USA TODAY Sports bracketology: Michigan inches closer to safety zone – USA TODAY

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Gonzaga will spend another week atop the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll.
USA TODAY Sports

The biggest game from a bracketing standpoint on Thursday saw Michigan pick up a really solid rèsumè-boost in defeating Wisconsin. The Wolverines shot up a whole two seeds — from No. 9 to No. 11 — with that win. Meanwhile, the Badgers stay at the No. 6 line while further proving the selection committee right in omitting them from a top-four seed in last week’s initial rankings.

Even though top player Bronson Koenig was out for the Badgers, numbers-wise that’s exactly what the Wolverines needed as they’re now looking rather safe for an at-large bid. That’s something that couldn’t be said last week around this time.

Also consider the fact that several teams pretty much had their at-large hopes completely dashed this week. The bubble is shrinking quickly.

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

► Last four in: Tennessee, Clemson, Georgetown, Georgia Tech

► First four out: Miami, Kansas State, Wake Forest, Providence

► Others considered for at-large bids (in no particular order): Vanderbilt, Marquette, Indiana, Wichita State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Illinois, Alabama, Houston, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas Tech

► On life support: Pittsburgh, Iowa, Auburn, Rhode Island

► No longer considered: UConn, Texas, UTA, Charleston, New Mexico, Boise State, LaSalle, Davidson, Chattanooga, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Joseph’s, BYU, Oklahoma, Charleston, Nebraska, Temple, North Carolina State, Stanford, Nevada, Texas A&M, Memphis, Utah

► Multi-bid conferences: ACC (10), Big Ten (7), Big 12 (6), Big East (6), Pac-12 (5), SEC (5), A-10 (2), AAC (2), WCC (2).

MORE COLLEGE HOOPS

Conference Leaders

► Or highest RPI from projected one-bid conferences – (23 total): Vermont (America East), Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun), Weber State (Big Sky), UNC-Asheville (Big South), UC Davis (Big West), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), Middle Tennessee State (Conference USA), Valparaiso (Horizon), Yale (Ivy League), Monmouth (MAAC), Akron (MAC), N.C. Central (MEAC), Illinois State (Missouri Valley), Nevada (Mountain West), Mount Saint Mary’s (Northeast), Belmont (Ohio Valley), Bucknell (Patriot), Furman (Southern), New Orleans (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.

NCAA TOURNAMENT BUBBLE TEAMS

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