latest projections on Tuesday, he kept Duke as the No. 2 seed in the East region.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag], who scored 50 combined points against Kentucky and Arizona, would lead his team against Norfolk State in the opening round if Lunardi’s hypothetical bracket came to pass. Duke would tackle either the Texas Longhorns or Maryland Terrapins in the second round, and the Tennessee Volunteers occupied the top spot in the region.

The Auburn Tigers, who come to Durham on Wednesday for yet another top-25 clash, jumped ahead of Kansas for Lunardi’s top overall seed after their Maui Invitational victory. Auburn has already taken down the Houston Cougars, Iowa State Cyclones, and North Carolina Tar Heels through seven games.

The Tar Heels, with three losses on their resume already, tumbled down to the No. 5 seed in the East.

Duke basketball jumps back up to No. 2 seed in updated ESPN Bracketology

After their first top-25 win of the season on Friday, the Duke Blue Devils shuffled back up to a No. 2 seed in the newest ESPN Bracketology.

The Duke Blue Devils took care of business against Arizona on Friday night, leading Tucson with a 69-55 victory, and ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi rewarded their efforts in his latest projections.

Lunardi put head coach Jon Scheyer and his team as a No. 2 seed in his updated Bracketology on Tuesday. The Blue Devils started the season as one of the four top teams, but after a loss to the Kentucky Wildcats in their third game, Lunardi dropped them down to the No. 3 line.

Cooper Flagg and his teammates could force Lunardi into a major reset this coming week, however. Duke plays the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks, ESPN’s projected top overall seed, in Las Vegas, and some analytics sites think the Blue Devils have a better chance than it sounds on paper. A victory would assuredly move them back into one of the top four spots.

Lunardi’s latest hypothetical bracket put Duke in the West region with top-seeded Gonzaga and the Alabama Crimson Tide in the third slot. The Blue Devils would play Towson in round one with a second-round bout against either Texas Tech or Maryland on deck.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, one of four other ACC teams included in Lunardi’s bracket, ended up as a No. 4 seed in the South region.

UNC basketball projected to face C-USA school in Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology

Early bracketology has UNC facing a team that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in over 30 years.

Even though we’re just two weeks into the 2024-2025 college basketball season, it’s never too early to start making March Madness projections.

Which teams are near-locks to win their conferences? Who will the Cinderellas be? Will any highly-favored preseason teams fail to live up to the hype?

The North Carolina Tar Heels, just 2-1 through their first three games, are hoping to be the last team standing when March Madness is all said and done.

If famed bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s latest projections come true, UNC will at least be in the Big Dance. Lunardi has North Carolina as a 4-seed in the East Region, facing 13-seed Louisiana Tech in the first round.

While the Tar Heels would be making their second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs would be making their first since 1991. Louisiana Tech has enjoyed plenty of success on the basketball court in recent years, with five 20-win seasons in its past six, but playing in a mid-major conference like the C-USA hurt its chance at gaining an at-large.

Just like any team early in the season, North Carolina is still trying to figure itself out.

UNC was nearly upset by Elon in its season-opener, but UNC took over in the final four minutes. The Tar Heels trailed Kansas by 15 at halftime on Nov. 8, but nearly came back. American shot well from deep early last Friday, then North Carolina exploded for 64 second-half points.

We’ll really start to see how legit UNC is starting Saturday, when it heads to Hawaii for its fifth matchup with the Rainbow Warriors. The Tar Heels then remain in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, kicking off Monday with an 11:30 p.m. tipoff against Dayton.

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Iowa women’s basketball once again rising in latest ESPN bracketology

Iowa women’s basketball continues its ascent in the latest ESPN bracketology.

Iowa women’s basketball is off to a terrific start to its 2024-25 season. The Hawkeyes are now 4-0 with wins over Northern Illinois (91-73), Virginia Tech (71-52), Toledo (94-57) and Drake (86-73) entering Wednesday night’s contest versus Kansas.

Iowa’s transfer portal addition of senior point guard Lucy Olsen has provided precisely what the Hawkeyes had hoped. Olsen is averaging a team-high 17.8 points per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. The 5-foot-10 guard also boasts averages of 5.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

Meanwhile, Iowa is watching as senior center Addison O’Grady continues to blossom before everyone’s eyes. O’Grady is currently averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game and shooting 73.2%. The 6-foot-4 center led Iowa with 27 points and 10 rebounds in their Sunday road win at Drake.

Iowa wasn’t predicted to finish in the top five of either the coaches or media Big Ten preseason polls, but the Hawkeyes’ start to the season has to have raised a few eyebrows nationally.

It has certainly seen Iowa pick up some steam in ESPN’s latest bracketology projections. Iowa has now climbed to a projected No. 6 seed in Region 4 Spokane.

Interestingly, Iowa is matched up against the winner of two of the last four in. The Hawkeyes would face the winner of No. 11 Vanderbilt and No. 11 Kansas, who Iowa will square off against tonight.

Iowa’s initial trek sends them to Norman, Okla., where the winner of third-seeded Oklahoma and No. 14 UC Irvine would be waiting in the Round of 32 if the Hawkeyes won their projected opening contest.

The Hawkeyes were a No. 7 seed last week and began the season projected as a No. 8 seed.

Below is a look at the full Region 4 Spokane projection. Plus, all of the Big Ten teams that are currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament field along with their seedings.

The Big Ten leads the nation in projected tournament bids with 12.

Region 4 Spokane

  • No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Tennessee Tech
  • No. 8 South Dakota State vs. No. 9 Middle Tennessee
  • No. 5 NC State vs. No. 12 UNLV
  • No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 13 Portland
  • No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Vanderbilt / No. 11 Kansas
  • No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 UC Irvine
  • No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Mississippi State
  • No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson

Big Ten teams projected in ESPN’s bracketology

On the bubble

Last Four Byes: Mississippi State, Miami, Utah, Minnesota

Last Four In: Vanderbilt, Kansas, California, Penn State

First Four Out: Saint Joseph’s, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Florida

Next Four Out: Colorado, George Mason, St. John’s, Georgia Tech

Conference bids breakdown

Big Ten: 12

SEC: 11

ACC: 9

Big 12: 7

Big East: 2

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Iowa basketball remains on bubble despite Washington State win

Despite its win over Washington State, Iowa basketball remains on the bubble in ESPN’s updated bracketology.

Despite an impressive win over Washington State this past Friday, the Iowa Hawkeyes remain on the wrong side of ESPN’s latest bracketology bubble.

Just like a week ago, Iowa remains among ESPN’s “first four out” in its lastest bracketology. Iowa joins UCF, New Mexico and fellow Big Ten foe Maryland among ESPN and Joe Lunardi’s first four teams out.

With their 76-66 win over Washington State, Iowa improved to 4-0 to start the season. The Hawkeyes also have wins over East Texas A&M (89-67), Southern (89-74) and South Dakota (96-77).

In his return from a one-game illness absence, sophomore forward Owen Freeman was sensational versus the Cougars. Freeman registered his sixth career double-double and his first of the season after scoring 21 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.

Freeman knocked down 9-of-15 from the field in the win over Washington State.

The Big Ten ties the SEC for the most projected bids nationally in ESPN’s latest bracketology with 10. Here’s a look at all of the projected NCAA Tournament bids for Big Ten squads along with their seedings.

Big Ten teams in latest ESPN bracketology

Iowa hosts Rider on Tuesday night before closing its November slate with dates against Utah State on Nov. 22 and South Carolina Upstate on Nov. 26.

Then, the Hawkeyes will face their first two Big Ten tests to begin the month of December with games versus Northwestern on Dec. 3 and at Michigan on Dec. 7. Iowa will host No. 5 Iowa State on Dec. 12.

A couple of wins in those final three games should be enough to push Iowa onto the right side of the bubble early in this 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

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Duke basketball no longer a No. 1 seed in ESPN Bracketology after Kentucky loss

After the Duke Blue Devils lost for the first time last week, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi dropped them down to a No. 3 seed in his projected bracket.

There are a lot of important basketball games between now and March, especially the two coming within the next week, but the Duke Blue Devils lost their grip on a No. 1 seed in the ESPN NCAA Bracketology on Tuesday.

Longtime bracket expert Joe Lunardi knocked Duke down to the No. 3 in the South region after its loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, slotting them behind the Auburn Tigers and Iowa State Cyclones.

The Blue Devils could shake up the order themselves over the next seven days. Duke plays Arizona, whom Lunardi slotted in as a No. 4 seed, on the road this Friday before a neutral-site game against top overall seed Kansas. One or two wins between those two games could make the Kentucky loss less consequential.

Connecticut and Gonzaga filled in the remaining two No. 1 spots. The Wildcats joined Duke on the No. 3 seed line, and the North Carolina Tar Heels fell down to a No. 4 seed after their loss to the Jayhawks.

Iowa women’s basketball climbs in latest ESPN bracketology projection

After an impressive win over Virginia Tech, Iowa women’s basketball is climbing in ESPN’s bracketology update.

Iowa women’s basketball has opened its 2024-25 campaign with wins over Northern Illinois (91-73) and Virginia Tech (71-52).

The Hawkeyes’ victory over the Hokies in the Ally Tipoff was a strong statement to the Big Ten and the rest of the country that life after Caitlin Clark can still be pretty good in Iowa City.

In the latest USA TODAY Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll, Iowa is right on the fringe of being ranked. The Hawkeyes picked up 34 points to sit just outside the top 25.

With Iowa set to host Toledo on Wednesday night, the Hawkeyes are currently being paced in scoring by senior point guard Lucy Olsen’s 19.5 points per game. The Villanova transfer is shooting 47.4% from the field and averaging 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Senior center Addison O’Grady (15.0), junior forward Hannah Stuelke (13.5) and senior guard Kylie Feuerbach (10.5) are all averaging double-figure scoring thus far this season.

After its two wins to open up the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season, Iowa is seeing its bracketology seeding on the rise.

In ESPN’s bracketology update, the Iowa Hawkeyes are up to a No. 7 seed in Region 4 Spokane. That’s a one-seed climb for Iowa from ESPN’s preseason bracketology.

Here’s a look at the full Region 4 Spokane. Plus, a look at every Big Ten team that finds its way into ESPN’s current bracketology along with their seeding.

Region 4 Spokane

  • No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Albany
  • No. 8 Utah vs. No. 9 South Dakota State
  • No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga
  • No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 James Madison
  • No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 11 Penn State / No. 11 Clemson
  • No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 North Texas
  • No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Mississippi State
  • No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson

Big Ten teams in ESPN’s bracketology

  • No. 1 UCLA
  • No. 1 USC
  • No. 3 Ohio State
  • No. 4 Maryland
  • No. 5 Nebraska
  • No. 6 Illinois
  • No. 7 Iowa
  • No. 7 Michigan State
  • No. 8 Michigan
  • No. 8 Indiana
  • No. 10 Minnesota
  • No. 11 Penn State

In a show of the league’s perceived strength, the now 18-team Big Ten sees 12 of its members currently accepting bids in ESPN’s bracketology.

The SEC is also projected with 12 bids, the ACC and Big 12 each with eight and the Big East and Atlantic 10 earn a pair of berths.

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