Bracket Math: Miami near 1-seed
Miami on verge of 1-seed; Kansas drops to 3-seed and other movement
This edition of Bracket Math includes games through Saturday, Feb. 9. Rankings reflect an up-to-date S-Curve from yours truly, posing as one hypothetical member of the NCAA men's basketball committee.
Notes on the "new" math:
" The best seat in the house for Sunday's action belongs to the Miami Hurricanes. Everyone's favorite "under the radar" team is no longer that, sitting at No. 5 on the S-Curve and just waiting for someone ahead of them to fall. With No. 1 Duke (at Boston College) and No. 7 Arizona (versus Cal) still to play Sunday, it seems likely the Hurricanes get their wish and move up to the top line between now and Tuesday's full bracket.
" There is equal if not greater intrigue at the cut line on Sunday. Illinois (at Minnesota) and St. John's (at Syracuse) are as vulnerable as ever, with the winner of the ACC clash between Virginia and Maryland looking -- and likely -- to move up. Arizona State, a loser at home to Stanford on Saturday, could also return to the field if things break its way.
" Most impactful Monday games: Marquette at Georgetown (for both), Norfolk State (versus Maryland-Eastern Shore), Southern U. (at Mississippi Valley State), Kansas State at Kansas (both).
" Most impactful Tuesday games: Valparaiso (at Wright State), Kentucky at Florida (both), Virginia (versus Virginia Tech), Stony Brook (versus Binghamton), Indiana State (at Missouri State), Villanova (at Cincinnati), Michigan at Michigan State (both).
The Bracket
This is where I believe 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 read about why Miami is on the verge of a No.1 seed, and to see how the latest S-curve breaks down, sign up for ESPN Insider today.
-
ESPN The Magazine subscribers
-
Need more information?
- Resident college basketball bracketologist for ESPN
- Contributor to SportsCenter, ESPN Insider
- Published first public bracket in 1995
SPONSORED HEADLINES
MORE MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL HEADLINES
- Report: Coach K considering Team USA return
- Washington's Wilcox undergoes foot surgery
- Ex-coach Alford, New Mexico agree on buyout
- Kansas St. adds former Hoyas forward Bolden
MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM
Insider CBB content

LATEST CONTENT ![]()
Freshman Impact
• Greenberg/Finkelstein: Memphis Tigers
• Gasaway/Rankin: Florida Gators
• Greenberg/Telep: Kentucky Wildcats
• Gasaway/Finkelstein: Louisville Cardinals
• Gasaway/Finkelstein: Syracuse Orange
• Greenberg/Biancardi: NC State Wolfpack
• Biancardi/Gasaway: Duke Blue Devils
• Biancardi/Gasaway: North Carolina Tar Heels
• Biancardi/Gasaway: Arizona Wildcats
• Greenberg/Telep: UCLA Bruins
Expert Takes
• Lunardi: Could Louisville repeat as champs?
• Greenberg: UVA tops list of surprise teams
• Fraschilla: How returning stars can improve
• Gasaway: Top title challengers to Kentucky
• Lunardi: Who will earn No. 1 seeds in 2014?
• Fraschilla: How top recruits can improve
• Pomeroy: Next season's All-American teams
• Gasaway: Top freshmen for 2012-13
• Bilas: Kentucky tops 2013-14 rankings
RecruitingNation
• Rankin: What Wiggins means for Kansas
• Biancardi: KU to prep Wiggins for NBA success
• Telep: Updated look at top recruits
• Roundtable: Most impressive on AAU circuit?
• Recruiting: Top battles for elite prospects
• Finkelstein: Minnesota's new approach
• Biancardi: Class of 2013 Dream Team
• Roundtable: Bold predictions for 2013 classes
• Rankin: Top 5 sleeper recruiting classes
NBA draft
• Fraschilla: Burke the draft's top point guard?
• Ford: Measurements concern some GMs
• Ford: Why Wiggins would go No. 1 in 2013
• Ford: Mock Draft 2.0
• Ford: McCollum among top sleeper prospects
• Fraschilla: The case for taking Len over Noel
• Ford: An early look at the 2014 NBA draft
• Ford: Ranking the top 30 NBA draft prospects
• Ford: Who's in, who's out of draft?
ESSENTIAL LINKS ![]()
Jay Bilas Blog
Jay's take on latest from around the nation
Experts Blog
Analysis from Fraschilla, Greenberg and Lunardi
Rumor Central
Get news and rumblings before anyone
Hollinger's College PER
College basketball's top players
PickCenter
Get wagering advice for every game
- Insider: How will two freshmen help Florida?
- Insider: Will Kentucky live up to the hype?
- Insider: Memphis a top-15 team in '13-14?
- Ford: Why Wiggins would go No. 1 in NBA draft
- Recruiting: Most impressive on AAU circuit?

