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ClutchPoints’ Bracketology: Predicting the 2026 NCAA Tournament field after Feast Week
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- ClutchPoints’ Bracketology: Predicting the 2026 NCAA Tournament field after Feast Week
The post ClutchPoints' Bracketology: Predicting the 2026 NCAA Tournament field after Feast Week appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The college basketball season is in full swing! Feast Week brought a whole lot of great basketball, and even more discourse about the crowds at the Players Era Festival.
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Fan discourse aside, Las Vegas was the center of the college basketball world leading up to Thanksgiving, and it was the Michigan Wolverines that made a statement . Dusty May's squad ran through the tournament straight to the $1 million prize, crushing San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga (who was also very impressive) by a combined 110 points (!!!) to win the tournament.
Elsewhere, Florida faltered in San Diego and is facing some serious questions about its backcourt while Vanderbilt quietly tore through the Battle 4 Atlantis with a couple of scintillating offensive performances. Outside of the tournament scene, UConn picked up a big win over Illinois and Duke took down Arkansas behind a monster game from Cam Boozer .
How does all of that shake out in the first bracket of the season?
Bold = Automatic qualifier
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Note – Without conference games underway, the AQ for each conference is awarded to the highest-rated team from each league according to KenPom.
Midwest Region
1. Michigan 16. Tennessee State/Long Island
8. Baylor9. Clemson
5. Kentucky 12. Akron
4. BYU 13. Hawai'i
6. Indiana11. SMU/Creighton
3. Alabama 14. Liberty
7. LSU 10. Utah State
2. Arizona 15. Colgate
South Region
1. Purdue 16. North Dakota State
8. Missouri9. NC State
5. North Carolina 12. Belmont
4. Florida 13. UNC Wilmington
6. Arkansas11. Virginia/Kansas State
3. Louisville 14. East Tennessee State
7. St. Mary's10. Nebraska
2. Houston 15. Northern Colorado
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East Region
1. Duke 16. Vermont
8. USC9. Oklahoma State
5. St. John's 12. Yale
4. Vanderbilt 13. Utah Valley
6. Auburn 11. VCU
3. Michigan State 14. Troy
7. Texas Tech10. Wisconsin
2. UConn 15. Lipscomb
West Region
1. Gonzaga 16. Southern/Norfolk State
8. UCLA9. Georgia
5. Kansas 12. McNeese
4. Illinois 13. High Point
6. Iowa 11. Memphis
3. Tennessee 14. Oakland
7. Ohio State10. Texas
2. Iowa State 15. Marist
Bubble Watch
Last Four Byes: Oklahoma State, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas
Last Four In: SMU, Virginia, Creighton, Kansas State
First Four Out: Villanova, Colorado, Santa Clara, St. Louis
Next Four Out: Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, UCF
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Multi-bid leagues
SEC – 11
Big Ten – 11
Big 12 – 9
ACC – 7
Big East – 3
WCC – 2
Games of the Week
Tuesday, Dec. 2 – Florida at Duke
Tuesday, Dec. 2 – UConn at Kansas
Tuesday, Dec. 2 – North Carolina at Kentucky
Tuesday, Dec. 2 – Iowa at Michigan State
Wednesday, Dec. 3 – Louisville at Arkansas
Friday, Dec. 5 – Gonzaga at Kentucky
Saturday, Dec. 6 – Iowa State at Purdue
Saturday, Dec. 6 – Duke at Michigan State
Saturday, Dec. 6 -Louisville vs. Indiana (in Indianapolis)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – Illinois vs. Tennessee (in Nashville)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – Auburn at Arizona
Related: St. John's Rick Pitino blasts CFB schedule with perfect CBB analogy amid Lane Kiffin drama
