Auburn University takes the spotlight as the top seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, with Duke, Houston, and Florida rounding out the No. 1 seeds according to the brackets released for the upcoming March Madness.
The selection committee seemed to place significant weight on Auburn’s regular season success in the competitive Southeastern Conference, despite the team’s recent slump, including a December loss to Duke.
Auburn, boasting a 28-5 record, and Florida are part of a historic showing for the SEC, with an impressive 14 teams making it into the tournament—the most ever for any conference in NCAA history.
Notably, both North Carolina and Texas secured spots in the tournament despite being on the bubble, while other notable programs like Indiana, West Virginia, and Boise State did not make the cut.
The Florida Gators, after seizing the SEC tournament with dominant performance—averaging victories by 15 points—are entering the round of 64 as slight favorites for the national championship, with the finals set to take place in San Antonio on April 5 and 7, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The NCAA Tournament journey commences this Tuesday with preliminary games, while the main event, an intense and action-packed two days of basketball, begins on Thursday and Friday.
During this period, 32 games will unfold across eight different locations nationwide, showcasing the best of college basketball talent.
The selection show sparked off with a touching homage to Greg Gumbel, a legendary CBS figure who led the bracket announcements for many years, before turning the focus to the basketball itself—a fitting tribute to what was a standout sporting event.
For North Carolina, it seemed they might miss out due to their disheartening 1-12 record against Quad 1 opponents and struggles within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). However, the Tar Heels managed to make the cut, potentially aided by a strong performance outside of conference play.
Texas also secured a place thanks to their notable seven wins against higher-caliber opponents despite enduring 15 losses.
Beyond the SEC’s record 14 teams, the Big Ten follows with eight teams in the mix, and the Big 12 is not far behind with seven entries. Conversely, the ACC narrowly averted one of its worst showings since the year 2000, securing spots for four teams.
Within the ACC, Duke emerges as a powerhouse with standout freshman Cooper Flagg, widely regarded as a top player despite a recent ankle injury—which the school confirms will not impede his participation in the tournament.
