ESPN Bracketology, 1/13/2026

69 points mahogey

Potential Iowa St v Iowa in the second round? Please don’t.

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9 points DanFlashesCoupon

They lovvve doing shit like that

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7 points Lee-Key-Bottoms

The gotta beat Will Wade and the potential Pack first 🐺

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1 points danimal6000

If it’s the team that played FSU they have no chance. If it’s the team that played UVA we’re in big big trouble

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1 points Lee-Key-Bottoms

I have a joke with my friends that we’re just the potential man meme

0 quality wins

0 times Wade backed up his shit talk

7 times the metrics said were a tournament team

If we’re UNC from last year all the way down to the undeserved tournament birth like everyone says we are, that’s not a bad result for first season with an undersized team

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1 points danimal6000

I’d prefer to earn an at-large bid but I’m not above taking a gift. It’s not like things usually go our way

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3 points doxical_narrrator

Also potential rematch with Perdue or BYU in the elite 8

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6 points j_shelb

Perdue

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9 points IAmAtWork_AMA

we're not going to play like chickens this time

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1 points Affectionate-Day2743

Also potential rematch with Arizona in the championship game.

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1 points bigred1987

I mean, it's been 27 years since Iowa last won in the second round, so I wouldn't mind so much.

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1 points kylemech

Fran never got them there. I can't wait to see McCollum do it quickly.

Unless it's this scenario. Then I can wait a little.

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47 points newportnik

I think this might be the first time Dartmouth has ever appeared in a bracketology update lol, currently have a 67 year NCAA tournament drought

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6 points barbandbert

Was the 6-7 meme just a prophecy this whole time?

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35 points jonstark19

An Iowa-Iowa State Round of 32 matchup in St. Louis would be a gift from the basketball gods.

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5 points kylemech

In 2024 we had South Dakota State, Drake, and Iowa State all in Omaha for the first two rounds. It was a fun setting, and watching Terrence Shannon Jr. in person was a sight to behold. He looked like a man among boys. Bummer it had to be us in r3.

Useless Fact: ESPN's box score doesn't show Robert Jones, Sports Reference has him, though! This is true for him on any game. It's like he got snapped out of existence in the ESPN universe.

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1 points Affectionate-Day2743

You also had Washington State.

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2 points kylemech

Yes. I just meant that Drake and Iowa State and SDakSU are all pretty close to Omaha so it was a really crazy how many people got to go to the games.

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1 points Affectionate-Day2743

gotcha. i actually live in Omaha and attended the evening session that year. Saw ISU vs SDSU and Drake vs WSU. Drake v WSU was a fun game.

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37 points Nostalgia-89

Putting Michigan State in the West with UNC and Duke (after we've already played them both this year) in the same pods is diabolical work.

Edit: they're in the East instead of the West. Still. Everything else about it sucks.

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12 points FairAnywhere9305

The absolute insistence of the committee to put MSU in a region stacked with blue bloods is fascinating

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6 points adamjg2

Incoming down by double digits just to fight back and get within punching distance with 5 min left resulting in a 4pt loss

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2 points FairAnywhere9305

I hate you for being so deadly accurate in this comment

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1 points adamjg2

A tale as old as time. This team just feels like a go-to scorer away from being in the very top tier. Still super fun to watch

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1 points GoSkers29

Fuck pretty much everything about that region, man.

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21 points TymStark

Temple…listen…we have done this 3 vs 14 seed thing before. DONT. EVEN. THINK. ABOUT. IT!

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5 points I_Like_Quiet

Temple final four incoming.

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3 points TymStark

But Xavier lost to 11 UConn. If they wanna be horrible they have to follow the script. Which means 11 George Mason has to beat 6 Kansas, in order to beat 14 Temple.

But let’s just not do that.

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7 points Jormopolis

Imagine telling someone from the Big 8/Big 12 days that we might be in the same region as KU but as the higher seed.

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8 points Wildcatfakes

Please not another Ivy League team in the first round.

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3 points CaptainMagma1

To be fair, this team is WAAAAYYYY more disciplined than that 22/23 team.

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6 points filthysven

And a style that is particularly tough for smaller school teams to match up against. That said, this time that year we also thought the team was "different".

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1 points feralihatr

That team also lost in McKale to ASU…nice litmus test for us tomorrow I guess?

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14 points busche916

Last 4 in, baby!! Buckyball on the rise!

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9 points Cityzen_11

https://preview.redd.it/oh9rknw0g5dg1.jpeg?width=705&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff13088807434862a2d4cb433f75438de811c641

Big game tonight!

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1 points Known_Match_7101

How has Marcus hill been for yall?

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3 points busche916

He’s been a really important piece, definitely a guy who has been willing to do whatever the matchup has asked of him. Some games he’s more of a scorer, sometimes the focus has been more on defensive pressure, but really enjoyed watching him play.

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12 points ACW1129

The Big 10 has more teams in than they have teams. Or they're numerically stupid.

EDIT: GMU as an 11 seed with a chance to face UCONN in DC?

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3 points thebreye

*triggered

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1 points Camrons_Mink

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13 points Alternative-Bee-3594

MSU as a 4 seed with their only loses to Duke and at Nebraska..lmao

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9 points Nostalgia-89

And not only that, I believe he's considering MSU the lowest 4 seed since they're in the same region as the overall #1.

I can see why they have their current AP ranking at 12. It's in line with the efficiency ratings. 16th is insane.

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3 points Alternative-Bee-3594

Just gotta win out this month and vault into the top 5

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3 points EasyBreecy

He has you #13.

https://preview.redd.it/gk5lqmaus5dg1.png?width=612&format=png&auto=webp&s=eb33fe7a956fd324c6e3da3c330a19d440007822

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1 points Nostalgia-89

Yup. I misread the seeding somehow. That's fine. I don't love it, but it's fine.

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2 points Pinewood74

Arizona is Lunardi's #1 overall, not UConn.

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1 points Nostalgia-89

Yeah, I realized I scrolled down too far and misremembered who the 1 seed was before I typed it out.

It makes me feel a little better that we're a little higher, but I'm surprised we're not a 3 seed.

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5 points SmallToblerone

Genuinely shocked they still consider us a tournament team

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3 points ssp25

I would love that draw. wouldn't look forward to playing Arizona but one thing I know is that blood, tears and sweat would be shed in that matchup.

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3 points TheCJbreeZy

First rounder against an Ivy League? Fool me once…

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2 points Docholphal1

Is there something funky going on where last year, Purdue was in the Midwest as a 4 seed, playing us in the third round an hour from home, where this year, Houston as a 3 seed is getting bracketed in the Midwest again? We no longer host the South region, so we can be seeded there.

It's fine if they try to avoid giving low seeds super beneficial seeding like that, but last year, a 4 seed was in their home region, so why can't a 3 seed be?

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3 points j_shelb

does it have something to do with ISU being the 1 seed and being from same conference? like the 1-3 usually arent from same conf in same region?

EDIT: nvm. I see BYU as the 3 in the south haha

I'm not sure tbh. Instead of having to figure it out, let's both win out and then you can be the 1 in the south in HOU and purdue the 1 in the Midwest

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2 points Docholphal1

Yeah, I'm not freaking out about it, just curious. Still have to beat whoever's in front of you on the day.

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1 points Pinewood74

EDIT: nvm. I see BYU as the 3 in the south haha

BYU, though, has their Sunday thing so rules can be broken to accomodate that.

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1 points j_shelb

Oooooo big brain over here!!! Wonder how that would come into play…but I guess they could just play the Thursday Saturday games

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2 points lees395

For all things good in this world, can we please not be in the same quad as fucking Arizona?

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1 points The_Mursenary

Yeah we need to play off the 8/9 line because Arizona and Michigan I think we have no shot against haha. Punchers chance against some other top 8 teams

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1 points ThreeDMK

Hi friend! :) I was unable to convince any of my Auburn friends to have a watch party at my place here in Huntsville for that game. Was sad times. I had to watch that one solo. :(

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2 points Gamecat235

So… Auburn and Florida eh? LMAO. (No disrespect to St Mary’s or Louisville intended). Feeling a little bit of Deja vu.

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3 points green_day_95

None taken

I mean we have 0 noteworthy wins so far, a 5 seed is way too high right now with how we’ve been playing lately.

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2 points wooooooo1776

A UCLA play in game against our former best player, all to have another matchup against Clemson. I don’t know how to even react to that

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2 points Lightning_Driver

9-seed slu, gotta love it.

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1 points ragnarocker997

I really hope we get in the East bracket if we have to be a 2 seed. I think we would match up decently with Uconn and/or Duke. I want nothing to do with BYU in a sweet 16 match up.

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1 points Solesky1

Setting up the Josh Schertz/Shaheen Holloway rematch in the first round 👀

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1 points Common_Pension

We’re coming

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1 points Aidanj927

Other than Michigan I like this draw

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-3 points CLT113078

We are way overseeded. No way we deserve a 1.

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3 points Altruistic_Rich_9125

Most bipolar Michigan fan

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2 points filthysven

Im honestly surprised their meltdown has lasted this long. It's one thing to do this drunk after the first loss, but to remain unhinged for days after is wild.

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2 points Altruistic_Rich_9125

Agreed. The crazy fans go from “this is the greatest team to ever exist” all the way to “Michigan can’t beat anybody, they lost to Wisconsin. What makes you think they can beat xyz team?!?!?”

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1 points CLT113078

I never said this was the greatest team ever. But yeah, people were getting way too excited and were falling for the media hype. I definitely fell for the hype. Now we know we were/are way overrated.

Just have to adjust expectations.

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1 points ishboo3002

It's mainly just that guy.

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1 points filthysven

Yeah sorry that's the singular they not the plural. I actually recognize the username from prior meltdowns.

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1 points ThreeDMK

Not sure what is worse though, the Mich. Meltdown fans, or the AZ fans on other boards and subreddits dumping on Michigan after they lost, it's been annoying.

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1 points Aidanj927

You lost 1 game by like 3 points

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1 points Avagontamos

What does "highest projected seed" even mean? Saying that MSU's highest seed is a 3 is just disingenuous when they could literally still finish 19-1 in the Big Ten (29-2 overall). Even if you want to say to be realistic, sure. They can be 26-5 overall by dropping 3 more games.

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6 points Aidanj927

It’s the highest they’ve been in past bracketologies

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3 points Avagontamos

Thanks. I interpreted it as "this is the highest they can get".

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1 points acerbusalius

Please just anything but the cursed 8/9 game.

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1 points dukecityvigilante

The first four matchup with UCLA and Donovan Dent is so juicy

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1 points thebreye

East is the region of blue bloods damn

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1 points MetalMercury

Multi-bid A10; this is not a drill! I repeat: the A10 might be back!

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1 points Eggszecutor

As a Nebraska fan, I'm not even looking at the region, just who they have us against in round 1. Get that first win!

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1 points huskyferretguy1

UConn-Kansas rematch in Elite 8 will be fun!

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1 points Scared-Tank7923
how does a team like Villanova, who is not even ranked in the top 25 in either poll get a 6 seed? I feel like i am talking about the discrepancy between the two sources we use to rank teams (AP + Coaches Polls) vs the ones we allow to select the tournament of the champions.

To be clear, i am not talking about why villanova does/does not deserve a 6 seed. I am hoping someone can help explain the discrepancy for me though

Other examples:

Florida (4 vs 19/20)

Utah State (7 vs 23/24)

Bama over UNC - Neither rankings agrees

Seton Hall

Arkansas

St. John's

Again, not my point to point out single teams but when i look at that list its like the teams with the 'names' get an advantage over some of the other ones.

Any insights?
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1 points SinCityRaidersLV

Oklahoma state really needs a big win. I want them in so bad.

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1 points Kaladin_Depressed

We seem to keep getting overlooked

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1 points thebreye

Feels like the Big East is getting more respect than I would have thought. Villanova as a 6 feels a little high maybe? 4 teams in and Creighton being very close so possibly 5 teams in seems way higher than what the discourse all season would lead you to believe.

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1 points kingofthesqueal

Teams are being bracketed based on today’s quadrant wins. The BE teams will probably all take a bit of the dive as the B12, B1G, SEC, and ACC top half teams all load up on Q1/Q2 wins.

There’s only 6 teams in the BE that are Q1 road games and only 3 that are Q1 home games.

Take the ACC who has the lowest average NET of the P4, and they have 14 teams that are Q1 road games and 6 Q1 home games.

The BE makes up a little bit of it with the double round robin, but it’s still gonna be a mountain to climb when a team like Nova will probably only have 7 Q1 games in BE play total and will have 5 chance to take a Q3 loss.

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-1 points Enough_Worth8868

Would love to see an Indiana vs Kentucky rematch for the 11 seed. I think Indiana would win on a neutral floor.

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-4 points ExamPersonal7504

Utah State as a 7 seed for hardly anything noteworthy on their resume is laughable at best. Wake me when they beat someone of note outside of UT.

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