After a long and arduous wait, the March Madness is finally upon us. And by the end of the day Sunday, there will be a 68-team bracket.
Selection Sunday marks the unofficial start of the men’s NCAA Tournament, when bids are given out, seeds are set and matchups are etched into a bracket that will be filled out by millions of people nationally during a beautifully chaotic three-week stretch that will culminate with men’s and women’s national champions being crowned.
The bracket reveal ends weeks and even months of speculation over how the tournament field will look. Who will be the No. 1 seeds, the ones who invariably enter the event as the favorites to win it all? Which teams will end up on the right side of the bubble? And which ones will have to endure the agony of just missing out on being selected?
will provide the latest men’s bracket reveal updates, conference tournament highlights, news, analysis and more throughout the day. Follow along here:
Much was made about how impressive the SEC was this year, and the conference backed it up on Selection Sunday.
With Texas’ inclusion in First Four play, the SEC sent 14 teams to March Madness, breaking the previous record of 11 set by the Big East in 2011.Jay Wright picks his Final Four
Former Villanova coach Jay Wright knows a little something about tournament runs.
The two-time NCAA Tournament champion and four-time Final Four coach picked his Final Four in Sunday’s show, picking three No. 1 seeds (Houston, Duke, and Auburn) and Rick Pitino’s St. John’s to make it to San Antonio.
NCAA Tournament field seeded 1-68
While the No. 1 overall seed tends to get the most recognition, every team 1-68 gets its ranking. Here’s a look at the full seeding.
NCAA selection committee’s vice chair discusses North Carolina’s inclusion
Bubba Cunningham joined CBS’ bracket reveal show to discuss North Carolina’s inclusion. Hover, as North Carolina’s athletic director, Cunningham was not involved in conversations about the Tar Heels’ case.
As such, vice chair Keith Gill fielded the question of how North Carolina was included, dropping the bombshell that North Carolina would have been left out if UAB had defeated Memphis to steal a bid.
No. 1 seed in the West goes to Florida
The Gators might be the best team entering the tournament but still gets kicked out West despite winning the SEC tournament. St. John’s also heads across the country after a Big East regular-season and conference title and misses out on playing near home in Newark, N.J. An amazing first-round matchup of coaches sees Kansas and Bill Self face Arkansas and John Calipari. Four SEC teams are in the region, giving the league a record 14 for the tournament. The previous mark was 11. Texas Tech and Maryland are two teams that could prove dangerous to the top seeds. Two-time defending champion Connecticut will look to keep its tournament magic going, but getting out of Raleigh will be difficult.
In Raleigh, N.C.
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Norfolk State
No. 8 Connecticut vs. No. 9 Oklahoma
In Seattle
No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon
In Wichita, Kan.
No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Drake
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 UNC Wilmington
In Providence, R.I.
No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas
No. 2 St. John’s vs. No. 15 Nebraska-Omaha
Houston leads the Midwest after Big 12 title
The Cougars get a break by staying in region with the Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament titles in hand, edging Florida. No. 2 Tennessee is seeking its first Final Four and could see No. 3 Kentucky in the Sweet 16. The Wildcats beat the Volunteers twice in SEC play. Xavier is another surprise entry to the field with only one Quad 1 win. Seems the committee valued success in conference play more than wins, though Texas getting a selection for that play-in game rewards their big wins but poor schedule. The Longhorns had 15 losses, equaling the most for any team getting an at-large berth.
In Wichita, Kan.
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Georgia
In Providence, R.I.
No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese State
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point
In Milwaukee, Wis.
No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Texas.Xavier
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Troy
In Lexington, Ky.
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah State
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford
Duke takes the No. 1 seed in the East
This a familiar path for the Blue Devils, having come out of the East Region before. The health of Cooper Flagg is key, though it seems he should be good for next week and probably won’t be needed until the regionals in two weeks. Some interesting matchups loom ahead. No. 2 Alabama is a high-scoring team that runs hot and cold. Wisconsin is very solid as a No. 3, and Brigham Young is among the best teams with the most momentum entering the tournament and are only a No. 6 seed. We could see former Pac-12 rivals Oregon and Arizona match up in the second round.
In Raleigh, N.C.
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 American/Mount St. Mary’s
No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Baylor
In Seattle
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron
In Denver
No. 6 Brigham Young vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana
In Cleveland
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Robert Morris
Auburn is the No. 1 overall seed in the South
The Tigers enter after losing three of four games but still land as the top seed in the tournament and stay home in the South. Michigan State and Iowa State will be two defensive-minded teams that could upset the Tigers. Texas A&M – one of the teams that beat Auburn in the home stretch – looms as a possible Sweet 16 opponent. The surprise here is North Carolina making the play-in game as one of the final at-large teams despite a 1-12 record in Quad 1 games. Michigan wins the Big Ten tournament and has to turn around and play Thursday against a dangerous UC San Diego team in Denver.
In Lexington, Kentucky
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama State/Saint Francis (Pa.)
No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton
In Denver
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego
No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Yale
In Milwaukee
No. 6 Mississippi vs. No. 11 San Diego State/North Carolina
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Lipscomb
In Cleveland
No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico
No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant
How to stream Selection Sunday
- Stream: March Madness Live | Paramount+ | Fubo (free trial)
Streaming options for the NCAA Tournament selection show include March Madness Live, which can be accessed through the NCAA’s website, Paramount+ — which requires a subscription to access — and Fubo, the last of which carries CBS and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Michigan claims Big Ten championship
Another automatic bid has been claimed, with Michigan beating Wisconsin in the men’s Big Ten tournament final 59-53. The Wolverines are conference tournament champions after Michigan State won the regular-season title.
Big Ten championship: Michigan, Wisconsin tied at 53
Michigan and Wisconsin are tied at 53 with 1:34 left in the Big Ten Conference tournament championship game.
Most overpaid men’s college basketball coaches
Whether you believe Kentucky coach John Calipari is overpaid could depend on the year, the month, even the week. Calipari earned his mega-millions salary when the Wildcats were among the most dominant teams in Division I, capturing one national championship in 2012 and playing for others in 2011, 2014 and 2015. But Kentucky hasn’t been back to the Final Four since even as Calipari’s annual salary continues to rise ― now at $8.5 million in total compensation for 2023-24, second-most in the country.
