January 26th, Bracketology

Includes All Games Completed as of Thursday, January 25th

Note, this early in the season, trying to predict the low conference champions is a futile effort. Instead, I have listed the auto-bid conference champions in KenPom ranking order, with their KenPom rankings next to their name. This will be my primary ranking method for AQs for most of the season.

1. Purdue, Connecticut, Houston, North Carolina

2. Arizona, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Kansas

3. Marquette, Baylor, Auburn, Dayton

4. Creighton, San Diego State, Oklahoma, Illinois

5. BYU, Kentucky, Duke, Alabama

6. Colorado State, Clemson, Iowa State, Utah

7. Utah State, Memphis, Florida Atlantic, Texas A&M

8. Villanova, St. John’s, Texas Tech, Nebraska

9. Seton Hall, Northwestern, South Carolina, Boise State

10. TCU, Michigan State, Mississippi, Mississippi State

11. New Mexico, Nevada, Providence, St. Mary’s (CA), Grand Canyon

12. Texas, Cincinnati, Indiana State (44), Princeton (53), UC Irvine (71),

13. James Madison (74), Louisiana Tech (83), McNeese State (85), Samford (90)

14. Akron (92), Drexel, (100), Weber State (115), Vermont (118)

15. Morehead State (123), High Point (129), Youngstown State (132), St. Thomas (133)

16. Lipscomb (141), Colgate (167), Fairfield (182), Norfolk State (206), Merrimack (215), Southern (235)

Last Four In: Providence, St. Mary’s, Texas, Cincinnati

First Four Out: Colorado, Florida, Kansas State, Miami (FL)

Next Four Out: Wake Forest, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Washington State

Also Considered (in Kenpom Order, through 108): Xavier, SMU, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Drake, Butler, Virginia Tech, San Francisco, Virginia, Maryland, Pittsburgh, UCF, Georgia, North Texas, Washington, North Carolina State, Florida State, Bradley, USC, Appalachian St., Michigan, LSU, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Saint Josephs, Minnesota, Boston College, Stanford, Liberty, Indiana, Yale, VCU, Rutgers, Umass, George Mason, Northern Iowa, UNLV, Duquesne, Arizona State, UNC Wilmington, Arkansas, Penn State, UCLA