Updated Mar 10, 2009 12:31 PM ET
The 1 and 2 seed lines in the latest projected NCAA tournament bracket? They could need some revamping after the final weekend of conference action.
Two current projected No. 1 seeds, Pitt (East/Boston) and Connecticut (Midwest/Indianapolis), hook up in a mega Big East clash in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The winner could be on the road to the No. 1 overall seed; the loser could slip to the 2 line if it doesn't get to the Big East tourney final in Madison Square Garden.
North Carolina, another team with designs on the No. 1 overall seed, plays host to Duke Sunday in Chapel Hill.
If the Tar Heels make it 2-0 vs. the Blue Devils in regular-season play (they won in Durham by 14 points last month), they become favorites for the "overall No. 1" on March 15.
Should the Blue Devils leave the Smith Center with the W, Mike Krzyzewski's crew — with a trip to the ACC tourney final a week later — could find itself on the "1 line" on Selection Sunday.
Maryland, Penn State, New Mexico and Rhode Island moved into this week's projected field — in large part because of the way Arizona (four consecutive losses in the Pac 10), Kentucky (four losses in its past five SEC games, including one to Georgia in Lexington) and Florida (three SEC losses in a row) are back-peddling to the conference finish line.
The Wildcats and Gators hook up in Gainesville on Saturday. "Must win" is written all over that baby, for both clubs.
Brackets are updated through games of
March 5.
| Boston region |
| Seed |
Team |
Comment |
| at Philadelphia |
| 1 |
 Pittsburgh |
No. 1 overall seed at stake vs. UConn Saturday |
| 16 |
 Morgan State |
The Bears have won 10 of past 11 |
| 8 |
 Oklahoma State |
Cowboys the hottest team in Big 12 |
| 9 |
 Davidson |
BCS conference members losses this week helped Wildcats' at-large hopes |
| at Boise |
| 5 |
 UCLA |
Bruins seem on right tourney track |
| 12 |
 Rhode Island |
Rams' jump shooters could challenge Bruins' defense |
| 4 |
 Florida State |
Seminoles need an ACC tourney win or two for this seed |
| 13 |
 American |
Holy Cross the last team to knock 'em off |
| at Portland |
| 3 |
 Wake Forest |
Huge win at Maryland solidified this seed |
| 14 |
 Binghamton |
Vermont the biggest tourney roadblock |
| 6 |
 Purdue |
Can help its seed with win at Michigan State |
| 11 |
 UNLV |
Needs a win at SDSU on Saturday |
| at Minnesota |
| 7 |
 Syracuse |
Jim Boeheim's perimeter attack something for foes to fear |
| 10 |
 Wisconsin |
Can't afford Sunday slipup vs. Hoosiers |
| 2 |
 Memphis |
Need considerable help to move into a No. 1 seed |
| 15 |
 Cornell |
Will struggle vs. Memphis quickness and "length" |
| Phoenix region |
| Seed |
Team |
Comment |
| at Kansas City |
| 1 |
 Oklahoma |
May need Big 12 tourney win over Kansas to secure this |
| 16 |
 Radford |
Radford facing VMI in Friday finale |
| 8 |
 BYU |
The Cougars are humming along quite nicely! |
| 9 |
 Dayton |
Go ahead and say "Creighton-Dayton" real fast |
| at Portland |
| 5 |
 Marquette |
Its seed has been slipping since loss of James |
| 12 |
 Maryland |
A loss at Virginia Saturday would be beyond disastrous |
| 4 |
 Washington |
Huskies can win Pac 10 outright Saturday vs. school from other side of state |
| 13 |
 Western Kentucky |
Should breeze by Florida International on Sunday . . . or else! |
| at Boise |
| 3 |
 Missouri |
The win over Oklahoma definitely got our attention |
| 14 |
 S. F. Austin |
As a reminder: The Southland Conference has no Southern California members |
| 6 |
 West Virginia |
Mountaineers close with Louisville at home; it will be loud in the building |
| 11 |
 Penn State |
Fourth place in Big Ten gets a team in! |
| at Greensboro |
| 7 |
 Illinois |
Mike Davis one of the real "surprise" players in Big Ten or elsewhere |
| 10 |
 Saint Mary's |
A healthy Patrick Mills on Sunday night is all that is needed for this slot |
| 2 |
 Duke |
A spot on the 1 line is definitely still a doable goal for Blue Devils |
| 15 |
 Robert Morris |
Won Northeast race by three games |
| Memphis region |
| Seed |
Team |
Comment |
| at Greensboro |
| 1 |
 North Carolina |
Could play Duke on consecutive Sundays if all breaks well for both teams |
| 16 |
 Jacksonville |
39 years ago this program played UCLA in title game! |
| 8 |
 Creighton |
Dana Altman doing another dandy job |
| 9 |
 Texas |
This seed might be a little generous |
| at Minnesota |
| 5 |
 LSU |
Hard to punish Tigers too much for loss to Vandy |
| 12 |
 New Mexico |
Win over Utah nudges Lobos into this field |
| 4 |
 Xavier |
Another Elite Eight run not out of the 2009 question |
| 13 |
 VCU |
We think Eric Maynor is capable of leading a nice NCAA run |
| at Miami |
| 3 |
 Villanova |
Wildcats slapped Notre Dame and Providence around recently |
| 14 |
 Weber State |
Long awaited "all-Wildcats" clash |
| 6 |
 Gonzaga |
Bulldogs were rarely tested in WCC this season |
| 11 |
 South Carolina |
Gamecocks' quickness would present some interesting issues for Gonzaga |
| at Dayton |
| 7 |
 Butler |
Brad Stevens' name should be in all Coach of Year conversations |
| 10 |
 Siena |
This would certainly qualify as a "mid-major clash" |
| 2 |
 Michigan State |
Spartans' win at Illinois as impressive as any W they've collected this season |
| 15 |
 Buffalo |
One of four Mid-American teams to go 10-5 |
| Indianapolis region |
| Seed |
Team |
Comment |
| at Miami |
| 1 |
 Connecticut |
A win over Pittsburgh Saturday puts Huskies into the East |
| 16 |
 CS Northridge/
 Alabama State |
Go with the Matadors if this is the opening round matchup |
| 8 |
 Arizona State |
The Sun Devils are inexplicably skidding |
| 9 |
 Texas A&M |
Aggies clawing their way into Field of 65 |
| at Kansas City |
| 5 |
 Utah |
Can't treat Utes too harshly for losses in Provo and Albuquerque |
| 12 |
 Ohio State |
Buckeyes made it this time with no room to spare |
| 4 |
 Clemson |
Tigers need decent ACC tourney showing to keep this seed |
| 13 |
 Utah State |
Aggies can save a lot of March 15 nerves with WAC tourney title |
| at Dayton |
| 3 |
 Kansas |
If you think Jayhawks are suffering here for loss at Texas Tech, you are correct |
| 14 |
 North Dakota State |
Has two wins over second-best team (ORU) in Summit Conference |
| 6 |
 Cal |
Win in Tucson Thursday could help Pac 10 and NCAA seeds |
| 11 |
 Boston College |
Eagles have built enough of an at-large cushion to survive loss to NCSU |
| at Philadelphia |
| 7 |
 Tennessee |
Unless they are teasing us, Volunteers are picking perfect time to peak, right? |
| 10 |
 Minnesota |
Gophers can put a lock on a bid with Saturday win vs. Michigan |
| 2 |
 Louisville |
Rick's Guys always play well in March, or so it seems |
| 15 |
 Tennessee-Martin |
Lester Hudson vs. the Cardinals' defense would be sweet to watch |
The last schools in: New Mexico, Rhode Island, Ohio State, Maryland.
Waiting to get in: Temple, Michigan, Arizona, Kentucky.
