Selection Sunday is finally here.
The 2024 NCAA Tournament field has five automatic bids that will be decided Sunday, and that leaves room for more changes.
After Saturday, anything is possible. Three projected No. 1 seeds lost in their conference tournaments. Iowa State beat Houston 69-41 in the Big 12 championship. Wisconsin got a buzzer-beater by Chucky Hepburn to force overtime against Purdue and went on to win 76-75 in the Big Ten semifinals.
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Nothing topped the ACC tournament. NC State – the No. 10 seed – beat North Carolina 84-76 in an ACC championship stunner. The Wolfpack won five games in five days to advance to the tournament in a classic “Survive and Advance” story.
UConn likely will be the No. 1 overall seed. The Huskies beat Marquette 73-57 in the Big East championship and will draw the No. 1 overall seed as a result.
This year’s Final Four is April 6-8 at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix.
UConn, Houston, Purdue and North Carolina are our No. 1 seeds. Right now our last four in for the tournament are Colorado, Northwestern, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Our First Four Out are St. John’s, Pitt, Virginia and Seton Hall.
Who is our Field of 68? Here is a closer look:
+ – Clinched automatic bid
* – Projected automatic bid
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March Madness 2024 bracket predictions
No. 1 Seeds
+UConn (31-3, 18-2 Big East)
Resume: Net: 2, KenPom: 1. Danny Hurley has a team capable of repeating as national champions. Donovan Clingan had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Tristen Newton added 13 points and 10 assists in the Big East final against Marquette. This is the team to beat. The Huskies are 13-4 in Quad 1.
Houston (30-4, 15-3 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 1, KenPom: 2. Houston had an 11-game winning streak snapped in a 69-41 loss in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. J’wan Roberts (shin) was limited, and that will be a concern. The Cougars still are a strong No. 1 seed with a 16-4 record in Quad 1. Can Kelvin Sampson finally break through with a national championship run.
Purdue (29-4, 17-3 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 3, KenPom: 3. Sporting News Player of the Year Zach Edey scored 28 points with 11 rebounds, but the Boilermakers lost 76-75 to Wisconsin in the Big Ten semifinals Saturday. Purdue still will be a No. 1 seed under Matt Painter, but those tournament questions persist.
North Carolina (27-7, 17-3 ACC)
Resume: Net: 8, KenPom: 9. The Tar Heels lost 84-76 to NC State in the ACC championship, but North Carolina had a better weekend than the other candidates for a No. 1 seed. Look for the Tar Heels to hold on to this seed.
No. 2 Seeds
+Iowa State (27-7, 13-5 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 6, KenPom: 5. The Cyclones hammered Houston 69-41 in the Big 12 tournament championship in a stunning all-around performance. Freshman Milan Momcilovic scored 16 points and could be a X-factor in the tournament.
Tennessee (24-8, 14-4 SEC)
Resume: Net: 7, KenPom: 7. The Vols lost 73-56 to Mississippi State in SEC tournament quarterfinals, and that could cost Tennessee a No. 1 seed given the Tar Heels advanced to the ACC championship game. This will be Rick Barnes’ sixth tournament appearance with Tennessee. Will the Vols get past the Sweet 16?
Marquette (25-9, 14-6 Big East)
Resume: Net: 13, KenPom: 12. Marquette lost 73-57 to UConn in the Big East championship on Saturday. The Golden Eagles, however, still have more than enough on their resume to stick as a strong No. 2 seed. Will Tyler Kolek (oblique) be back for the NCAA Tournament?
Arizona (25-8, 15-5 Pac-12)
Resume: Net: 4, KenPom: 6. Arizona lost its bid for a No. 1 seed with a 67-59 loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 semifinals. The Wildcats lost two of their last three games and finished 15-7 in Quads 1-2.
No. 3 Seeds
Baylor (23-10, 11-7 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 14, KenPom: 14. Baylor will stick here after the loss to Iowa State, mainly because of a 10-9 record against Quad 1. The Bears played a tough schedule, and they are 12-1 in Quads 2-4.
Creighton (23-9, 14-6 Big East)
Resume: Net: 11, KenPom: 11. Creighton missed a chance to move up after losing 78-73 to Providence in the Big East quarterfinals. The Bluejays are a safe pick to stay on the No. 3 line despite the loss.
Duke (24-8, 15-5 ACC)
Resume: Net: 10, KenPom: 8. Duke is 5-4 in Quad 1, and they lost the regular-season finale to North Carolina. NC State knocked the Blue Devils out of the ACC tournament in a 74-69 upset. Duke likely will hold on to this line, but it will be close.
*Auburn (26-7, 13-5 SEC)
Resume: Net: 5, KenPom: 4. The Tigers have one of the strongest rankings combinations despite a 2-7 record in Quad 1. Auburn is in position to win the SEC tournament championship under Bruce Pearl, and a 73-66 victory against Mississippi State was the latest step toward that goal.
No. 4 seeds
+Illinois (25-8, 14-6 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 15, KenPom: 10. The Illini are 5-6 in Quad 1, and they move up a line after beating Nebraska 98-87 and advancing to the Big Ten tournament championship. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 40 points.
Kentucky (23-9, 13-5 SEC)
Resume: Net: 19, KenPom: 18. Too soon? The Wildcats averaged 99.4 points per game through a five-game winning streak to end the regular season, but a 97-87 loss to Texas A&M showed that inconsistency on the defensive side that could be costly in the tournament.
MORE: Why Kentucky will make our break your bracket
Alabama (21-11, 13-5 SEC)
Resume: Net: 9, KenPom: 13. The Crimson Tide have maintained top-12 Net and KenPom rankings despite a late-season slide where Alabama lost four of its last six games, and that included a 102-88 loss to Florida in the SEC quarterfinals.
Kansas (22-10, 10-8 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 20, KenPom: 22. The Jayhawks lost four of their last five games, and Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar Jr. missed the 72-52 loss to Cincinnati in the Big 12 tournament. Can Bill Self get this team back on track for the NCAA Tournament?
No. 5 seeds
BYU (23-10, 10-8 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 12, KenPom: 16. The Cougars beat UCF 87-73 in the Big 12 tournament on Thursday. This is a nice resume despite the 81-67 loss to Texas Tech on Thursday. BYU is 6-8 in Quad 1, a half-game ahead of the next Big 12 team on this line.
Texas Tech (23-10, 11-7 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 28, KenPom: 25. The Red Raiders have been streaky, but three straight regular-season victories to close a tough Big 12 schedule had them trending upward. The loss to Houston might drop them a line, but this is a true chaos team heading into the tournament.
South Carolina (26-7, 13-5 SEC)
Resume: Net: 51, KenPom: 49. South Carolina announced an extension with coach Lamont Paris, and the Gamecocks responded with a 80-66 victory against Arkansas in the first SEC tournament. South Carolina stays here despite a 86-55 blowout loss to Auburn on Friday.
Wisconsin (22-12, 11-9 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 18, KenPom: 17. Wisconsin is trending upward at the right time. The Badgers were 3-7 in their last 10 regular-season games, but they could move up another line after a 76-75 victory against Purdue in the Big Ten semifinals.
No. 6 seeds
Florida (24-10, 11-7 SEC)
Resume: Net: 26, KenPom: 24. The Gators beat Texas A&M 95-90 to advance to the SEC tournament championship, and they are averaging 94 points per game in their last three games. Will they flip lines with South Carolina as a result?
San Diego State (24-10, 11-7 MWC)
Resume: Net: 21, KenPom: 21. The Aztecs have the best ranking combination among the Mountain West Conference teams, but they might slip a line after a 68-61 loss to New Mexico in the championship game. That makes it easier to put them on the same line as Utah State.
Utah State (27-6, 14-4 MWC)
Resume: Net: 38, KenPom: 48. The Aggies won the MWC regular-season championship, but the loss to San Diego State in the MWC semifinals likely means the teams may trade lines.
+Saint Mary’s (25-7, 15-1 West Coast)
Resume: Net: 16, KenPom: 20. Saint Mary’s won the rubber match with Gonzaga with a 69-60 victory in the West Coast Conference championship. The Gaels are a solid team with good rankings, but they are always a candidate to be under-seeded.
No. 7 seeds
Washington State (24-9, 14-6 Pac-12)
Resume: Net: 44, KenPom: 42. The Cougars are the second bid from the Pac-12, but a 58-52 loss to Colorado in the Pac-12 tournament limits their upside to move up past this seed. Washington does have a 6-4 record against Quad 1.
Nevada (26-7, 13-5 MWC)
Resume: Net: 34, KenPom 36. The Wolf Pack will get in under Steve Alford, but an 85-78 loss to Colorado State in the Mountain West tournament keeps them here.
Gonzaga (25-7, 14-2 West Coast)
Resume: Net: 17, KenPom: 15. The Bulldogs likely will stay on this line after losing the West Coast Conference championship to Saint Mary’s, but Gonzaga will make its 25th straight tournament appearance.
Nebraska (23-10, 12-8 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 33, KenPom: 29. The Huskers were impressive despite a 98-87. If the backcourt of Keisei Tominaga and Brice Williams plays like they did in the Big Ten tournament, then this could be a second-weekend team.
No. 8 seeds
Clemson (21-11, 11-9 ACC)
Resume: Net: 35, KenPom: 35. Late-season losses to Notre Dame and Wake Forest dropped the Tigers a line, and a 76-55 loss to Boston College in the ACC tournament will drop Clemson down to this line. The Tigers are 10-10 against Quads 1-2.
Boise State (22-10, 13-5 MWC)
Resume: Net: 26, KenPom: 40. The Broncos won six of their last eight games despite a 76-66 loss to New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference tournament.
Texas (20-12, 9-9 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 30, KenPom: 28. The Longhorns flopped in the Big 12 tournament with a 78-74 loss to Kansas State, but the strength of ranking and .500 record in conference play will keep them here.
+New Mexico (26-9, 10-8 MWC)
Resume: Net: 22, KenPom: 25. The Lobos won the Mountain West Conference tournament, and Richard Pitino is back in the NCAA Tournament. They will be a tough out in the first weekend.
Rest of the field …
No. 9 seeds
Dayton (24-7, 14-4 Atlantic-10)
Resume: Net: 23, KenPom: 33.
Mississippi State (21-13, 8-10 SEC)
Resume: Net: 31, KenPom: 30.
TCU (21-12, 9-9 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 42, KenPom: 32.
FAU (25-8, 14-4 AAC)
Resume: Net: 39, KenPom: 41.
No. 10 seeds
Michigan State (19-14, 10-10 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 24, KenPom: 19.
Colorado State (24-10, 10-8 MWC)
Resume: Net: 37, KenPom: 23.
+Drake (28-6, 15-3 MVC)
Resume: Net: 47, KenPom: 51.
**Texas A&M (20-14, 9-9 SEC)
Resume: Net: 45, KenPom: 43.
**Northwestern (21-11, 12-8 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 53, KenPom: 46.
No. 11 seeds
+James Madison (31-3, 15-3 Sun Belt)
Resume: Net: 52, KenPom: 59.
+Oregon (23-11, 12-8 Pac-12)
Resume: Net: 59, KenPom: 55.
+NC State (22-14, 9-11 ACC)
Resume: Net: 63, KenPom: 58.
**Oklahoma (20-12, 8-10 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 46, KenPom: 44.
**Colorado (24-10, 13-7 Pac-12)
Resume: Net: 25, KenPom: 27.
No. 12 seeds
+Grand Canyon (29-4, 17-3 WAC)
Resume: Net: 50, KenPom: 53.
+McNeese (30-3, 17-1 Southland)
Resume: Net: 56, KenPom: 60.
*VCU (22-12, 11-7 Atlantic 10)
Resume: Net: 69, KenPom: 76.
+Samford (29-5, 15-3 Southern)
Resume: Net: 74, KenPom: 82.
No. 13 seeds
+Yale (22-9, 11-3 Ivy)
Resume: Net: 81, KenPom: 81.
*UAB (22-11, 12-6 AAC)
Resume: Net: 105, KenPom: 106.
+Vermont (28-6, 14-1 America East)
Resume: Net: 102, KenPom: 104.
+Charleston (26-7, 15-3 CAA)
Resume: Net: 97, KenPom: 98.
No. 14 seeds
+Morehead State (26-8, 14-4 OVC)
Resume: Net: 106, KenPom: 111.
+Akron (23-10, 13-5 MAC)
Resume: Net: 108, KenPom: 116.
+Oakland (23-11, 15-5 Horizon)
Resume: Net: 126, KenPom: 137.
+Colgate (25-9, 16-2 Patriot)
Resume: Net: 125, KenPom: 145.
No. 15 seeds
+South Dakota State (22-12, 12-4 Summit)
Resume: Net: 135, KenPom: 134.
+Western Kentucky (22-11, 8-8 C-USA)
Resume: Net: 136, KenPom: 132.
+Longwood (21-13, 6-10 Big South)
Resume: Net: 162, KenPom: 157.
+Long Beach State (21-14, 10-10 Big West)
Resume: Net: 170, KenPom: 163.
No. 16 seeds
+Saint Peter’s (19-13, 12-8 MAAC)
Resume: Net: 194, KenPom 193.
+Stetson (22-12, 11-5 A-Sun)
Resume: Net: 209, KenPom: 218.
+**Montana State (17-17, 9-9 Big Sky)
Resume: Net: 208, KenPom: 213.
+**Grambling (20-14, 14-4 SWAC)
Resume: Net: 279, KenPom: 267.
+**Howard (18-16, 9-5 MEAC)
Resume: Net: 273, KenPom: 274.
+**Wagner (16-15, 7-9 Northeast)
Resume: Net: 290, KenPom: 293.
Bubble Watch
St. John’s (20-13, 11-9 Big East)
Resume: Net: 32, KenPom: 26. We can still see the Red Storm getting in with Rick Pitino based on a strong showing in the Big East tournament, but who do you take out given Saturday’s chaos?
Pitt (22-11, 12-8 ACC)
Resume: Net: 40, KenPom: 40. The Panthers lost to North Carolina 72-65 on Friday, and that likely means the Panthers sit on that First Four Out line unless the committee pushes for a fifth ACC team.
Virginia (23-10, 13-7 ACC)
Resume: Net: 54, KenPom: 68. The Cavaliers will lose out because of NC State’s run in the ACC tournament. The Wolfpack beat Virginia 73-65 in overtime in what turned out to be a de facto play-in game.
Seton Hall (20-12, 13-7 Big East)
Resume: Net: 67, KenPom: 62. FAU’s loss was bad news for the Pirates, who are trying to squeeze in despite losing to St. John’s 91-72 in the first round of the Big East tournament.
