NCAA Tournament Bracket Announced: Auburn Secures No. 1 Overall Seed
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday, with Auburn claiming the No. 1 overall seed in the South Region. Joining Auburn as top seeds are Duke in the East, Houston in the Midwest, and Florida in the West, following their victory over Tennessee in the SEC Championship game. Tennessee, Michigan State, Alabama, and St. John’s earned No. 2 seeds.
North Carolina and Texas managed to secure spots in the tournament, while Indiana was left out.
Auburn’s Path to the No. 1 Overall Seed
Auburn secured the tournament’s top seed after finishing with a 28-5 record and winning the SEC regular season, despite playing the nation’s second-toughest schedule. The Tigers stumbled late in the season, dropping three of their last four games, including a loss to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament semifinals. However, the NCAA Selection Committee focused on Auburn’s overall resume, which featured the most Quad 1 wins (16-5) and victories against highly ranked opponents.
Duke, which finished 31-3 and dominated the ACC with a 19-1 record en route to the conference title, was a strong contender for the No. 1 overall seed. The Blue Devils also handed Auburn a defeat earlier in the season. However, Duke’s strength of schedule (ranked 57th) in a down ACC ultimately led to their placement as the No. 1 seed in the East Region.
With National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome leading the charge, Auburn will aim to turn its top seed into the program’s first NCAA championship.
South Region Matchups
- No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama State/Saint Francis (Lexington, Thursday, 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS)
- No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton (Lexington, Thursday, 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
- No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego (Denver, Thursday, 10 p.m. ET, TBS)
- No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Yale (Denver, Thursday, 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS)
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 San Diego State/North Carolina (Milwaukee, Friday, 4:05 p.m. ET, TNT)
- No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Lipscomb (Milwaukee, Friday, 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico (Cleveland, Friday, 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS)
- No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant (Cleveland, Friday, 10 p.m. ET, TBS)
East Region Matchups
- No. 1 Duke vs. American/No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s (Raleigh, Friday, 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS)
- No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Baylor (Raleigh, Friday, 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty (Seattle, Friday, 10:10 p.m. ET, TruTV)
- No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron (Seattle, Friday, 7:35 p.m. ET, TruTV)
- No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 VCU (Denver, Thursday, 4:05 p.m. ET, TNT)
- No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana (Denver, Thursday, 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt (Cleveland, Friday, 3:15 p.m. ET, TruTV)
- No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Robert Morris (Cleveland, Friday, 12:40 p.m. ET, TruTV)
Midwest Region Matchups
- No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 SIU Edwardsville (Wichita, Thursday, 2 p.m. ET, TBS)
- No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Georgia (Wichita, Thursday, 4:35 p.m. ET, TBS)
- No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese (Providence, Thursday, 3:15 p.m. ET, TruTV)
- No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point (Providence, Thursday, 12:40 p.m. ET, TruTV)
- No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Texas/Xavier (Milwaukee, Friday, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS)
- No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Troy (Milwaukee, Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS)
- No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah State (Lexington, Thursday, 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT)
- No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford (Lexington, Thursday, 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT)
West Region Matchups
- No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Norfolk State (Raleigh, Friday, 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT)
- No. 8 UConn vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (Raleigh, Friday, 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT)
- No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State (Seattle, Friday, 2 p.m. ET, TBS)
- No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon (Seattle, Friday, 4:35 p.m. ET, TBS)
- No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Drake (Wichita, Thursday, 7:35 p.m. ET, TruTV)
- No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 UNC Wilmington (Wichita, Thursday, 10:10 p.m. ET, TruTV)
- No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas (Providence, Thursday, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS)
- No. 2 St. John’s vs. No. 15 Omaha (Providence, Thursday, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS)
With the bracket officially set, teams will prepare for a thrilling March Madness tournament as they battle for a chance to cut down the nets.