Justin Meyer

Welcome to Bracketology 2023! Mid-January is when any real shape for the NCAA Tournament begins to take form, so we will now begin our deep dive into what the bracket would look like the season ended right now.

Remember, this is not my opinion on what the committee should do – this is about what I think the committee would do if today were Selection Sunday. Then, when it’s actually Selection Sunday, this will be my prediction for the soon-to-be-revealed real bracket.

Bracketology 2023: The First Edition

Seed Lines

Teams are arranged by S-Curve order. As in, a team at the front of a seed line is higher on the S-Curve, and a team at the end of a seed line is the last team to receive that seed.

Tentative auto bids are italicized, official auto bids are bolded.

Includes all games through Thursday, Jan. 19.

1s – Kansas, Purdue, Alabama, Houston

2s – UCLA, Texas, Arizona, Tennessee

3s – Kansas State, Connecticut, Gonzaga, Iowa State

4s – Xavier, Virginia, Bayloe, Marquette

5s – TCU, Miami (FL), Rutgers, Auburn

6s – Illinois, Providence, Michigan State, Duke

7s – NC State, St. Mary’s, Iowa, Wisconsin

8s – San Diego State, Clemson, Missouri, New Mexico

9s – Arkansas, Arizona State, Indiana, FAU

10s – Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Boise State, Creighton

11s – North Carolina, Maryland, Wake Forest, Memphis, West Virginia, Ohio State

12s – Charleston, VCU, Oral Roberts, Kent State

13s – Liberty, Princeton, Southern Illinois, Louisiana

14s – Seattle U, Colgate, Samford, UC Riverside

15s – Eastern Washington, SIU Edwardsville, Siena, UNC Asheville

16s – Milwaukee, Southern, Morgan State, Nicholls, Fairleigh Dickinson, Binghamton

The Bubble

Last Four Byes

Northwestern

Creighton

North Carolina

Maryland

Last Four In

Wake Forest

Memphis

West Virginia

Ohio State

First Four Out

Nevada

Oklahoma

Penn State

Kentucky

Next Four Out

Seton Hall

USC

Oregon

UCF

Per Conference

Big Ten – 10 (Purdue, Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Northwestern, Maryland, Ohio State)

ACC – 8 (Virginia, Miami, Duke, NC State, Clemson, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Wake Forest)

Big 12 – 7 (Kansas, Texas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, TCU, West Virginia)

Big East – 5 (Connecticut, Xavier, Marquette, Providence, Creighton)

SEC – 5 (Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, Missouri, Arkansas)

MWC – 3 (San Diego State, New Mexico, Boise State)

Pac-12 – 3 (UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State)

AAC – 2 (Houston, Memphis)

WCC – 2 (Gonzaga, St. Mary’s)

Featured photo by Alp Duran on Unsplash.