Jett’s bracketology is updated every week. These are the projections as of Jan. 30.
South
1. Auburn
16. Southern
8. Vanderbilt
9. Maryland
5. Memphis
12. McNeese
4. Mississippi State
13. Arkansas State
6. Louisville
11. Texas
3. Houston
14. Cleveland State
7. Texas Tech
10. St. Mary’s
2. Marquette
15. Jacksonville
West
1. Alabama
16. Norfolk State
8. Gonzaga
9. Georgia
5. Michigan
12. Drake
4. Oregon
13. Northern Colorado
6. Arizona
11. UC Irvine
3. Texas A&M
14. Grand Canyon
7. UCLA
10. San Diego State
2. Florida
15. Bryant
Midwest
1. Iowa State
16. Morehead State/Omaha
8. Oklahoma
9. UConn
5. Clemson
12. Samford
4. Wisconsin
13. Middle Tennessee
6. Missouri
11. New Mexico/Ohio State
3. Kansas
14. Akron
7. Utah State
10. Baylor
2. Michigan State
15. CCSU
East
1. Duke
16. American/William & Mary
8. West Virginia
9. St. John’s
5. Illinois
12. VCU
4. Kentucky
13. Yale
6. Ole Miss
11. North Carolina/UCF
3. Purdue
14. High Point
7. Creighton
10. Pitt
2. Tennessee
15. Marist
Last Four in:
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio State
UCF
First Four Out:
BYU
Dayton
SMU
Xavier
The reason I have BYU and Dayton higher than others is because of BYU’s NET ranking of 38. They have also been playing better as of lately. The Cougars (not WSU) can play their way into the bracket. Dayton is higher due to their two quad one wins. That is more than any team in consideration on the outside. No one else has won close to Marquette, UConn and Northwestern.
Mid-Major teams to watch out for:
VCU
VCU is ranked No. 45 in the NET and a quad two record of 3-2 (their only quad one game was a close loss to New Mexico on the road). The Rams are improving every game and will continue to be challenged in the Atlantic 10. VCU is a veteran team who have stayed together and played for a couple of years. That team chemistry might be the formula for a first-round upset.
UC Irvine
Another formula to pull off a first-round upset is having great role players surrounding a first-team all-conference player. The Anteaters have that with seven-foot one-inch senior Bent Leuchten. Leuchten has played for the German national team and has a play style reminiscent of NBA superstar Nikola Jokic. UC Irvine runs their offense through the post and he distributes the ball to the perimeter. That is when senior Justin Hohn and sophomore Myles Che come into play. UC Irvine has shooting, depth and chemistry. The Anteaters will be able to keep up with power conference teams with their backups in. Watch out for the Anteaters.
Drake
It feels like every year Drake is a 12-seed. The Bulldogs had a complete transformation with Darren DeVries. Ben McCollum brought the identity of his Division-II dynasty at Northwest Missouri State to Des Moines, Iowa, and there has been no transition period to Division I. The top three scorers for the Bulldogs transferred with McCollum and have brought the D-II playstyle to Drake, shooting a lot of threes and getting transition points off turnovers.
