There’s one new at-large team after Friday’s projection, as San Diego State jumped Oklahoma, thanks to the Aztecs’ win over New Mexico in the second Mountain West semifinal and the Sooners’ heartbreaking loss to Arkansas in the final SEC quarterfinal of the night.
Your Selection Eve TV preview and a look at what’s at stake follows today’s full bracket and rundown.
NOTES:
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Changes since Friday’s bracket are noted with (★) for new entrants, (▲) for teams moving up one or more seed lines, and (▼) for teams moving down one or more seed lines.
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Teams that have clinched auto bids are in ALL CAPS BOLD.
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The highest-remaining seed in an active conference tournament holds its auto bid.
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(1) East (Washington, D.C., Fri./Sun.)
Greenville (Thurs./Sat.)
(1) Duke (ACC)
★(16) Louisiana Tech (CUSA)
(8) Georgia
(9) TCU
San Diego (Fri./Sun.)
▲(5) Wisconsin
(12) HIGH POINT (Big South)
(4) Alabama
(13) NORTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit)
Buffalo (Thurs./Sat.)
(6) Louisville
(11) Missouri/VCU
(3) Michigan State
(14) IDAHO (Big Sky)
St. Louis (Fri./Sun.)
(7) Kentucky
(10) Santa Clara
(2) Iowa State
(15) TENNESSEE STATE (OVC)
(4) South (Houston, Thurs./Sat.)
Tampa (Fri./Sun.)
(1) Florida (SEC)
(16) LIU (NEC)/Howard (MEAC)
(8) Clemson
(9) Iowa
Portland (Thurs./Sat.)
(5) Texas Tech
(12) Yale (Ivy)
▲(4) St. John’s (Big East)
(13) Utah Valley (WAC)
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Philadelphia (Fri./Sun.)
(6) North Carolina
—/★(11) Texas/San Diego State
▼(3) Illinois
(14) WRIGHT STATE (Horizon)
Oklahoma City (Thurs./Sat.)
(7) Saint Mary’s
(10) Miami (Ohio)
(2) Houston
▲(15) QUEENS (ASUN)
(2) Midwest (Chicago, Fri./Sun.)
Buffalo (Thurs./Sat.)
(1) Michigan (Big Ten)
—/★(16) LEHIGH (Patriot)/Southern (SWAC)
(8) Saint Louis (A 10)
▼(9) Villanova
Tampa (Fri./Sun.)
▼(5) Kansas
(12) Akron (MAC)
(4) Vanderbilt
(13) HOFSTRA (CAA)
Greenville (Thurs./Sat.)
▼(6) Tennessee
(11) South Florida (American)
▲(3) Virginia
(14) TROY (Sun Belt)
Philadelphia (Fri./Sun.)
▼(7) Miami (Fla.)
▼(10) Ohio State
(2) UConn
(15) FURMAN (SoCon)
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(3) West (San José, Thurs./Sat.)
San Diego (Fri./Sun.)
(1) Arizona (Big 12)
(16) UMBC (AE)
▲(8) UCLA
▲(9) NC State
Oklahoma City (Thurs./Sat.)
(5) Arkansas
(12) MCNEESE (Southland)
▼(4) Nebraska
(13) NORTHERN IOWA (MVC)
Portland (Thurs./Sat.)
▲(6) BYU
▼(11) Texas A&M
(3) GONZAGA (WCC)
(14) UC Irvine (Big West)
St. Louis (Fri./Sun.)
▲(7) Utah State (MW)
▲(10) UCF
▲(2) Purdue
(15) SIENA (MAAC)
Rundown
Last Four Byes: Miami (Ohio), Santa Clara, UCF, Texas A&M
Last Four IN: Missouri, Texas, VCU, San Diego State
First Four OUT: Oklahoma, SMU, Auburn, Indiana
Next Four Out: New Mexico, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Stanford
Also Considered: Cincinnati, West Virginia, California, Florida State, Dayton, USC, Tulsa, Nevada
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ARRIVALS (3): Louisiana Tech (CUSA), San Diego State, Southern (SWAC)
DEPARTURES: Florida A&M (SWAC), Oklahoma, Sam Houston (CUSA)
Conference Breakdown
SEC (10): Florida (auto bid), Vanderbilt, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas A&M, Missouri (First Four), Texas (First Four)
Big Ten (9): Michigan (auto bid), Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, Iowa, Ohio State
Big 12 (8): Arizona (auto bid), Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU, TCU, UCF
ACC (7): Duke (auto bid), Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Clemson, NC State
Big East (3): UConn, St. John’s (auto bid), Villanova
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WCC (3): Gonzaga (auto bid), Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara
Atlantic 10 (2): Saint Louis (auto bid), VCU (First Four)
MAC (2): Miami (Ohio), Akron (auto bid)
MW (2): Utah State (auto bid), San Diego State (First Four)
22 one-bid conferences
Saturday’s Viewing Guide
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All times are p.m. Eastern.
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Tip times for games marked with an asterisk (*) are approximate.
No one officially entered the field yesterday—or will today—but Championship Saturday is almost here.
Championships (11)
America East
(2) Vermont (22-11, 12-4) at (1) UMBC (23-8, 14-2), 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
It’s yet another rubber match for a single place in the field of 68. The Catamounts are looking for their first NCAA trip since 2024, while the Retrievers last qualified in 2018, when they pulled off the unthinkable, a 16-over-1 upset. This morning’s winner is more likely to receive a 16 than the 13 Vermont got two years ago.
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MEAC
(3) North Carolina Central (14-17, 8-6) vs. (1) Howard (22-10, 11-3), 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Bison would reach their third NCAA Tournament in four seasons with a victory, as for the Eagles, they last made it in 2019. Today’s winner is almost assuredly heading to Dayton.
Big 12
(2) Houston (28-5, 14-4) vs. (1) Arizona (31-2, 16-2), 6 (ESPN)
While the Wildcats are all but guaranteed the West Region No. 1 seed, the Cougars still have hopes of sneaking onto the 1 line, which would see them in a hometown South regional. Of course, Houston has a good shot of getting assigned there as a 2 seed.
Mountain West
Potential bid thieves: Everyone but Utah State
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(2) San Diego State (22-10, 14-6) vs. (1) Utah State (27-6, 15-5), 6 (CBS)
The Aztecs took out New Mexico late last night/early this morning in a virtual elimination game. This one will probably decide whether the Mountain West will be a one- or two-bid league. Both of these teams are off to the Pac-? after this year.
Big East
(2) UConn (29-4, 17-3) vs. (1) St. John’s (27-6, 18-2), 6:30 (Fox)
Both the Huskies and Red Storm pulled away late against potential bid thieves. UConn would be in position to claim the final No. 1 seed with a win and some help. The Red Storm, meanwhile, probably need to win the rubber match to get to the 4 line—especially after getting blown out in Hartford the last time these two met.
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SWAC
(8) Prairie View A&M (17-17, 9-9) vs. (3) Southern (17-16, 11-7), 7:30 (ESPNU)
The Panthers last made the field in 2019 and the Jaguars in 2016. Both played in Dayton. Tonight’s winner will be heading there again.
MAC
(4) Toledo (19-14, 11-7) vs. (2) Akron (28-5, 11-1), 8 (ESPN2)
Who will join Miami in the field? The Zips are looking for a third straight trip, but it’s the opposite for the Rockets, who last reached the field in 1980.
ACC
Potential bid thieves: None
(2) Virginia (29-4, 15-3) vs. (1) Duke (31-2, 17-1), 8:30 (ESPN)
With neither semifinal being competitive, hopefully tonight’s game will be more entertaining. But considering the Blue Devils handled the Cavaliers easily during the regular season, I wouldn’t bet on it. Duke is trying to hold on to the No. 1 overall seed with both Michigan and Arizona breathing down the Blue Devils’ necks. Virginia, meanwhile, wants to get onto the 3 line if possible.
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Conference USA
(6) Kennesaw State (20-13, 10-10) vs. (4) Louisiana Tech (20-13, 11-9), 8:30 (CBSSN)
The Owls last reached the field 2023, as an ASUN member coached by the late, great Amir Abdur-Rahim. The Bulldogs, however, are trying to end a doubt that started in 1991—when they were in the long-defunct American South Conference.
Big West
(2) Hawai’i (23-8, 14-6) vs. (1) UC Irvine (23-10, 15-5), 10 (ESPN2)
It’s been seven seasons since the Anteaters qualified and 10 for the Rainbow Warriors. Curiously, both teams pulled off 13-over-4 upsets in those tournaments. Both regular-season meetings were close—the Bows won by 1 at home, and the Anteaters needed OT to defend their home floor.
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WAC
(2) California Baptist (24-8, 13-5) vs. (1) Utah Valley (25-7, 14-4), 12 a.m. (ESPN2)
Tonight’s winner will make its first-ever trip to the NCAAs at the Division I level. Both the Lancers and Wolverines are heading for the Big West, where they’ll renew their rivalry next season.
Setting Up Selection Sunday
Ivy Semifinals
(1) Yale (23-5, 11-3) at (4) Cornell (15-12, 8-6), 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
(3) Penn (16-11, 9-5) vs. (2) Harvard (17-11, 10-4), 1:30* (ESPN News)
While the Bulldogs should be a heavy favorite, they’ll be playing a virtual road game in Ithaca this morning. The Crimson split their season series with Yale, but they might have trouble getting to a potential rubber match, as they also split with the Quakers.
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Atlantic 10 Semifinals
Potential bid thieves: Everyone but Saint Louis.
(4) Dayton (22-10, 12-6) vs. (1) Saint Louis (28-4, 15-3), 1 (CBSSN)
(3) Saint Joseph’s (22-10, 13-5) vs. (2) VCU (25-7, 15-3), 3:30* (CBSSN)
If the Billikens lose to the Flyers, the A 10 will be a two-bid league. It still may be with a SLU-VCU final.
Big Ten Semifinals
(5) Wisconsin (24-9, 14-6) vs. (1) Michigan (30-2, 19-1), 1 (CBS)
(7) Purdue (25-8, 13-7) vs. (6) UCLA (23-10, 13-7) , 3:30* (CBS)
The Wolverines still have a shot at getting the No. 1 overall seed with a win and a Duke loss. The Badgers, however, are trying to get up to the 4 line by following up Friday’s win over Illinois (their second) with another win over Michigan. In the second game of the afternoon, the Boilermakers need a win to have any hope of getting back on the 2 line, while the Bruins are trying to avoid an 8/9 game.
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SEC Semifinals
Potential bid thief: Ole Miss
(4) Vanderbilt (25-7, 11-7) vs. (1) Florida (26-6, 16-2), 1 (ESPN)
(15) Ole Miss (15-19, 4-14) vs. (3) Arkansas (24-8, 13-5) , 3:30* (ESPN)
The Gators have probably done enough to hold on to the final No. 1 seed, but a win today would likely seal it. As for the Commodores, they’re aiming to stay on the 4 line. That’s where the Hogs hope to end up with a win.
Bubble teams need to root hard for the Razorbacks, since the Rebels aren’t getting in without the auto bid.
American Semifinals
(5) Charlotte (17-16, 9-9) vs. (1) South Florida (23-8, 15-3), 3 (ESPN2)
(3) Tulsa (26-6, 13-5) vs. (2) Wichita State (21-10, 13-5), 5:30* (ESPN2)
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The top half of the bracket is an old Sun Belt matchup, while the bottom is an old Missouri Valley showdown. It will be interesting to see what the Golden Hurricane has left after yesterday’s triple OT classic against North Texas.
