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BRACKET BREAKDOWN: Feb. 23rd

And Here. We. Go!

Between now and Selection Sunday, each Friday I’ll give a “BRACKET BREAKDOWN” with my 68 projected teams for the 2024 NCAA Tournament along with my Top 16 seeds as well as emerging trends.

*The team who’s currently in first place in their respective conference will be listed as that league’s “automatic qualifier”.

The Current Field

Atlantic Sun (1)
Eastern Kentucky (AQ)

America East (1)
Vermont (AQ)

American Athletic Conference (2)
South Florida (AQ), Florida Atlantic

Atlantic 10 (2)
Richmond (AQ), Dayton

ACC (4)
North Carolina (AQ), Duke, Clemson, Virginia

Big 12 (9)
Houston (AQ), Iowa State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Baylor, BYU, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas

Big East (5)
UConn (AQ), Marquette, Creighton, Seton Hall, Providence

Big Sky (1)
Eastern Washington (AQ)

Big South (1)
High Point (AQ)

Big Ten (6)
Purdue (AQ), Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan State

Big West (1)
UC Irvine (AQ)

CAA (1)
Charleston (AQ)

Conference-USA (1)
Sam Houston (AQ)

Horizon League (1)
Oakland (AQ)

Ivy League (1)
Yale (AQ)

MAAC (1)
Quinnipiac (AQ)

MAC (1)
Akron (AQ)

MEAC (1)
Norfolk State (AQ)

Missouri Valley (1)
Indiana State (AQ)

Mountain West (6)
Utah State (AQ), San Diego State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Boise State, Nevada

NEC (1)
Merrimack (AQ)

OVC (1)
Morehead State (AQ)

Pac-12 (3)
Washington State (AQ), Arizona, Utah

Patriot League (1)
Colgate (AQ)

SEC (8)
Alabama (AQ), Tennessee, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida

Southern (1)
Samford (AQ)

Southland (1)
McNeese (AQ)

SWAC (1)
Grambling (AQ)

Summit (1)
South Dakota State (AQ)

Sun Belt (1)
Appalachian State (AQ)

WCC (1)
Saint Mary’s (AQ)

WAC (1)
Grand Canyon (AQ)

First Four Out

Gonzaga, Butler, Wake Forest, Texas A&M

Top 16 Seeds

1: Purdue, UConn, Houston, North Carolina
2: Arizona, Tennessee, Kansas, Marquette
3: Creighton, Iowa State, Alabama, Duke
4: Baylor, Auburn, San Diego State, Illinois

Five Things To Know

  • The Big East has three Final Four caliber teams in UConn, Marquette, and Creighton, but after that the league does not possess a single lock for the NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall, Providence, Butler, and Villanova are still firmly on the bubble.
  • Tennessee has four Quad 1 opportunities in its final five regular season games. This Vols — who are projected as a two seed in the bracket above — have never been a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
  • New Mexico will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
  • Ole Miss’ at-large chances may ultimately hinge on its next two home games. The Rebels will host South Carolina on Saturday and Alabama next Wednesday. Chris Beard’s team is currently just 4-7 against Quad 1 and 2 opponents.
  • The two likeliest conferences where a bid stealer will emerge during Championship Week? The AAC and the Atlantic 10.

Leftovers