Bracketology: Indiana Moves Down; Blue Bloods on the Bubble

On the latest Bracketology by ESPN's Joe Lunardi, Indiana moved down to a No. 5 seed, and a pair of blue blood programs highlight a potential matchup in the First Four.

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We're 23 days away from Selection Sunday for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

In Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology on ESPN, released on Friday morning, Indiana received a No. 5 seed.

The Hoosiers were projected to be a No. 4 seed earlier in the week, but they dropped a line after losing 64-62 at Northwestern on Wednesday. In this bracket, Indiana would head to Orlando, Fla. to play No. 12 seed Drake, a 22-6 team from the Missouri Valley Conference, in the Round of 64. 

With a win, the Hoosiers would face the winner of No. 4 seed Miami (FL) versus Utah Valley. Miami is ranked No. 15 in this week's AP poll, one spot behind Indiana, and has won five games in a row to move into third place in the ACC. Utah Valley is currently in first place in the Western Athletic Conference at 20-6.

Here's the full south region, with Alabama earning the No. 1 overall seed. 

Indiana is projected to be a No. 5 seed in Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology on ESPN

Lunardi projects the Big Ten to send nine teams to the NCAA Tournament, the most of any conference. Despite losses in three of its last four games, Purdue is still tabbed as a No. 1 seed. Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern received No. 6 seeds, with Maryland and Michigan State close behind as No. 7 seeds and Rutgers as No. 8 seed. 

The First Four round in Dayton, Ohio features a few intriguing matchups. Blue blood programs Kentucky and North Carolina landed on the No. 11 seed line, along with Wisconsin and Clemson. Kentucky is currently tied for fourth in the SEC with a 17-9 record overall and an 8-5 mark in conference play. North Carolina is 16-10 overall and 8-7 in the ACC, good for ninth place. 

On the bubble, Lunardi listed Nevada, Boise State, Memphis and West Virigina as the "last four byes," and Kentucky, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Clemson as the "last four in." Just outside the field of 68, Mississippi State, USC, Oregon and Charleston are the "first four out," and New Mexico, Seton Hall, Utah State and Wake Forest are the "next four out."

For the full bracket, CLICK HERE. 

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