The Madness has arrived. The 68-team field for the men’s NCAA D-I basketball tournament was revealed Sunday. Check out all the matchups and our instant analysis below.
East region (all times ET)
1 Duke vs. 16 Siena – 2:50 p.m., Thursday, March 19
8 Ohio State vs. 9 TCU – 12:15 p.m., Thursday, March 19
5 St. John’s vs. 12 Northern Iowa – 7:10 p.m., Friday, March 20
4 Kansas vs. 13 Cal Baptist – 9:45 p.m., Friday, March 20
6 Louisville vs. 11 South Florida – 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 19
3 Michigan State vs. 14 North Dakota State – 4:05 p.m., Thursday, March 19
7 UCLA vs. 10 UCF – 7:25 p.m., Friday, March 20
2 UConn vs. 15 Furman – 10:00 p.m., Friday, March 20
Duke’s reward for winning the ACC title is the No. 1 overall seed and a region close to home. The Blue Devils will be without Caleb Foster for the foreseeable future, but they should have Patrick Ngongba back during the NCAA Tournament. A high-profile Sweet 16 matchup with a coaching legend is possible, as Bill Self’s Kansas and Rick Pitino’s St. John’s are in the top half of the bracket. Those two could meet in the Round of 32 in a contest that would see future NBA lottery pick Darryn Peterson face the swarming Red Storm defense.
South region
1 Florida vs. 16 Prairie View/Lehigh – 9:25 p.m., Friday, March 20
8 Clemson vs. 9 Iowa – 6:50 p.m., Friday, March 20
5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 McNeese – 3:15 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 19
4 Nebraska vs. 13 Troy – 12:40 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 19
6 North Carolina vs. 11 VCU – 6:50 p.m., Thursday, March 19
3 Illinois vs. 14 Penn – 9:25 p.m., Thursday, March 19
7 Saint Mary’s vs. 10 Texas A&M – 7:35 p.m., Thursday, March 19
2 Houston vs. 15 Idaho – 10:10 p.m., Thursday, March 19
Florida solved one of the bigger debates entering Selection Sunday, as the committee handed the defending national champions the final No. 1 seed in the bracket. The Gators ripped off 12 straight wins before falling to Vanderbilt in the SEC tourney semis. Florida’s elite frontcourt is arguably the best in the country, with Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, and Thomas Haugh taking starring roles.
Midwest region
1 Michigan vs. 16 UMBC/Howard – 7:10 p.m., Thursday, March 19
8 Georgia vs. 9 Saint Louis – 9:45 p.m., Thursday, March 19
5 Texas Tech vs. 12 Akron – 12:40 p.m., Friday, March 20
4 Alabama vs. 13 Hofstra – 3:15 p.m., Friday, March 20
6 Tennessee vs. 11 Miami (OH)/SMU – 4:25 p.m., Friday, March 20
3 Virginia vs. 14 Wright State – 1:50 p.m., Friday, March 20
7 Kentucky vs. 10 Santa Clara – 12:15 p.m., Friday, March 20
2 Iowa State vs. 15 Tennessee State – 2:50 p.m., Friday, March 20
Although Michigan didn’t get the top overall seed, it’ll play in its desired region, with Chicago hosting the Wolverines. Dusty May’s team is perhaps the most balanced in the nation, suffering just three losses all season by a combined eight points. Michigan is the best defensive squad in the country, but it’s more than happy to engage in a track meet, sitting sixth in points scored per game. That type of balance is how you explain 16 regular-season conference wins by double-digits this year. One thing the Wolverines won’t do is take a possible opening-round matchup with No. 16 UMBC lightly. The Retreivers haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2018, when they made history as the first 16-seed to beat a No. 1 with a stunning upset of Virginia.
West region
1 Arizona vs. 16 LIU – 1:35 p.m., Friday, March 20
8 Villanova vs. 9 Utah State – 4:10 p.m., Friday, March 20
5 Wisconsin vs. 12 High Point – 1:50 p.m., Thursday, March 19
4 Arkansas vs. 13 Hawaii – 4:25 p.m., Thursday, March 19
6 BYU vs. 11 NC State/Texas – 7:25 p.m., Thursday, March 19
3 Gonzaga vs. 14 Kennesaw State – 10:00 p.m., Thursday, March 19
7 Miami vs. 10 Missouri – 10:10 p.m., Friday, March 20
2 Purdue vs. 15 Queens – 7:35 p.m., Friday, March 20
Arizona enters as Big 12 champs and is riding a nine-game winning streak – six of those over top-25 opponents. However, the road to the Final Four won’t be easy, with a possible Sweet 16 matchup against No. 5 Wisconsin. The Badgers take the third-most triples per game in the nation. If they get hot for any significant stretch during a contest, it could be lights out.
First Four
16 UMBC vs. 16 Howard – Tuesday, March 17
11 Texas vs. 11 NC State – Tuesday, March 17
16 Prairie View A&M vs. 16 Lehigh – Wednesday, March 18
11 Miami (OH) vs. 11 SMU – Wednesday, March 18