Kansas is new No. 1 seed and Kentucky rejoins tournament field in latest Bracketology

Our updated attempt at bracketology has good news for the Big 12 and SEC, with some not so good news for the Pac-12.

As always, it should be borne in mind that the season is not over, and the official bracket will inevitably look different. But as matters stand heading into the weekend, Kansas has played its way up to a No. 1 seed, along with Alabama, Houston and Purdue. The Boilermakers, however, are slipping with a loss at Maryland on Thursday their third in four games.

Kansas replaces UCLA on the top line thanks to its high volume of Quad 1  wins. The Jayhawks have 12 such victories, three more than the next team in the field. That’s the benefit of playing in the Big 12, of course, but it also means every game risks giving someone else one of those top-tier results, like theire next opponent. Baylor, currently projected as a No. 2 seed, could usurp the Jayhawks’ place on the first line with a win in Lawrence on Saturday. 

BIG 12 CLASH: Kansas-Baylor showdown leads five best games of weekend

STRONG WORDS: Izzo delivers powerful address at Michigan State vigil

LOW TIDE: No. 11 Tennessee hands No. 1 Alabama its first SEC loss

Meanwhile, Kentucky is back in the field, giving the SEC eight teams in the Big Dance to match the Big 12 and Big Ten. That change also came at the expense of the Pac-12, as USC slips into the dreaded first four out section.

Last four in

North Carolina, Memphis, Mississippi State, Clemson.

First four out

Southern California, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Penn State.

Next four out

Oregon, Seton Hall, New Mexico, Utah State..

Conference breakdown

Multi-bid conferences: Big 12 (8), Big Ten (8), SEC (8),  ACC (7), Big East (5), Mountain West (3), American Athletic (2), Pac-12 (2), West Coast (2).