USA TODAY Sports’ bracketology: Kansas proves it’s the top No. 1 seed – USA TODAY

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Gonzaga takes over the top spot in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll
USA TODAY Sports

In a battle between two projected No. 1 seeds, Kansas outdueled Baylor to punctuate its status as the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Undefeated Gonzaga might claim the top spot in the polls, but it’s the Jayhawks who have the most impressive tourney résumé. Credit a good chunk of that to these last two victories — Saturday on the road at Kentucky and Wednesday night vs. their top Big 12 challenger.

Baylor easily stays as a No. 1 seed after the loss, and considering both these teams lead the country in RPI, it might take a really ugly loss or skid in February to set them off.

Kansas’ continued success also can’t do anything but help bubble team Indiana, which collected a must-win against Penn State in three overtimes. The Hoosiers’ remaining schedule is not easy and they need wins to stay on the right side of the bubble. Syracuse, last year’s bubble-turned-Final Four team, has moved up quite a bit in recent weeks, topping North Carolina State in OT on Wednesday; now the Orange find themselves on the “first four out” list. That win, combined with so many others losing, puts them there.

► No. 1 seeds: Kansas, Villanova, Baylor, Gonzaga

► Last four in: Michigan, Georgetown, Iowa State, California

►  First four out: Seton Hall, Wake Forest, Rhode Island, Syracuse

► Others considered for at-large bids (in no particular order): Illinois, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Kansas State, Providence, Nebraska, Stanford, Wichita State, Texas A&M, Houston, Memphis, Ohio State, Iowa, Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, Miami, Charleston, Temple, Georgia, Utah, North Carolina State

► No longer considered: UConn, Texas, Texas-Arlington, Charleston, New Mexico, Boise State, LaSalle, Davidson, Chattanooga, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Joseph’s, BYU, Oklahoma.

►  Multi-bid conferences: ACC (9), Big Ten (8), Big East (6), Big 12 (6), Pac-12 (5), SEC (5), A-10 (2), AAC (2), WCC (2).

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Conference Leaders

►  Or highest RPI from projected one-bid conferences – (23 total): Vermont (America East), Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun), Weber State (Big Sky), Winthrop (Big South), UC Irvine (Big West), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), Middle Tennessee State (Conference USA), Valparaiso (Horizon), Yale (Ivy League), Monmouth (MAAC), Akron (MAC), NC Central (MEAC), Illinois State (Missouri Valley), Nevada (Mountain West), Mount Saint Mary’s (Northeast), Belmont (Ohio Valley), Bucknell (Patriot), East Tennessee State (Southern), Sam Houston (Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC), North Dakota State (Summit), Arkansas State (Sun Belt), New Mexico State (WAC).

• Banned from participating: Hawaii, Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State, Savannah State, Northern Colorado
• Transition Schools, ineligible for the tourney: Abilene Christian (Southland), Grand Canyon (WAC), Incarnate Word (Southland), Massachusetts-Lowell (American East)    

***

Note: All RPI and statistical data is used from WarrenNolan.com.

About our bracketologist: Shelby Mast has been projecting the field since 2005 and has finished as one of the top 5 national bracketologists for his website, Bracket W.A.G. He’s predicted for The Indianapolis Star, collegeinsider.com and is an inaugural member of the Super 10 Selection Committee. Follow him on Twitter @BracketWag.

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