First Round: SOUTH (Houston) RegionInsider Story

Bracketology
Note: Teams in CAPS indicate conference leader at time
of most recent bracket projection.

1 SYRACUSE vs. Opening-round Game
Buffalo
 
TeamRecord (Conf.)RPISOSLast 12
SYRACUSE23-1 (10-1)21511-1
LIPSCOMB12-11 (10-5)2002628-4
JACKSON ST11-11 (10-1)25032211-1
SYRACUSE
The Orange did what UConn, Notre Dame and South Florida could not: win (and win big) at Cincinnati. Syracuse and Kansas continue to emerge as the nation's two best teams.

Seed Report:
S-Curve history: 39 (Nov. 9), 3 (Dec. 15), 7 (Jan. 4), 4 (Jan. 11), 4 (Jan. 18), 3 (Jan. 25) 2 (Feb. 1), 2 (Feb. 8).

Bracket Bytes:
Odds for No. 1 seed: 70 percent.

Good Wins
RPI 1-25: N-California, @West Virginia, Georgetown
RPI 26-50: Cornell, N-Florida, South Florida

Bad Losses
RPI 101-200: none
RPI 201+: none
Opening-round Game: LIPSCOMB
The Bisons are tied with crosstown rival Belmont in the Atlantic Sun. Lipscomb's season sweep of the Bruins puts them in the bracket with hopes of the school's first-ever NCAA bid.

Opening-round Game: JACKSON ST
The Tigers continue to roll through the SWAC, posting a comfortable victory over Southern U. to reach 10-1 in league play. Jackson State leads Arkansas-Pine Bluff by two full games in the standings.



Looking for Texas vs. PACIFIC?
Only ESPN Insiders get access to the in-depth matchup breakdowns, like the 1 vs. 16 game below, that explain each week's projected bracket.
Check out the Insider benefits or login if you are already an Insider.



Joe Lunardi and his team of Bracketologists have provided detailed team reports for each of the 65 teams in this week's bracket. Lunardi & Co. update Bracketology every Wednesday, exclusively for ESPN Insider. It is not available anywhere else throughout the season. Get it every day, only on Insider!
Already an Insider? Sign in above.