NCAA Projections: Championship week edition for Hawkeyes, Cyclones, Panthers

In six days, all the daily NCAA tournament mock brackets (like this one) will land in their rightful resting place: the scrap heap of sports history. But until we all sit and watch CBS unveil the real bracket next Sunday, we're left with people trying to figure out where teams will travel next week.

Northern Iowa finished its season with a fourth Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. The Panthers (30-3) make a strong case for a three or four seed in the NCAA tournament. If Iowa State at least equals its Big 12 Tournament seed (second), Iowa State also looks like a possible NCAA three seed. With six consecutive wins, Iowa has worked itself in the range of a six or seven seed.

Also, there's plenty of discussion that the top overall seed (Kentucky) could end up with the best possible No. 2 seed (Wisconsin) because of the schools' proximity to regional site Cleveland. However, if Wisconsin wins the Big Ten Tournament, it should jump past either Duke or Virginia - one of which will lose in the ACC Tournament - as a No. 1 seed.

Here's a glance at where teams could land when the NCAA tournament is unveiled:

CLEVELAND REGION

1. Kentucky vs. 16. North Florida-Texas Southern winner, Louisville, Ky.

8. Ohio State vs. 9. Providence, Louisville, Ky.

4. Louisville vs. Louisiana Tech, Jacksonville, Fla.

5. West Virginia vs. 12. Wofford, Jacksonville, Fla.

3. Iowa State vs. 14. North Carolina Central, Omaha, Neb.

6. SMU vs. 11. VCU, Omaha, Neb.

2. Gonzaga vs. 15. Eastern Washington, Seattle

7. Oregon vs. 10. St. John's, Seattle

HOUSTON REGION

1. Duke vs. 16. Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, N.C.

8. Davidson vs. 9. Texas, Charlotte, N.C.

4. Utah vs. 13. UC-Davis, Portland, Ore.

5. Wichita State vs. 12. Buffalo, Portland, Ore.

3. Maryland vs. 14. William & Mary, Pittsburgh

6. Georgetown vs. 11. Ole Miss, Pittsburgh

2. Kansas vs. 15. South Dakota State, Omaha, Neb.

7. Iowa vs. 10. Temple, Omaha, Neb.

LOS ANGELES REGION

1. Wisconsin vs. 16. St. Francis (N.Y.)-Albany, Columbus, Ohio

8. Dayton vs. 9. Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio

4. Baylor vs. 13. Yale, Jackonville, Fla.

5. North Carolina vs. 12. Iona, Jacksonville, Fla.

3. Notre Dame vs. 14. Valparaiso, Columbus, Ohio

6. Butler vs. 11. Indiana-LSU winner, Columbus, Ohio

2. Arizona vs. 15. New Mexico State, Portland, Ore.

7. San Diego State vs. 10. BYU, Portland, Ore.

SYRACUSE REGION

1. Villanova vs. 16. Bucknell, Pittsburgh

8. Purdue vs. 9. N.C. State, Pittsburgh

4. Oklahoma vs. 13. Stephen F. Austin, Seattle

5. Arkansas vs. 12. UCLA-Colorado State winner, Seattle

3. Northern Iowa vvs. 14. Georgia State, Louisville, Ky.

6. Michigan State vs. 11. Oklahoma State, Louisville, Ky.

2. Virginia vs. 15. Belmont, Charlotte, N.C.

7. Georgia vs. 10. Xavier, Charlotte, N.C.

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