Updated to March 9, March Madness Preview
We are officially in the “Week of Champions,” with the road to the Final Four in Indianapolis
right in front of us. With Selection Sunday being just six days away, the stakes have never been
higher.
Key Dates
March 15th – when the 68 team field will be revealed.
- March 9: Conference tournament finals for the SoCon and Sun Belt.
- March 10-11: Finals for the Horizon League, Big Sky, and Patriot League.
- Selection Sunday: March 15..
- First Four: March 17-18 (Dayton, Ohio).
- First & Second Rounds: March 19-22.
- Final Four & National Championship: April 4 & 6 (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis).
The Race for No. 1 Seeds
As of early March, four teams have separated themselves as the favorites for the top line of the
bracket. Kansas and Houston have remained dominant throughout the Big 12 gauntlet, while
UConn continues to look like a powerhouse in the Big East. In the SEC, Alabama and Tennessee
are locked in a fierce battle for conference supremacy, with the Crimson Tide currently projected
as a strong contender for a top-two seed thanks to one of the most explosive offenses in the
nation.
March 9: UConn, previously a lock for a #1 seed, suffered a 68-62 loss to Marquette on Sunday –
a game that saw head coach Dan Hurley ejected in the final seconds. This has opened the door
for Florida to potentially claim the final #1 seed alongside Duke, Arizona, and Houston.
Meanwhile, Kansas and Purdue remain in the hunt depending on their performance in the Big 12
and Big Ten tournaments starting this week.
Automatic Bids and Conference Tournaments
The first wave of punched tickets is already underway as mid major conferences wrap up their
tournaments.
- Stetson (ASUN) and Morehead State (OVC) were among the first to secure their spots in
the field. - High Point (Big South) and Oakland (Horizon League) are currently the favorites to win
their respective tournaments today and tomorrow.
For the “Power Six” conferences, (the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, SEC, and Pac 12) the
real chaos starts this week. These tournaments will not only decide automatic bids but will also
be the final chance for bubble teams to improve their resumes.
- In a historic run, Queens University of Charlotte (21-13) secured its first ever NCAA
Tournament birth by defeating Central Arkansas 98-93 in overtime on Sunday. - Tennessee State punched their ticket on Saturday with a 93-67 win over Morehead State.
- High Point justified their favorite status, beating Winthrop 91-76 yesterday to secure their
spot. - The biggest shock came in St. Louis, where Northern Iowa became the lowest seed (No.
6) to ever win the tournament, winning four games in four days to steal a bid
Teams Under Pressure
The “Last Four In” projections are currently a moving target. Teams like Michigan State,
Villanova, and Texas find themselves on shaky ground. For these programs, a deep run in their
conference tournaments is likely a requirement to avoid being relegated to NIT (not in
tournament). Meanwhile, keep an eye on St. John’s and Memphis, both of whom have shown the
ability to beat top tier opponents but have lacked the consistency needed to feel safe on Selection
Sunday.
My Storylines to Watch
- The Quest for a Repeat: Can UConn maintain its historic momentum?
- The Big 12’s Depth: With the possibility of 10 or more teams making the field, the Big
12 continues to prove why it’s pulling to be the better conference in college basketball. - Offenses: Programs like Alabama and Arizona are pushing the pace
- How big will the push for Auburn to make it be?
- Florida has moved from a projected #3 seed to a potential #1 seed in just two weeks.
With only a few days left until the bracket is set, the pressure is at an all time high. Every
possession counts as teams fight for their chance to play under those bright lights in Indianapolis.
