NCAA tournament bracket revealed on Selection Sunday

Erick Smith | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption NCAA tournament 2018: Snubs, surprises from bracket reveal SportsPulse: Trysta Krick runs through surprises, snubs and other highlights from Selection Sunday as March Madness officially begins.

Here is a rundown of the NCAA tournament Selection Show:

7 p.m.: Now we can start talking about the games themselves.

Region strength 1-16 probably goes Midwest, West, South and East.

Villanova clearly has the easiest path to the Final Four of the No. 1 seeds which is a surprise since Virginia is the No. 1 overall seed. Wildcats will probably get their hardest test from the Sweet 16 (Wichita State or West Virginia).

There appears to be some major games in the second round if we avoid upsets. Really would look forward to Kentucky-Arizona and Wichita State-West Virginia.

Worried about teams like Alabama, Providence and Davidson that had long, emotional conference tournament runs. Can they bounce back quickly? We will see.

You always look for 5-12 upsets. New Mexico State against Clemson wouldn't be a surprise at all, nor would South Dakota State taking down Ohio State.

Now on to the games!

THE BRACKET: See the NCAA tournament field of 68 unveiled

6:50 p.m.: Talking about Oklahoma, which didn't even get put in the First Four, committee chair Bruce Rasmussen said that the Sooners had enough quality wins early in the season to make the field despite losing eight of their last 10 games.

The committee does not use current for as a criteria, which seems illogical because how the teams are playing now is more significant than November. But that is how the field gets made.

6:44 p.m.: Notre Dame was the team knocked out by Davidson's last-second win against Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 final, according to the committee chair Bruce Rasmussen. Hard pill for the Irish to swallow.

He said there wasn't enough on the Irish's resume to justify a selection.

Syracuse was considered the last team in. That makes sense. Interesting to see if the Orange, who really lack a strong resume, can somehow justify that selection.

Explaining omission of Saint Mary's, it was cited the Gaels had 24 of 28 wins against the bottom two quadrants, so despite the win against Gonzaga it was not enough.

BRACKETOLOGY: Projecting the NCAA tournament field of 68

SWEATING IT OUT: 10 teams on the bubble for Selection Sunday

BUBBLE WATCH: Winners and losers from championship weekend

6:42 p.m.: The last region is the West

No. 1 Xavier vs. No. 16 North Carolina Central/Texas Southern

No. 8 Missouri vs. No. 9 Florida State

No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 South Dakota State

No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 13 UNC-Greensboro

No. 6 Houston vs. No. 13 San Diego State

No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 14 Montana

No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Providence

No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Lipscomb

This looks like it will give the Midwest as the most-difficult region. Xavier, Gonzaga, Michigan and North Carolina all have potential to reach Final Four. If those four teams all reach the Sweet 16, it will two great matchups.

South Dakota State is a danger team for Ohio State in the first round. Will be interesting if Michael Porter Jr. can make an impact for Missouri against Florida State. If he gets back in rhythm, the Tigers could give a challenge to Xavier.

6:37 p.m.: The Midwest is next

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Pennsylvania

No. 8 Seton Hall vs. No. 9 North Carolina State

No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 New Mexico State

No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 13 College of Charleston

No. 6 TCU vs. No. 11 Arizona State/Syracuse

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 Bucknell

No. 7 Rhode Island vs. No. 10 Oklahoma

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Iona

This looks like maybe the toughest region of them all. Kansas, Duke and Michigan State as the top three seeds. Those are three of the Conference of Champions event that takes place every November.

A potential Hurley brother showdown could happen if each ready the Sweet 16. At a minimum, Danny Hurley and Rhode Island could face his brother's alma mater in the second round.

6:30 p.m.: On to the East region.

No. 1 Villanova vs. No. 16 LIU Brooklyn/Radford

No. 8 Virginia Tech vs. No. 9 Alabama

No. 5 West Virginia vs. No. 12 Murray State

No. 4 Wichita State vs. No. 13 Marshall

No. 6 Florida vs. No. 11 St. Bonaventure/UCLA

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. Stephen F. Austin

No. 7 Arkansas vs. No. 10 Butler

No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Cal State Fullerton

This bracket sets up well for Villanova if it can get past the Sweet 16. West Virginia and Wichita State loom in a potential second-round showdown, but the Mountaineers and Shockers have tricky opening games.

6:26 p.m.: They're starting with the South region.

No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 16 Maryland Baltimore County

No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Kansas State

No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 12 Davidson

No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Buffalo

No. 6 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 11 Loyola (Ill.)

No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Wright State

No. 7 Nevada vs. No. 10 Texas

No. 2 Cincinnati vs. No. 15 Georgia State

A huge potential second-round game between Arizona and Kentucky. Winner will be a big test for Virginia. Loyola could be dangerous team in bottom half.

For the overall No. 1 seed, Virginia did not get a easy road, but the lower half isn't super strong. If seeds hold, Virginia and Cincinnati would be a major defensive showdown. First team to 40 wins.

6:20 p.m.: Here are the top four seeds:

Virginia in the South. Villanova in the East. Kansas in the Midwest. Xavier in the West.

Not a surprise.

6:15 p.m.: Also out is Southern California, which made the Pac-12 tournament final last night. Some surprises on the bubble for sure.

Looking forward to the committee's explanation on these calls. The new quadrant system is still work in progress. Arizona State and Syracuse in are the two odd inclusions. Saint Mary's and Southern California being left out is confusing.

6:14 p.m.: Syracuse is in. Big surprise there as the Orange did not have a great resume.

Out is Saint Mary's, which finished No. 23 in the final USA TODAY Sports men's poll.

6:13 p.m.: No Notre Dame at-large despite the return of Bonzie Colson late in the season.

Middle Tennessee also not in the mix.

However, Oklahoma and freshman guard Trae Young is in the field. While Oklahoma State, which beat the Sooners and Kansas twice, did not get in.

6:12 p.m.: They're on the M's and that means Louisville is not in the field. Cardinals likely missed field because of their narrow loss to Virginia that they gave away a late lead.

6:10 p.m.: First major bubble news: Arizona State is in the tournament. The Sun Devils slumped late but get in on strength of early wins, including one against Kansas.

Alabama is also in. Tide are the first 15-loss team to get at-large berth after run in SEC tournament.

Baylor did not make the field as they run teams down alphabetically.

6:07 p.m.: They're still reading off the 32 automatic qualifiers. No news yet. And, yes, this new format is terrible.

6 p.m.: It's official 6 p.m. ET and the selection show has started. They will start revealing the automatic entries.

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Four months after the start of the college basketball season, the day everyone has waited for is here. Selection Sunday ends all the jockeying for positions and turns the focus to the NCAA tournament bracket reveal.

The selection committee will release the field of 68 starting at 6 p.m. ET. This year, the process will be different with all the teams being announced followed by the seeding of those schools in the four respective regions.

Stay tuned for live for the unveiling with news and analysis as teams see their dreams come true and bubble burst, plus the inevitable debate about seeds and which teams have the more difficult and easier paths to the Final Four in San Antonio.