NCAA Mens Tournament Bracket Revealed
NCAA Mens Tournament Bracket Revealed: The NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket was officially unveiled on Sunday, with Auburn securing the No. 1 overall seed and leading the South region. Duke, Houston, and Florida also earned No. 1 seeds in their respective regions, setting the stage for an exciting March Madness.
Duke claimed the top spot in the East, Houston in the Midwest, and Florida in the West after defeating Tennessee in the SEC championship game. Meanwhile, Tennessee, Michigan State, Alabama, and St. John’s were awarded No. 2 seeds.
On the bubble, North Carolina and Texas managed to secure spots in the tournament, while Indiana was left out.
How Auburn Earned the No. 1 Overall Seed
Auburn’s journey to the top seed was built on a dominant regular season, during which the Tigers posted a 28-5 record while navigating the nation’s second-toughest schedule. Their resume included an SEC regular-season title, a feat that helped them edge out other top contenders.
Despite losing three of their last four games, including a tough SEC tournament semifinal loss to Tennessee, Auburn’s strong overall performance was enough to convince the selection committee. The Tigers played a crucial role in making the SEC the most represented conference in NCAA tournament history, with 14 teams earning bids.
Auburn narrowly surpassed Duke for the No. 1 overall seed. Duke, boasting a 31-3 record and a roster filled with NBA prospects, had beaten Auburn earlier in the season. The Blue Devils also dominated the ACC with a 19-1 record and secured the conference tournament championship. However, their strength of schedule ranked 57th played against them.
If Duke’s star player, Cooper Flagg, returns from an ankle injury, the Blue Devils could still be considered favorites to win it all. Nevertheless, the committee gave Auburn the edge due to its 16-5 record in Quad 1 games the most of any team in the country. Each of Auburn’s five losses came against highly seeded tournament teams, reinforcing their strong resume. Led by National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, Auburn is aiming to turn its No. 1 overall seed into the program’s first-ever national championship.
Breakdown of the Tournament Bracket
South Region
- No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama State/Saint Francis
- No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton
- No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego
- No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Yale
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 San Diego State/North Carolina
- No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Lipscomb
- No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico
- No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant
East Region
- No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 American/Mount St. Mary’s
- No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Baylor
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
- No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron
- No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 VCU
- No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana
- No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt
- No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Robert Morris
Midwest Region
- No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 SIU Edwardsville
- No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Georgia
- No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese
- No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point
- No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Texas/Xavier
- No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Troy
- No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah State
- No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford
West Region
- No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Norfolk State
- No. 8 UConn vs. No. 9 Oklahoma
- No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State
- No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon
- No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Drake
- No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 UNC Wilmington
- No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas
- No. 2 St. John’s vs. No. 15 Omaha
Conference Representation
The SEC led all conferences with a record-breaking 14 teams in the tournament, solidifying its dominance in college basketball this season. Other conference bids include:
- Big Ten: 8 teams
- Big 12: 7 teams
- Big East: 5 teams
- ACC: 4 teams
- MWC: 4 teams
- WCC: 2 teams
- Other Conferences: 1 team each
The Road to the Championship
With the tournament field now set, teams will begin their pursuit of a national championship. Auburn enters as the No. 1 overall seed but will face tough competition from other top teams like Duke, Houston, and Florida. Meanwhile, strong No. 2 seeds such as Tennessee, Alabama, and Michigan State could challenge for a deep tournament run.
Fans can expect thrilling matchups, Cinderella stories, and unforgettable moments as the action unfolds. The excitement of March Madness is here, and all eyes are on which team will cut down the nets and claim the national title.