Bracket Math: Early bubble picture

Welcome back to one of the most popular Bracketology features here at ESPN Insider. "Bracket Math" provides an up-to-the-minute assessment of the entire Division I men's basketball landscape. You'll know who we'd put in the bracket -- and why -- at any given point of the season.

"Bracket Math" will appear multiple times each week. And, of course, you can find it here daily (and more!) during the frenzy that is Championship Week.

We know you want bracket updates as often as possible. When that's not practical, "Bracket Math" will always tell you where your team stands in the NCAA tournament selection process.

This edition of "Bracket Math" includes games through Thursday, Jan. 31. Rankings reflect an up-to-date S-curve from yours truly, posing as one hypothetical member of the NCAA men's basketball committee.

The Bracket

This is where teams would fall if Selection Sunday were today. Remember, the S-Curve flows left-to-right, then right-to-left, then back again as you read down the chart. It gives you a look at which teams are locks, which teams still have work to do, which teams are primed to land automatic bids, and which teams are on the right and wrong side of the bubble. (Note: Teams in ALL CAPS are current conference leaders.)

To see how the S-curve breaks down and get an early glimpse of the bubble, sign up for ESPN Insider today.

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Joe Lunardi | email

Senior Writer, ESPN.com

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• Resident college basketball bracketologist for ESPN
• Contributor to SportsCenter, ESPN Insider
• Published first public bracket in 1995