As the new year dawns, Duke and Michigan State lead our trek toward Selection Sunday. Neither of those should come as a surprise. Arizona State and Oklahoma, on the other hand? That’s a different story. The Sun Devils and Sooners have put together impressive runs. ASU and OU anchor the West Region as its top two seeds.

The new year also means more frequent updates. Given what we’ve seen so far? It should be fun. On a quick housekeeping note, projected conference champions (for the bracket) reflect the current standings. Ties are broken by the RPI leader based on the loss column.

UPDATED: January 2, 2018

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS – Dayton (First Round)

Washington vs. Auburn | East Region

vs. East Region Boston College vs. Missouri | West Region

vs. West Region ROBER MORRIS vs. NC A&T | South Region

vs. South Region TX-SOUTHERN vs. SE LOUISIANA | Midwest Region

BRACKET PROJECTION

SOUTH – Atlanta MIDWEST – Omaha Charlotte Detroit 1) Duke 1) MICHIGAN STATE 16) ROBERT MORRIS / NC A&T 16) SE-LOUISIANA / TX-SOUTHERN 8) Florida 8) Texas 9) Butler 9) Syracuse Nashville Boise 5) ARKANSAS 5) Kentucky 12) WESTERN KENTUCKY 12) MISSOURI STATE 4) Seton Hall 4) TCU 13) FURMAN 13) LIPSCOMB Wichita San Diego 6) Cincinnati 6) Tennessee 11) Louisville 11) Baylor 3) Kansas 3) ARIZONA 14) BELMONT 14) UC-SANTA BARBARA Detroit Charlotte 7) Florida State 7) NEVADA 10) Alabama 10) Michigan 2) XAVIER 2) NORTH CAROLINA 15) NORTHERN KENTUCKY 15) RADFORD EAST – Boston WEST – Los Angeles Pittsburgh San Diego 1) Villanova 1) Arizona State 16) PRINCETON 16) BUCKNELL 8) St. Bonaventure 8) Notre Dame 9) SMU 9) Minnesota Dallas Boise 5) Virginia 5) Texas Tech 12) LOUISIANA 12) NEW MEXICO ST 4) Texas AM 4) GONZAGA 13) BUFFALO 13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST Nashville Dallas 6) Miami-FL 6) Creighton 11) Washington / Auburn 11) Boston College / Missouri 3) Purdue 3) WICHITA STATE 14) VERMONT 14) WILLIAM & MARY Pittsburgh Wichita 7) RHODE ISLAND 7) Clemson 10) Maryland 10) UCLA 2) WEST VIRGINIA 2) Oklahoma 15) CANISIUS 15) NORTHERN COLORADO

NOTES on the BRACKET: Duke is the No. 1 overall seed – followed by Michigan State, Arizona State, and Villanova.

Last Four Byes (at large): UCLA, Alabama, Louisville, Baylor

Last Four IN (at large): Auburn, Missouri, Boston College, Washington

First Four OUT (at large): Virginia Tech, Houston, Boise State, Oklahoma State

Next four teams OUT (at large): Ohio State, Georgia, Providence, Marquette

Breakdown by Conference …

ACC (10): NORTH CAROLINA, Duke, Virginia, Miami-FL, Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Louisville, Boston College

SEC (8): ARKANSAS, Texas AM, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Missouri

BIG 12 (7): WEST VIRGINIA, Oklahoma, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor

Big East (5): XAVIER, Villanova, Seton Hall, Creighton, Butler

Big 10 (5): MICHIGAN STATE, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland

Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA STATE, Arizona, UCLA, Washington

American (3): WICHITA STATE, Cincinnati, SMU

Atlantic 10 (2): RHODE ISLAND, St. Bonaventure

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Missouri State (MVC) Canisius (MAAC), Western Ketucky (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Princeton (IVY), Northern Colorado (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (HORIZON), SE Louisiana (SLND), Furman (STHN), UC-Santa Barbara (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), William & Mary (CAA), Radford (BSO), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Robert Morris (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)