Preseason bracketology: SEC and Big 12 get a dozen total teams in early field

SB Nation unveiled its preseason version of bracketology on Thursday, and Chris Dobbertean has 12 total teams, six apiece, from the SEC and Big 12 projected to go dancing in the 68-team NCAA tournament field in March.

In the Big 12, the predicted qualifiers include Oklahoma, West Virginia, Kansas, Baylor, Kansas State and Texas. Their projected seedings are the Longhorns at the seventh seed in the South region; the Wildcats in the sixth seed in the West region; the Bears slotted in the ninth spot in the South; the second seed in the Midwest region went to the Jayhawks; the Mountaineers claimed the 11th seed in the East, and the Sooners nabbed the 12th seed in the Midwest.

Additionally, Iowa State was listed in the "Next Four Out" category.

The SEC features the defending national champion Kentucky Wildcats, along with five other schools, projected to get bids to March Madness.

While Kentucky got the No. 1 seed in the East, the Missouri Tigers were placed into the fifth seed in the Midwest. Also in the Midwest are the Tennessee Volunteers, who got the seventh seed in the region. The Florida Gators have the fourth seed in the West, and the Alabama Crimson Tide got the 11th seed in the South.

The Arkansas Razorbacks, as a 12-seed, were included in the projected tournament's First Four as one of the "Last Four In," where they are paired with St. Joseph's.