The NCAA men’s tournament picture has come into focus with just five games remaining before the selection committee’s official reveal of the 68-team field for March Madness on Selection Sunday.
After months of weekly updates, our bracket is looking flawless.
The final USA TODAY Sports final Bracketology begins with No. 1 seeds Duke, Auburn, Florida and Houston. The Blue Devils are the tournament’s top overall seed after defeating Louisville in the ACC tournament championship game without star Cooper Flagg.
That sends Duke to the East Region with the start of its journey to the Final Four in Raleigh, North Carolina. Auburn will be in the South, Houston tops the Midwest and Florida is out West.
On the No. 2 line are Tennessee, Alabama, St. John’s and Michigan State. The Red Storm climbed one spot after winning the Big East tournament and will be opposite the Blue Devils in the East. Rounding out the top four lines are No. 3 seeds Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Texas A&M and No. 4 seeds Iowa State, Maryland, Purdue and Arizona.
Two-time defending national champion Connecticut is a No. 8 seed after losing to Creighton in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
The bubble situation remains fluid and could be impacted by Alabama-Birmingham beating Memphis in the American Athletic championship game Sunday. That would send the Blazers into the field and knock out one of the last four teams, likely San Diego State or Texas.
Among the high-profile teams to miss our bracket are North Carolina and Xavier.
UNC’s bubble burst with a 74-71 loss to Duke in the ACC tournament semifinals. In the end, the Tar Heels are crippled by a dismal 1-12 record against Quad 1 competition. Another factor was the general weakness of the ACC, which has just three teams in our field. Like the Tar Heels, the Musketeers are undone by going 1-9 against Quad 1 teams.
Bracketology: NCAA Tournament field projection
Teams in bold have clinched berths
Last four in
Vanderbilt, Indiana, San Diego State, Texas.
First four out
Boise State, Xavier, North Carolina, Ohio State.
NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: SEC (14), Big Ten (9), Big 12 (8), Big East (4), ACC (3), Mountain West (4), West Coast (2).
