In fewer than two full weeks, the day that stands as a end line for a lot of males’s school basketball will lastly arrive and, eventually, a bracket will probably be revealed.
For now, guesses at what that 68-team concoction will seem like proceed.
How will the Huge 12 issue into that?
Heading into the ultimate week of the common season, the convention has an astonishing 9 groups within the area, representing almost two-thirds of its 14 members. It has one staff in every of the highest 5 seed traces and every of its 9 projected match inclusions is not less than a No. 9 seed.
REQUIRED READING: School basketball rankings: Huge 12 groups in up to date Coaches Ballot, AP Prime 25 on March 4
Main that group is newcomer Houston, which continues to roll alongside in its first season within the convention, however Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor are every projected to be top-four seeds. Fellow new arrival BYU is a projected No. 5 seed whereas Texas Tech, TCU, Texas and Oklahoma are all safely within the area for now.
The place do issues stand now, with a number of massive video games looming within the subsequent two weeks? Right here’s a take a look at the projected bracket and the place Huge 12 groups slot in that bigger image:
2024 NCAA Match bracket predictions
Be aware: These projections don’t consider video games that came about on Monday, March 4.
** Collaborating in a play-in sport
Final 4 in
Virginia
Wake Forest
Colorado
Villanova
First 4 out
Seton Corridor
Windfall
St. John’s
Pitt
No. 1 seeds
Houston (26-3, 13-3 Huge 12): NET No. 1 | KenPom No. 1
UConn (26-3, 16-2 Huge East): NET No. 3 | KenPom No. 2
Purdue (26-3, 15-3 Huge Ten): NET No. 2 | KenPom No. 3
Arizona (23-6, 14-4 Pac-12): NET No. 4 | KenPom No. 4
At No. 1 in each the USA TODAY Coaches Ballot and AP Prime 25, in addition to each of the foremost aforementioned metrics, the Cougars have briefly established themselves as the highest staff amongst a trio of squads which can be the unimpeachable Nos. 1-3 within the sport proper now. Barring losses of their remaining two regular-season video games and an early exit from the Huge 12 match, Kelvin Sampson’s staff will probably be a No. 1 seed. And it nonetheless could be even when it experiences these late-season stumbles.
No. 2 seeds
Tennessee (23-6, 13-3 SEC): NET No. 5 | KenPom No. 5
North Carolina (23-6, 15-3 ACC): NET No. 9 | KenPom No. 9
Iowa State (23-6, 12-4 Huge 12): NET No. 8 | KenPom No. 10
Marquette (22-7, 13-5 Huge East): NET No. 14 | KenPom No. 13
After a one-week absence, the Cyclones are again on the No. 2 seed line. In an exhaustingly aggressive convention, Iowa State has received seven of its previous eight video games, with the lone loss throughout that spurt approaching the highway in opposition to top-ranked Houston. It faces a stiff problem on Wednesday in opposition to BYU, although that sport comes at residence, the place the Cyclones are 17-0 this season.
No. 3 seeds
Duke (23-6, 14-4 ACC): NET No. 10 | KenPom No. 7
Kansas (21-8, 9-7 Huge 12): NET No. 18 | KenPom No. 17
Alabama (20-9, 12-4 SEC): NET No. 7 | KenPom No. 8
Creighton (22-8, 13-6 Huge East): NET No. 11 | KenPom No. 11
The Jayhawks had every week to overlook, with losses in back-to-back video games for the primary time this season. Although a loss at Baylor is much from stunning, falling at to BYU final Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse, the place Kansas had been 14-0 previous to that defeat, raised various eyebrows. It is the primary time ever beneath coach Invoice Self that the Jayhawks have misplaced not less than seven video games in Huge 12 play. A house sport in opposition to Kansas State ought to give it a very good alternative to rebound earlier than a high-stakes regular-season finale at Houston awaits.
No. 4 seeds
Auburn (22-7, 11-5 SEC): NET No. 6 | KenPom No. 6
Illinois (22-7, 13-5 Huge Ten): NET No. 15 | KenPom No. 12
Baylor (21-8, 10-6 Huge 12): NET No. 13 | KenPom No. 14
Kentucky (21-8, 11-5 SEC): NET No. 20 | KenPom No. 18
The Bears responded to back-to-back losses with back-to-back wins, defeating TCU on the highway and Kansas at residence to maintain themselves in robust competition for a top-three seed. The victories gave them not less than 20 wins for the sixth consecutive season and the fifteenth time in 21 seasons beneath coach Scott Drew. Previous to Drew’s hiring in 2003, Baylor had simply three seasons ever with not less than 20 wins.
No. 5 seeds
San Diego State (22-7, 11-5 Mountain West): NET No. 19 | KenPom No. 19
BYU (21-8, 9-7 Huge 12): NET No. 12 | KenPom No. 16
South Carolina (24-5, 12-4 SEC): NET No. 47 | KenPom No. 43
Washington State (23-7, 14-5 Pac-12): NET No. 37 | KenPom No. 39
The Cougars picked up a signature win in what was already a robust debut season within the Huge 12 when it knocked off Kansas final Tuesday in Lawrence. It adopted that up with a house win in opposition to TCU. Mark Pope’s staff has hummed offensively this season, rating ninth nationally in adjusted offensive effectivity, in accordance with KenPom, whereas trying 50.4% of its photographs from 3-point vary, the fourth-highest mark within the nation.
No. 6 seeds
Saint Mary’s (24-7, 15-1 West Coast): NET No. 17 | KenPom No. 22
Wisconsin (18-11, 10-8 Huge Ten): NET No. 23 | KenPom No. 23
Dayton (22-6, 12-4 Atlantic 10): NET No. 21| KenPom: 27
Clemson (20-9, 10-8 ACC): NET No. 25 | KenPom No. 25
No. 7 seeds
Utah State (24-5, 12-4 Mountain West): NET No. 36 | KenPom: 42
Texas Tech (20-9, 9-7 Huge 12): NET No. 42 | KenPom No. 33
Boise State (21-8, 12-4 Mountain West): NET No. 24 | KenPom No. 34
Florida (20-9, 10-6 SEC): NET No. 33 | KenPom No. 31
The Purple Raiders have been drubbed at residence by rival Texas in a sport outlined not less than in some half by the conduct of the gang at United Supermarkets Enviornment, which threw objects on the court docket after Texas’ Brock Cunningham dedicated a flagrant two foul. Texas Tech rebounded later within the week, although, with a highway victory at West Virginia. Its 4 Quad 1 wins and lack of a Quad 3 or Quad 4 loss have it in a very good place.
No. 8 seeds
Colorado State (21-9, 9-8 Mountain West): NET No. 34 | KenPom No. 36
TCU (19-10, 8-8 Huge 12): NET No. 38 | KenPom No. 32
Florida Atlantic (22-7, 12-4 American Athletic): NET No. 35 | KenPom No. 40
Nevada (24-6, 11-5 Mountain West): NET No. 40 | KenPom No. 41
The Horned Frogs are stumbling a bit down the stretch, with a 3-5 file of their previous eight video games, although every of these 5 losses got here in opposition to a projected match staff. Jamie Dixon’s staff has an opportunity to complete the common season on a robust notice with a sport at last-place West Virginia and a house contest in opposition to UCF.
No. 9 seeds
Michigan State (17-12, 9-9 Huge Ten): NET No. 22 | KenPom No. 20
Mississippi State (19-10, 8-8 SEC): NET No. 32 | KenPom No. 30
Texas (19-10, 8-8 Huge 12): NET No. 27 | KenPom: No. 26
Oklahoma (19-10, 7-9 Huge 12): NET No. 41 | KenPom No. 37
What had been a reeling Longhorns staff acquired precisely what it wanted final week with a commanding win at Texas Tech, which had been 14-1 at residence this season coming into the matchup, adopted up by a 16-point victory in opposition to Oklahoma State. Texas has robust metrics, is 5-7 in Quad 1 video games and has an skilled roster that ought to assist it navigate among the challenges that current themselves in March.
Oklahoma, Texas’ longtime rival and soon-to-be SEC foe, went 0-2 final week whereas dealing with off in opposition to the Huge 12’s high two groups in Houston and Iowa State. The Sooners very almost knocked off the top-ranked Cougars, however Jamal Shead’s bucket with 0.4 seconds left broke a tie and allowed Houston to go away Norman with a victory. Oklahoma has misplaced 4 of its previous 5 video games and has a tricky matchup Saturday in opposition to Texas on the Moody Heart.
No. 10 seeds
Northwestern (20-9, 11-7 Huge Ten): NET No. 53 | KenPom No. 46
New Mexico (21-8, 9-7 Mountain West): NET No. 28 | KenPom No. 38
Gonzaga (24-6, 14-2 West Coast Convention): NET No. 16 | KenPom No. 15
Nebraska (21-9, 11-8 Huge Ten): NET No. 43 | KenPom No. 34
REQUIRED READING: Texas basketball preview, prediction: Longhorns hope to get season sweep at No. 15 Baylor
No. 11 seeds
Indiana State (26-5, 17-3 Missouri Valley): NET No. 29 | KenPom No. 45
Princeton (23-3, 11-2 Ivy): NET No. 51 | KenPom No. 64
Virginia (21-9, 12-7 ACC)**: NET No. 49 | KenPom No. 69
Wake Forest (18-11, 10-8 ACC)**: NET No. 31, KenPom No. 21
Colorado (20-9, 11-7 Pac-12)**: NET No. 30 | KenPom No. 29
Villanova (17-12, 10-8 Huge East)**: NET No. 26 | KenPom No. 24
No. 12 seeds
Grand Canyon (26-4, 16-3 Western Athletic): NET No. 55 | KenPom No. 57
McNeese (26-3, 15-1 Southland): NET No. 56 | KenPom No. 66
South Florida (22-5, 15-1 American Athletic): NET No. 79 | KenPom No. 89
Richmond (22-7, 14-2 Atlantic 10): NET No. 70 | KenPom No. 77
No. 13 seeds
Appalachian State (26-5, 16-2 Solar Belt): NET No. 69 | KenPom No. 73
Samford (26-5, 15-3 Southern): NET No. 81 | KenPom No. 86
UC Irvine (22-8, 15-3 Huge West): NET No. 76 | KenPom No. 74
Charleston (24-7, 15-3 Colonial Athletic): NET No. 102 | KenPom No. 104
No. 14 seeds
Akron (21-8, 13-3 Mid-American): NET No. 102 | KenPom No. 101
Vermont (24-6, 14-1 America East): NET No. 97 | KenPom No. 97
Excessive Level (24-7, 13-3 Huge South): NET No. 108 | KenPom No. 112
Oakland (20-11, 15-5 Horizon): NET No. 138 | KenPom No. 141
No. 15 seeds
Colgate (22-9, 16-2 Patriot): NET No. 131 | KenPom No. 143
Jap Washington (20-10, 14-3 Huge Sky): NET No. 132 | KenPom No. 137
South Dakota State (19-12, 12-4 Summit): NET No. 152 | KenPom No. 149
Sam Houston State (18-11, 11-3 Convention USA): NET No. 161 | KenPom No. 154
No. 16 seeds
Quinnipiac (21-8, 13-5 Metro Atlantic Athletic): NET No. 167 | KenPom No. 189
Little Rock (20-11, 14-4 Ohio Valley): NET No. 188 | KenPom No. 192
Jap Kentucky (17-13, 12-4 ASUN)**: NET No. 205 | KenPom No. 200
Central Connecticut State (19-10, 13-2 Northeast)**: NET No. 231 | KenPom No. 253
Norfolk State (19-10, 9-3 Mid-Jap Athletic)**: NET No. 233 | KenPom No. 254
Grambling (15-13, 12-3 Southwestern Athletic)**: NET No. 294 | KenPom No. 285
This text initially appeared on Austin American-Statesman: March Insanity predictions 4.0: 2024 NCAA Match bracketology for Huge 12
