Yes, it is. There are conference tournaments under way across the country. Rutgers has won two games in Madison Square Garden — something the Scarlet Knights rarely did when they played there back in their Big East.
In just a few short days, we’ll have a handful of teams locked into the bracket, with the first bid going to the winner of the Ohio Valley title game on Saturday.
But, for now, let’s take one last look at the bracket before we gear up for true championship week, and the inevitable chaos that will ensue.
Ed. Note: all-caps denote a current conference leader.
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SOUTH REGIONAL | Atlanta, Ga.
(Charlotte, N.C.)
No. 1 VIRGINIA (27-2, 16-1 ACC)
No. 16 NICHOLLS STATE (21-9, 15-2 Southland) / No. 16 GRAMBLING (16-14, 12-5 SWAC)
No. 8 Seton Hall (20-10, 9-8 Big East)
No. 9 Arkansas (21-9, 10-7 SEC)
(San Diego, Calif.)
No. 5 NEVADA (26-5, 15-2 Mountain West)
No. 12 VERMONT (25-6, 15-1 America East)
No. 4 Texas Tech (22-8, 10-7 Big 12)
No. 13 LOYOLA-CHICAGO (25-5, 15-3 Missouri Valley)
(Nashville, Tenn.)
No. 6 Michigan (25-7, 13-5 Big Ten)
No. 11 MIDDLE TENNESSEE (24-5, 16-1 Conference USA)
No. 3 AUBURN (24-6, 12-5 SEC)
No. 14 BUCKNELL (23-9, 16-2 Patriot)
(Detroit, Mich.)
No. 7 Creighton (21-9, 10-7 Big East)
No. 10 St. Bonaventure (23-6, 13-4 Atlantic 10)
No. 2 MICHIGAN STATE (28-3, 16-2 Big Ten)
No. 15 CHARLESTON (23-7, 14-4 Colonial)
EAST REGIONAL | Boston, Mass.
(Pittsburgh, Pa.)
No. 1 Villanova (26-4, 13-4 Big East)
No. 16 MONTANA (22-7, 15-2 Big Sky)
No. 8 Florida State (19-10, 8-9 ACC)
No. 9 Houston (23-6, 13-4 American)
(Boise, Idaho)
No. 5 Kentucky (21-9, 10-7 SEC)
No. 12 BUFFALO (22-8, 14-3 MAC)
No. 4 Clemson (22-7, 11-6 ACC)
No. 13 NEW MEXICO STATE (24-5, 11-2 WAC)
(Wichita, Kan.)
No. 6 Texas A&M (19-11, 8-9 SEC)
No. 11 Louisville (19-11, 9-8 ACC)
No. 3 CINCINNATI (26-4, 15-2 American)
No. 14 NORTHERN KENTUCKY (22-8, 15-3 Horizon)
(Charlotte, N.C.)
No. 7 Michigan (25-7, 13-5 Big Ten)
No. 10 Alabama (17-13, 8-9 SEC)
No. 2 Duke (24-6, 12-5 ACC)
No. 15 UC DAVIS (20-9, 11-4 Big West)
MIDWEST REGIONAL | Omaha, Neb.
(Pittsburgh, Pa.)
No. 1 XAVIER (26-4, 14-3 Big East)
No. 16 FLORIDA GULF COAST (23-10, 12-2 Atlantic Sun) / No. 16 BETHUNE-COOKMAN (18-13, 12-4 Mid-Eastern)
No. 8 Saint Mary’s (27-4, 16-2 West Coast)
No. 9 NC State (20-10, 10-7 ACC)
(Dallas, Tex.
No. 5 West Virginia (22-8, 11-6 Big 12)
No. 12 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (26-4, 16-1 Sun Belt
No. 4 Ohio State (24-7, 15-3 Big Ten)
No. 13 RIDER (22-8, 15-3 Metro Atlantic)
(Dallas, Tex.)
No. 6 Florida (19-11, 10-7 SEC)
No. 11 Kansas State (20-10, 9-8 Big 12)
No. 3 Wichita State (24-5, 14-3 American)
No. 14 UNC GREENSBORO (24-7, 15-3 Southern)
(Detroit, Mich.)
No. 7 Butler (19-11, 9-8 Big East)
No. 10 Virginia Tech (21-9, 10-7 ACC)
No. 2 Purdue (26-5, 15-3 Big Ten)
No. 15 PENNSYLVANIA (21-7, 11-1 Ivy)
WEST REGIONAL | Los Angeles, Calif.
(Wichita, Kan.)
No. 1 KANSAS (24-6, 13-4 Big 12)
No. 16 UNC ASHEVILLE (21-11, 13-5 Big South)
No. 8 Florida State (19-10, 8-9 ACC)
No. 9 Arizona State (20-9, 8-9 Pac-12)
(Boise, Idaho)
No. 5 GONZAGA (27-4, 17-1 West Coast)
No. 12 Texas (17-13, 7-10 Big 12) / No. 12 Southern California (21-9, 12-5 Pac-12)
No. 4 Tennessee (22-7, 12-5 SEC)
No. 13 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (25-6, 13-1 Summit)
(San Diego, Calif.)
No. 6 RHODE ISLAND (23-5, 15-2 Atlantic 10)
No. 11 Providence (18-12, 9-8 Big East) / No. 11 Baylor (18-12, 8-9 Big 12)
No. 3 ARIZONA (23-7, 13-4 Pac-12)
No. 14 MURRAY STATE (24-5, 16-2 Ohio Valley)
(Nashville, Tenn.)
No. 7 Missouri (19-11, 9-8 SEC)
No. 10 Oklahoma (17-12, 7-10 Big 12)
No. 2 North Carolina (22-8, 11-6 ACC)
No. 15 WAGNER (22-8, 14-4 Northeast)
And here’s a look at the bubble:
Last Four Byes
Virginia Tech
Oklahoma
Louisville
Kansas State
Last Four In
Providence
Baylor
Texas
USC
First Four Out
Washington
Syracuse
UCLA
Boise State
Next Four Out
Nebraska
Temple
Penn State
Marquette
Sideline Intel 