Bracketology update: Kansas plummets, Texas rises

Well, it was quite a weekend — on the court, on social media and here at Hoops HQ. Besides some big-time clashes between highly-ranked teams (especially Auburn’s impressive win at Alabama and Houston knocking off Arizona in Tuscon), we were treated to lots of bracket and tourney talk. The selection committee revealed its top 16 seeds, which unsurprisingly was very heavy on SEC teams. (Just wait til people find out this league is going to get 13 or 14 teams into the real bracket in four weeks!) There was also an extended conversation about whether the tournament should expand.

I won’t say that I launched the conversation, but I was very much of a part of it. On Saturday, for the first time, I shared my conclusion right here on Hoops HQ that I believed it is time for the tournament to expand. I specifically said it didn’t need to expand, but I made the case that adding a few more teams would make it better and reported what was happening behind the scenes. Little did I know that ESPN’s Gameday was going to devote an entire segment to the topic, led by Pete Thamel’s reporting along those same lines, indicating that the topic of expansion was being explored but was not yet finalized. That sent the social media conversation ablaze.

Needless to say, I was in the minority on wanting the tourney to expand. Actually, it felt more like an island. Which is okay, because I know that people love this tournament and are ultra resistant to seeing it changed in any way. Because of the deep interest and importance of this topic, we are making my column on expansion free for everyone. Please give it a read. And if you’re not yet a subscriber, I hope you’ll consider paying for Hoops HQ, which is currently 68% off — one percent for every team in the tournament (for now) — or just $19.19 for a full year. It’s our lowest-ever price and this is the most-exciting time of the year, so it’s the perfect time to join our squad.

We’ve got plenty of other great stories packed into today’s email and lots more to come as March Madness draws nigh. Have a great President’s Day, and thanks as always for your support of Hoops HQ. —Seth

Bracketology Latest: Kansas in Freefall, Texas On the Rise and Time's Running Out for Arkansas

By Brad Wachtel

The NCAA Selection Committee unveiled its top 16 teams on Saturday and I don’t have any issues with their end result. While committee members change from year to year, all we ask for is consistency and transparency. New metrics are put in front of the committee every couple of years, but much of the seeding and selection determination boils down to who you beat, and where you beat them.

We witnessed a ton of great action this weekend. A big story was how teams at the top of the bracket performed on the road. Some great wins included Auburn winning at Alabama, Houston over Arizona, Wisconsin at Purdue and Michigan State upending Illinois. We also saw some costly defeats as UConn lost to Seton Hall in overtime and Oklahoma fell to 3-9 in the SEC after inexplicably dropping one to LSU.

The Selection Committee provided us with some answers on Saturday, but this is college basketball and things change quickly! As a result, the top 16 teams no longer look like they did on Saturday. Here’s the latest….

Between the Lines

🏀 The Son Also Rises: Much like his father, Rick, has turned things around at St. John’s, Richard Pitino has rebuilt New Mexico into a force in the Mountain West. Hoops HQ's Alex Squadron gets up-close and personal with the Lobos coach.

🏀 Has Villanova done enough to make the Tournament? Our Inside the Big East column answers that question, and many more, as it reveals the latest intel, news and notes from around the conference.

🏀 JuJu Watkins and USC are on fire. Ohio State and Maryland are in freefall. Find out which teams and players are trending up and which are trending down in our Women's Stock Report.

Duke @ Notre Dame: Led by the superstar duo of Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, the Fighting Irish have won 17 straight games, including five over ranked opponents. They have a chance to make a big statement on Monday night, especially after the nation's No. 1 team, UCLA, lost to USC last week. With a balanced attack and excellent depth, Duke is one of the toughest squads in the ACC. Freshman Toby Fournier averages a team-high 13.5 points and 5.3 rebounds off the bench. 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.