Thursday is jam packed with conference tourney action. Here’s a guide to the games with the biggest bracket implications:
Michigan vs. Illinois (Noon ET): The Illini are just on the outside looking in right now and could use a win over RPI Top 50 foe Michigan (which itself is dealing with some extraordinary travel issues.)
North Carolina vs. Miami (Noon ET): If the Tar Heels want to land that No. 1 seed, they can’t afford to bow out early. But Miami’s already beaten them once.
Duke vs. Louisville (2:30 p.m. ET): No major ramifications, just a great game.
Iowa vs. Indiana (6:30 p.m. ET): Iowa is my first team out. Beating the 17-14 Hoosiers won’t put the Hawkeyes in, but it will keep them alive.
Vanderbilt vs. Texas A&M (7 p.m. ET): Vandy at 17-14 is right on the bubble. It can’t afford to lose to an Aggies team ranked in the low 80s of the RPI.
Baylor vs. Kansas State (9:30 p.m. ET): K-State is sitting right on the cut line. Beating a Top 10 Baylor team might ensure a bid for the Wildcats.
Butler vs. Xavier (7 p.m. ET) and Providence vs. Creighton (9:30 p.m. ET): I’m not too worried for the 20-11 Friars and 20-12 Musketeers, but nor are they entirely safe. Beating projected tourney teams would end the suspense.
UCLA vs. USC (11:30 p.m. ET): The Trojans are one upset away from sealing the deal. Also, a good excuse to watch more Lonzo Ball.
* — Denotes projected conference champion, automatic berth. Teams in bold have secured an automatic berth.
This edition's bracket is Midwest vs. West and East vs. South in the national semifinals, based on the order of my No. 1 seeds.
BRACKET WATCH
MIDWEST REGION (KANSAS CITY)
Seed
Team
Location
1
Kansas*
at Tulsa
16
North Dakota*/Texas Southern*
8
Dayton*
9
Seton Hall
4
Purdue*
at Milwaukee
13
Princeton*
5
Cincinnati
12
Nevada*
6
Wisconsin
at Salt Lake City
11
Wake Forest
3
Arizona
14
Winthrop
7
Iowa State
at Indianapolis
10
Michigan State
2
Louisville
15
UC Irvine*
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WEST REGION (San Jose)
Seed
Team
Location
1
Gonzaga
at Salt Lake City
16
South Dakota State/Mount Saint Mary's
8
South Carolina
9
Oklahoma State
4
Duke
at Greenville, SC
13
East Tennessee State
5
SMU*
12
Kansas State/Illinois State
6
Maryland
at Milwaukee
11
USC/Vanderbilt
3
Butler
14
Cal State Bakersfield*
7
Miami
at Sacramento
10
Wichita State
2
Oregon*
15
Jacksonville State
EAST REGION (NEW YORK)
Seed
Team
Location
1
Villanova*
at Buffalo
16
New Orleans*
8
Michigan
9
Arkansas
4
Florida
at Orlando
13
Vermont*
5
Virginia
12
UNC Wilmington
6
Saint Mary's
at Orlando
11
Providence
3
Florida State
14
Akron*
7
Creighton
at Tulsa
10
VCU
2
Baylor
15
Iona
SOUTH REGION (MEMPHIS)
Seed
Team
Location
1
North Carolina*
at Greenville, SC
16
NC Central*
8
Marquette
9
Northwestern
4
West Virginia
at Buffalo
13
Bucknell
5
Notre Dame
12
UT Arlington*
6
Minnesota
at Indianapolis
11
Middle Tennessee*
3
Kentucky*
14
Florida Gulf Coast
7
Virginia Tech
at Sacramento
10
Xavier
2
UCLA
15
Northern Kentucky
LAST FOUR BYES: Michigan State, Xavier, Wake Forest, Providence
LAST FOUR IN: USC, Vanderbilt, Kansas State, Illinois State
FIRST FOUR OUT: Iowa, Syracuse, Illinois, Rhode Island
NEXT FOUR OUT: Cal, Ole Miss, Indiana, Clemson
MULTIPLE BID CONFERENCES: ACC (9), Big Ten (7), Big East (7), Big 12 (6), SEC (5), Pac-12 (4), A-10 (2), American (2), MVC (2), WCC (2)
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