Bracketology Update: ASU in NCAA Tournament projections for ESPN, CBS

Arizona State's NCAA Tournament resume received a huge boost when they defeated the UCLA Bruins by 18 points on Saturday. The Sun Devils sport an RPI of 58 and a Strength of Schedule of 95, and a 16-4 record.

Bracketologists across the nation have taken notice of the Sun Devils, and Herb Sendek's team is now projected to be in the NCAA Tournament by both Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm.

Palm, CBS Sports' resident bracketology expert, placed ASU in the West regional as an 11 seed, facing off against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round. According to Palm, the Sun Devils are comfortably in the tournament, as they are not in the "last four teams in" category.

Lunardi, ESPN's famed prognosticator, thinks ASU's position is a bit more precarious, and has projected the Sun Devils will play the Temple Owls in First Four action in Dayton. The winner of the ASU/Temple matchup would earn a 12 seed in the East regional and would take on Minnesota, a 5 seed.

Finally, Chris Dobbertean of SB Nation has the Sun Devils in the First Four, facing off against St. Mary's for the 11 seed in the West. Whoever wins that game would challenge UNLV in the secound round.

At 16-4, we've projected that ASU needs to win 24 games to comfortably make the NCAA Tournament. With 11 games to play (and at least one conference tournament game), this goal is a reasonable one. With a strong effort down the stretch and big performances from Jordan Bachynski and Evan Gordon, the Sun Devils should go dancing in March.