USA TODAY Sports Bracketology: Syracuse shoots up as wild night shakes up field

Shelby Mast

Special for USA TODAY Sports

This time of year, it takes a lot to move up or back a seed or two in bracketology projections.

Syracuse Orange guard John Gillon (4) takes the game winning shot in the final moments of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome. The Orange won 78-75.

Unless you beat Duke, as Syracuse did at the buzzer Wednesday night. Or unless you beat Villanova for a second consecutive time, as Butler did. And in Maryland and Minnesota's case in a battle between two No. 6 seeds, each changed a position after the Gophers' victory — seeing Minnesota move to No. 5 and the Terrapins fall to No. 7.

But back to that buzzer-beating win for the Orange, who let's not forget stormed all the way to the Final Four last season. Syracuse was sitting rather uncomfortably as one of the last fourin before its huge win against Duke. They went from No. 11 to No. 9. That's in large part to an overall solid body of work, and also the bubble getting completely shaken up from perhaps college basketball's most wild night of the season — as five teams moved into the field of 68 and five teams moved out. March is almost here, obviously.

► No. 1 seeds: Villanova, Kansas, Gonzaga, North Carolina

► Last four in: Vanderbilt, Wichita State, Providence, California

► First four out: Clemson, Illinois, Tennessee, TCU

Moving in: East Tennessee State, Nevada, Providence, Wichita State, Vanderbilt

Moving out: Furman, Boise State, Tennessee, TCU, Kansas State

► Others considered for at-large bids (in no particular order): Wake Forest, Kansas State, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh

► On life support: Rhode Island, Houston, Ohio State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Penn State, Georgetown, Indiana

► No longer considered: UConn, Texas, Charleston, New Mexico, Boise State, LaSalle, Davidson, Chattanooga, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, BYU, Oklahoma, Charleston, Nebraska, Temple, North Carolina State, Stanford, Nevada, Texas A&M, Memphis, Utah, Iowa, Auburn, Texas Tech

MORE COLLEGE HOOPS

No. 22 Butler knocks off No. 2 Villanova for second time this season

Kansas clinches at least a share of 13th Big 12 title in a row

► Multi-bid conferences: ACC (9), Big Ten (7), Big East (7), Big 12 (5) Pac-12 (5), SEC (5), A-10 (2), AAC (2), MVC (2), WCC (2).

Conference Leaders

► Or highest RPI from projected one-bid conferences - (23 total): Vermont (America East), Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun), North Dakota (Big Sky), UNC-Asheville (Big South), UC Irvine (Big West), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), Middle Tennessee State (Conference USA), Valparaiso (Horizon), Yale (Ivy League), Monmouth (MAAC), Akron (MAC), N.C. Central (MEAC), Illinois State (Missouri Valley), Nevada (Mountain West), Mount Saint Mary's (Northeast), Belmont (Ohio Valley), Bucknell (Patriot), East Tennessee State (Southern), New Orleans (Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC), North Dakota State (Summit), Texas-Arlington (Sun Belt), New Mexico State (WAC).

Banned from participating: Hawaii, Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State, Savannah State, Northern Colorado
Transition Schools, ineligible for the tourney: Abilene Christian (Southland), Grand Canyon (WAC), Incarnate Word (Southland), Massachusetts-Lowell (American East)

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Note: All RPI and statistical data is used from WarrenNolan.com.

About our bracketologist: Shelby Mast has been projecting the field since 2005 and has finished as one of the top 5 national bracketologists for his website, Bracket W.A.G. He’s predicted for The Indianapolis Star, collegeinsider.com and is an inaugural member of the Super 10 Selection Committee. Follow him on Twitter @BracketWag.

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