Bracketologists say Wichita State is on the brink of moving up a seed line

According to bracketologists, Wichita State is on the verge of moving up a seed line going into the final week of the regular season.

In the 110 bracket projections tracked by BracketMatrix.com, WSU’s seed average comes out to be the 13th-lowest in the country — or the first No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament — with a matchup looming against No. 10 Cincinnati on Senior Day at Koch Arena on Sunday morning.

No. 11 WSU (23-5, 13-3 American) can win at least a share of the American Athletic Conference regular season championship this week with wins at Central Florida (17-11, 8-8) on Thursday and against Cincinnati (25-4, 14-2) on Sunday.

WSU leads the country in Quadrant 2 wins with its 10-2 record and its 13 combined Quadrant 1 and 2 wins is tied for the third-most in the country. The Shockers are 3-2 in Quadrant 1 games.

WSU is ranked No. 13 in RPI, No. 17 in Ken Pomeroy, No. 21 in Torvik Rank, No. 12 in Sagarin, and No. 11 in ESPN’s BPI.

Here are how a handful of prominent bracketologists project Wichita State in their NCAA Tournament fields.

The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel (Feb. 27)

WSU seed: No. 4 in East region in Boise against No. 13 Vermont.

Would play: Winner between No. 5 Rhode Island/No. 12 Loyola-Chicago.

Higher seeds: Villanova (1), North Carolina (2), Tennessee (3).

AAC teams in: 3. Cincinnati, Wichita State, Houston.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi (Feb. 26)

WSU seed: No. 3 in East region in Dallas against No. 14 Bucknell.

Would play: Winner between No. 6 Michigan/No. 11 Providence.

Higher seeds: Villanova (1), Duke (2).

AAC teams in: 3. Cincinnati, Wichita State, Houston.

SB Nation (Feb. 27)

WSU seed: No. 4 in Midwest region in San Diego against No. 13 Louisiana-Lafayette.

Would play: Winner between No. 5 Clemson/No. 12 Loyola-Chicago.

Higher seeds: Xavier (1), Purdue (2), Tennessee (3).

AAC teams in: 3. Cincinnati, Wichita State, Houston.

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm (Feb. 27)

WSU seed: No. 4 in East region in Boise against No. 13 Murray State.

Would play: Winner between No. 5 Kentucky/No. 12 Loyola-Chicago.

Higher seeds: Villanova (1), North Carolina (2), Purdue (3).

AAC teams in: 3. Cincinnati, Wichita State, Houston.

Yahoo Sports’ Brad Evans (Feb. 25)

WSU seed: No. 5

Would play: N/A.

Higher seeds: N/A.

AAC teams in: 3. Cincinnati, Wichita State, Houston.

Bracketville (Feb. 26)

WSU seed: No. 3 in Midwest region in Dallas against No. 14 UNC-Greensboro.

Would play: Winner between No. 6 Arkansas/No. 11 Saint Mary’s.

Higher seeds: Kansas (1), Duke (2).

AAC teams in: 3. Cincinnati, Wichita State, Houston.

This story was originally published February 27, 2018 at 3:50 PM with the headline "Bracketologists say Wichita State is on the brink of moving up a seed line."