There are still not too many changes from Tuesday’s bracket, as the most interesting games yesterday either saw auto bids awarded or featured teams on the wrong side of the bubble—most of whom were not successful. That is likely to change today. This year, I’m going to be using the Blogging the Bracket feed to share my insights and observations in a more timely, shorter manner. That starts with today’s games. I’ll run through today’s schedule after the full bracket and rundown.
NOTES:
- Changes since Tuesday’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.
- Teams that have clinched auto bids are in ALL CAPS BOLD.
- The highest-remaining seed in an active conference tournament holds its auto bid.
(1) East (Washington, D.C., Fri./Sun.)
Greenville (Thurs./Sat.)
(1) Duke (ACC)
(16) UMBC (AE)
(8) Kentucky
(9) TCU
San Diego (Fri./Sun.)
(5) Texas Tech
(12) NORTHERN IOWA (MVC)
(4) Vanderbilt
(13) HOFSTRA (CAA)
St. Louis (Fri./Sun.)
(6) Wisconsin
(11) Missouri
(3) Iowa State
(14) NORTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit)
St. Louis (Fri./Sun.)
(7) Utah State (MW)
(10) Santa Clara
(2) Illinois
(15) TENNESSEE STATE (OVC)
(4) South (Houston, Thurs./Sat.)
Tampa (Fri./Sun.)
(1) Florida (SEC)
★/—(16) Montana (Big Sky)/Howard (MEAC)
(8) Saint Louis (A 10)
(9) Iowa
Portland (Thurs./Sat.)
(5) North Carolina
(12) HIGH POINT (Big South)
(4) Kansas
(13) Utah Valley (WAC)
Philadelphia (Fri./Sun.)
(6) Tennessee
(11) SMU/New Mexico
(3) Purdue
(14) WRIGHT STATE (Horizon)
Philadelphia (Fri./Sun.)
(7) Miami (Fla.)
(10) Ohio State
(2) UConn
(15) FURMAN (SoCon)
(2) Midwest (Chicago, Fri./Sun.)
Buffalo (Thurs./Sat.)
(1) Michigan (Big Ten)
(16) Bethune-Cookman (SWAC)/Lehigh (Patriot)
(8) Clemson
(9) Texas A&M
Tampa (Fri./Sun.)
(5) St. John’s (Big East)
(12) Yale (Ivy)
(4) Alabama
(13) Stephen F. Austin (Southland)
Oklahoma City (Thurs./Sat.)
(6) Louisville
(11) Texas/VCU
(3) Nebraska
(14) TROY (Sun Belt)
Oklahoma City (Thurs./Sat.)
(7) Saint Mary’s
(10) NC State
(2) Houston
★(15) SIENA (MAAC)
(3) West (San José, Thurs./Sat.)
San Diego (Fri./Sun.)
(1) Arizona (Big 12)
(16) LIU (NEC)
(8) Georgia
(9) UCLA
Greenville (Thurs./Sat.)
(5) Arkansas
(12) South Florida (American)
(4) Virginia
(13) Liberty (CUSA)
Portland (Thurs./Sat.)
(6) BYU
(11) Miami (Ohio) (MAC)
(3) GONZAGA (WCC)
(14) UC Irvine (Big West)
Buffalo (Thurs./Sat.)
(7) Villanova
(10) UCF
(2) Michigan State
▲(15) QUEENS (ASUN)
Rundown
Last Four Byes: NC State, UCF, Santa Clara, Missouri
Last Four IN: SMU, Texas, VCU, New Mexico
First Four OUT: Cincinnati, San Diego State, Auburn, Indiana
Next Four Out: California, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Seton Hall
On Deck: Virginia Tech, Stanford, USC, Boise State
ARRIVALS (2): Montana (Big Sky), Siena (MAAC)
DEPARTURES: Merrimack (MAAC), Portland State (Big Sky)
Conference Breakdown
SEC (10): Florida (auto bid), Alabama, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas A&M, Missouri, Texas (First Four)
Big Ten (9): Michigan (auto bid), Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, Iowa, Ohio State
ACC (8): Duke (auto bid), Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Clemson, NC State, SMU (First Four)
Big 12 (8): Arizona (auto bid), Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU, TCU, UCF
Big East (3): UConn, St. John’s (auto bid), Villanova
WCC (3): Gonzaga (auto bid), Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara
Atlantic 10 (2): Saint Louis (auto bid), VCU (First Four)
MW (2): Utah State (auto bid), New Mexico (First Four)
23 one-bid conferences
Wednesday’s Games To Watch
- All times are p.m. Eastern.
- Tip times for games marked with an asterisk (*) are approximate.
Championships (3)
As usual, are the final three championship games until Saturday. After tonight, I’ll flip Conference Tournament Central around so this week’s games are at the top. Last night, Hofstra (24-10, 12-6, CAA), Wright State (23-11, 15-5, Horizon), Gonzaga (30-3, 16-2, WCC), and Siena (23-11, 13-7, MAAC) all clinched auto bids, while already qualified LIU (24-10, 15-3, NEC) won its conference tournament title.
Southland
(2) McNeese (27-5, 19-3) vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin (28-4, 20-2), 5 (ESPN2)
The winner of this rubber match is going to end up on seed line 12 or 13. The host Cowboys are looking for a third straight bid, but will have to recover from last night’s triple-OT semifinal win over UTRGV. As for the Lumberjacks, they last qualified in 2018—with a quick tenure in the WAC in between that Southland tenure and this one.
Patriot League
(4) Boston U. (17-16, 10-8) at (2) Lehigh (17-16, 11-7), 7 (CBSSN)
The Mountain Hawks, who last qualified in 2012 (when C.J. McCollum and company pulled off the 15-over-2 upset over Duke), is likely to end up in Dayton with a win. The Terriers, who last reached the field in 2011, thanks to the pandemic canceling out their 2020 Patriot League title, might be able to avoid that fate. To think that Navy could have been seeded as high as a 14 had they not lost to BU on Sunday.
Big Sky
(7) Idaho (20-14, 9-9) vs. (4) Montana (18-15, 10-8), 11:30 (ESPN2)
The Grizzlies are looking to repeat, while the Vandals’ last appearance came in 1990, during their original Big Sky tenure. The winner is likely to be a 16 seed.
Other Single-Bid Conference Tournament Action
The MAC (Thursday) and Ivy League (Saturday) Tournaments are the only two that have yet to begin.
American First Round
(9) Tulane (17-14, 8-10) vs. (8) Memphis (13-18, 8-10), 7 (ESPN News)
(10) Temple (16-15, 8-10) vs. (7) Florida Atlantic (17-14, 9-9), 9:30* (ESPN+ ($))
How far the defending champs—an NCAA 5 seed in 2025—have fallen so quickly.
Big West First Round
(8) Cal Poly (14-18, 10-10) vs. (5) UC San Diego (22-10, 12-8), 9 (ESPN+ ($))
(7) UC Santa Barbara (18-13, 11-9) vs. (6) UC Davis (18-13, 11-9), 11:30* (ESPN+ ($))
Winners advance to meet the 4 and 3 seeds on Thursday night.
MEAC Quarterfinals (Night 1)
(7) Delaware State (7-22, 2-12) vs. (2) Morgan State (14-15, 10-4), 6 (ESPN+ ($))
Tonight’s winner won’t play again until Friday’s semifinals, when they will meet the winner of tomorrow’s UMES and NCCU quarterfinal.
Conference USA Quarterfinals (Night 1)
(9) Missouri State (15-17, 8-12) vs. (1) Liberty (25-6, 17-3), 6:30* (ESPN+ ($))
(10) New Mexico State (16-15, 8-12) vs. (2) Sam Houston (21-10, 13-7), 9 (ESPN+ ($))
The bottom two seeds advanced in Huntsville. The 3/6 and 4/5 games are tomorrow night.
SWAC Quarterfinals (Night 1)
(8) Prairie View A&M (15-17, 9-9) vs. (1) Bethune-Cookman (17-14, 14-4), 2 (ESPN+ ($))
(7) Jackson State (12-20, 10-8) vs. (2) Florida A&M (14-15, 11-7), 8:30 (ESPN+ ($))
Remember that the two Florida teams are the conference’s newest members. Tonight’s winners will move on to Friday’s semifinals, where they will await tomorrow night’s 4/5 and 3/6 game victors.
WAC First Round
(7) Tarleton State (14-17, 5-13) vs. (6) Abilene Christian (13-18, 5-13), 8:30 (ESPN+ ($))
Utah Valley will play after all—in Friday’s semifinals. Tonight’s winner meets the 3 seed in Thursday’s quarters.
Multi-Bid Conference Tournament Games
ACC Second Round
(15) Pitt (13-19, 5-13 vs. (7) NC State (19-12, 10-8), 12 (ESPN2)
(11) SMU (20-12, 8-10) vs. (6) Louisville (22-9, 11-7), 2:30* (ESPN)
(9) California (21-10, 9-9) vs. (8) Florida State (17-14, 10-8), 7 (ESPNU)
(13) Wake Forest (17-15, 7-11) vs. (5) Clemson (22-9, 12-6), 9:30* (ESPN2)
Stanford lost to the Panthers in Tuesday’s opener, meaning the Cardinal’s at-large hopes are all but done. The Mustangs, meanwhile, dominated Syracuse to stay in the field and set up a crucial rubber match with the Cardinals. If SMU wins that, it will be safe.
In the night session, Cal-FSU is an elimination game, while the Demon Deacons will need to beat the Tigers to stay in the hunt after knocking Virginia Tech off the bubble last night.
Big 12 Second Round
(12) Arizona State (17-15, 7-11) vs. (5) Iowa State (25-6, 12-6), 12:30 (ESPN)
(9) Cincinnati (18-14, 9-9) vs. (8) UCF (20-10, 9-9), 3 (ESPN2)
(10) BYU (22-10, 9-9) vs. (7) West Virginia (18-13, 9-9), 7 (ESPN2)
(14) Oklahoma State (19-13, 6-12) vs. (6) TCU (21-10, 11-7), 9:30 (ESPNU)
The Sun Devils, Bearcats, Mountaineers, and Cowboys all need to win to stay in the at-large picture—and they’re all going to need to keep winning. The Cincy-UCF rubber match is intriguing because the Knights will surely slip even further with a loss. TCU, on the other hand, is in good position, win or lose.
Big Ten Second Round
(17) Maryland (12-20, 4-16) vs. (9) Iowa (20-11, 10-10), 12 (Peacock ($)/NBCSN)
(13) USC (18-13, 7-13) vs. (12) Washington (15-16, 7-13), 2:30* (Peacock ($)/NBCSN)
(15) Northwestern (14-18, 5-15) vs. (10) Indiana (18-13, 9-11), 6:30 (BTN)
(14) Rutgers (13-18, 6-14) vs. (11) Minnesota (15-16, 8-12), 9 (BTN)
The Trojans and Hoosiers enter the last chance saloon at the United Center today—as losses will finish their fading hopes. The Hawkeyes may start sweating if they lose to the Terps for a second time.
SEC First Round
(16) LSU (15-16, 3-15) vs. (9) Kentucky (19-12, 10-8), 12:30 (SECN)
(13) Mississippi State (13-18, 5-13) vs. (12) Auburn (16-15, 7-11), 3* (SECN)
(15) Mississippi (12-19, 4-14) vs. (10) Texas (18-13, 9-9), 7 (SECN)
(14) South Carolina (13-18, 4-14) vs. (11) Oklahoma (17-14, 7-11), 9:30* (SECN)
Of the four higher seeds, only the Wildcats are truly safe right now. The Tigers will be done if they pick up a 16th loss. The Longhorns cannot afford a loss, since they’re just hanging on, while their Red River rivals are trying to continue their late charge for a bid.
Big East First Round
(9) Providence (14-17, 7-13) vs. (8) Butler (16-15, 7-13), 4 (Peacock ($)/NBCSN)
10) Xavier (14-17, 6-14) vs. (7) Marquette (12-19, 7-13), 6:30* (Peacock ($)/NBCSN)
(11) Georgetown (14-17, 6-14) vs. (6) DePaul (16-15, 8-12), 9* (Peacock ($)/NBCSN)
If you look up, “mid” or “meh” in the dictionary, you will find these three games as the example.
Atlantic 10 First Round
(13) St. Bonaventure (15-16, 4-14) vs. (12) La Salle (9-22, 5-13), 11:30 (USA)
(14) Loyola Chicago (8-23, 4-14) vs. (11) Richmond (15-16, 5-13), 2* (USA)
This would have been a pretty good doubleheader a few years ago.
Mountain West First Round
(9) Wyoming (18-13, 9-11) at (8) UNLV (16-15, 11-9), 3 (MWN)
(12) Air Force (3-28, 0-20) vs. (5) Nevada (20-11, 12-8), 5:30* (MWN)
(10) Fresno State (13-18, 7-13) vs. (7) Colorado State (20-11, 11-9), 9 (MWN)
(11) San José State (8-23, 3-17) vs. (6) Boise State (20-11, 12-8), 11:30* (MWN)
The Wolf Pack and Broncos are on the fringes of the at-large picture, so they’ll need to win today and tomorrow to stick around. Even then, they’ll need help.
