Bracketology 3/17/19: Selection Sunday

Data uses games played through Mar. 16

What a crazy Saturday. From a controversial no-call at the end of the Auburn-Florida game to Tennessee pulling out a nailbiter against Kentucky, and Villanova narrowly avoiding another overtime game to win the Big East Championship, it was a day full of action which saw 14 teams grab auto-bids.

One of those was Oregon, aka the final bid thief of 2019. It’s been a tough year for bubble teams, as we’ve seen Saint Mary’s, Murray State (if Belmont gets in), the eventual Atlantic 10 champ, and now Oregon continue to chip into the at-large spots. This means now even Temple is on the outside looking in.

I was lucky enough to be at the Merrill Center for the Southland Conference Championship, where Abilene Christian booked their first ticket to March Madness in school history.

The final six conference championship games will take place today, immediately followed by my final bracket update just before the Selection Show. It’s been a fun ride, and we’ll know the field of 68 soon enough.

Final update: This evening

For additional data and previous brackets.