Testudo Times Bracketology: Maryland basketball holds in NCAA Tournament projections

Maryland basketball’s win over No. 21 Iowa was big for more than just snapping an infamous streak. Not only did it give the Terps their first win over a ranked opponent on the road since 2008, it also all but locked up their NCAA Tournament bid.

Maryland is now 20-7 overall and 11-5 in the Big Ten, and comes in at No. 23 in the NET, No. 24 in BPI and No. 19 in KenPom, respectively. The Terps also have six Quadrant 1 wins, and every eligible team that had 20 wins overall and six Quadrant 1 wins made the tournament last year. At this point, the only way Maryland doesn’t make the tournament is if it gets blown out in every game to end the season.

No bracketologist has updated their bracket since Maryland’s win over Iowa on Tuesday night, but not much has changed. The Terps are still a No. 6 seed, the same seed line they’ve been locked into the past few weeks. In my bracket this week, I have Maryland in Tulsa taking on No. 11-seed Ole Miss, with the winner taking on the winner of No. 3-seed Houston and No. 14 Texas State for a shot at a trip to Anaheim for the Sweet Sixteen.

Maryland hosts Ohio State Saturday in a game that’s meaningful for both teams. For the Terps, it’s a chance to get closer to wrapping up a double bye for the Big Ten tournament. For the Buckeyes, it’s a chance to get a signature win on their NCAA Tournament resume and keep their distance from the bubble. Next week, Maryland has a chance to pick up two quadrant one wins when it travels to Penn State and host No. 7 Michigan.

I posted my bracket below, and as usual, the regions reflect the Final Four pairings. This means Duke would play Kentucky and Virginia would play Gonzaga in the Final Four. Feel free to post any questions in the comments, and I’ll try to answer them as best I can.

East (Washington, D.C.)

Columbia
(1) Duke (ACC) vs. (16) Prarie View (SWAC)/Norfolk State (MEAC)
(8) Wofford (Southern) vs. (9) St. John’s

Salt Lake City
(4) Texas Tech vs. (13) Yale (Ivy)
(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) New Mexico St. (WAC)

Hartford
(3) Marquette (Big East) vs. (14) Northern Kentucky (Horizon)
(6) Virginia Tech vs. (11) Florida/Butler

Des Moines
(2) Michigan vs. (15) Montana (Big Sky)
(7) Auburn vs. (10) Syracuse

Midwest (Kansas City)

Columbus
(1) Kentucky vs. (16) St. Francis PA (NEC)/Canisius (MAAC)
(8) Buffalo vs. (9) NC State

San Jose
(4) Iowa State vs. (13) Hofstra (CAA)
(5) Florida State vs. (12) Alabama/UCF

Hartford
(3) Purdue vs. (14) Old Dominion (Conference USA)
(6) Kansas State (Big 12) vs. (11) VCU (Atlantic 10)

Columbus
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Loyola-Chicago (Missouri Valley)
(7) Iowa vs. (10) Seton Hall

South (Louisville)

Columbia
(1) Virginia vs. (16) Bucknell (Patriot)
(8) Texas vs. (9) Ohio State

San Jose
(4) Nevada (Mountain West) vs. (13) Vermont (America East)
(5) Villanova vs. (12) Liberty (Atlantic Sun)

Tulsa
(3) Kansas vs. (14) South Dakota State (Summit)
(6) Mississippi State vs. (11) TCU

Jacksonville
(2) Tennessee (SEC) vs. (15) Radford (Big South)
(7) Baylor vs. (10) Minnesota

West (Anaheim)

Salt Lake City
(1) Gonzaga (WCC) vs. (16) Sam Houston State (Southland)
(8) Washington (Pac-12) vs. (9) Oklahoma

Jacksonville
(4) LSU vs. (13) Bowling Green (MAC)
(5) Louisville vs. (12) Belmont (Ohio Valley)

Tulsa
(3) Houston (AAC) vs. (14) Texas State (Sun Belt)
(6) MARYLAND vs. (11) Ole Miss

Des Moines

(2) Michigan State (Big Ten) vs. (15) UC Irvine (Big West)
(7) Cincinnati vs. (10) Arizona State

Last Four Byes: Minnesota, Arizona State, Ole Miss, TCU

Last Four In: Florida, Butler, Alabama, UCF

First Four Out: Clemson, Temple, Lipscomb, Nebraska

Next Four Out: Indiana, Furman, Utah State, Arkansas