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BRACKET BREAKDOWN: February 7th

This is ONLY February.

Between now and Selection Sunday, each Friday I’ll give a “BRACKET BREAKDOWN” with my 68 projected teams for the 2025 NCAA Tournament along with my Top 16 seeds as well as emerging trends.

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

The Current Field

Atlantic Sun (1)
Florida Gulf Coast (AQ)
America East (1)
Bryant (AQ)
American Athletic Conference (1)
Memphis (AQ)
Atlantic 10 (1)
George Mason (AQ)
ACC (3)
Duke (AQ), Clemson, Louisville
Big 12 (8)
Houston (AQ), Kansas, Iowa State, Arizona, Baylor, West Virginia, Texas Tech, BYU
Big East (5)
St. John’s (AQ), Marquette, UConn, Creighton, Xavier
Big Sky (1)
Northern Colorado (AQ)
Big South (1)
UNC Asheville (AQ)
Big Ten (10)
Purdue (AQ), UCLA, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Oregon, Ohio State, Nebraska
Big West (1)
UC Irvine (AQ)
CAA (1)
Towson (AQ)
Conference-USA (1)
Jacksonville State (AQ)
Horizon League (1)
Cleveland State (AQ)
Ivy League (1)
Yale (AQ)
MAAC (1)
Quinnipiac (AQ)
MAC (1)
Akron (AQ)
MEAC (1)
Norfolk State (AQ)
Missouri Valley (1)
Drake (AQ)
Mountain West (3)
New Mexico (AQ), Utah State, San Diego State
NEC (1)
Central Connecticut (AQ)
OVC (1)
SIU Edwardsville (AQ)
Patriot League (1)
American (AQ)
SEC (13)
Auburn (AQ), Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Missouri, Texas
Southern (1)
Samford (AQ)
Southland (1)
McNeese (AQ)
SWAC (1)
Southern (AQ)
Summit (1)
Omaha (AQ)
Sun Belt (1)
Arkansas State (AQ)
WCC (2)
Saint Mary’s (AQ), Gonzaga
WAC (1)
Utah Valley (AQ)

First Four Out

Arkansas, Xavier, Wake Forest, USC

Top 16 Seeds

1: Auburn, Duke, Alabama, Tennessee
2: Purdue, Florida, Houston, Texas A&M
3: Iowa State, Marquette, Kansas, Texas Tech
4: Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Memphis

Five Things To Know

  • Tennessee — who’s projected as a number one seed in the bracket above — has never been a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Arkansas is the “First Team Out” in the bracket above. That will change if the Razorbacks can beat Alabama on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena.
  • Two teams to watch closely over the next few weeks: St. John’s and UCLA. Both could play their way into being Top 16 seeds on Selection Sunday.
  • Strong finishes by both Creighton and UConn will help Xavier’s at-large chances. Why? If the Bluejays and Huskies both cement themselves in the Top 30 of the NET, the Musketeers could add multiple Quad 1 wins to their resume. Xavier has already beaten UConn at home this season and will host Creighton on March 1st.
  • North Carolina only has two Quad 1 opportunities remaining in its final nine regular season games.

Leftovers