Michael Lazarus' Big Board

BIG BOARD is final: One team change in the hours before the bracket reveal as Princeton takes the Ivy League title. The Tigers are projected to play Tennessee as a 14 seed. Alabama's emphatic SEC Tournament win means I keep the Crimson Tide as the No. 1 overall seed. It's possible the committee will have Kansas overall No. 1 — the difference is negligible. Arizona State is the final team in the bracket while Nevada is the first team out.

Last Updated :
SeedRegionRankTeamConfW/LCommentAQ
1S1. SEC31-5Was committee No. 1 4 weeks ago, lost just once since then.

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MW2. BIG1228-8Seven losses would be most ever for overall No. 1.
W3. BIG1233-3Cougars are right to rest Sasser vs. Memphis, No. 3 overall is locked in.

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E4. BTEN29-6Boilermakers indeed did make the final and get the last No. 1.

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2W5. PAC1231-5Being 2 in the West is essentially the 5th 1 seed for Bruins.
E6. BIG1228-8Winning Big 12 without Timmy Allen was impressive.

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MW7. PAC1228-7Wildcats take the season series from the Bruins but 4 Q2 losses means a lower 2.

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S8. BIGE29-7Golden Eagles bumped up to a 2 -- own a blowout win over Baylor.

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3S9. BIG1223-11Jumped by Big East regular-season and tourney champs.
MW10. WCC30-5Hmm, maybe in hindsight we shouldn't have relied on the NET for WCC seeding.

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W11. BIG1225-9Very solid debut season for Jerome Tang!
E12. SEC25-10No. 3 NET rating helping prop up Volunteers.
4E13. BIGE27-8Finished on the wrong end of a tight game with Marquette.
W14. BTEN23-12Finally got some shots to drop but it was too late vs. Penn State.
MW15. BIGE27-9Won't drop Musketeers for losing to a higher-seeded team.
S16. ACC25-8Offense was MIA in the ACC final.
5W17. BIGE23-12Rough outing vs. Xavier, but won't cost Bluejays.
S18. BIG1222-13Came close but couldn't get past Texas.
MW19. SEC25-10The nonconference schedule stunk again but Aggies safely in this time.
E20. ACC27-9Blue Devils definitely peaking at right time.

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6S21. WCC27-81-2 vs. Zags, wins vs. SDSU and Oral Roberts and not much else here.
E22. ACC27-7Hurricanes should settle in nicely as a 6 seed.
MW23. MWC29-6Utah State pushed Aztecs to the final seconds.

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W24. SEC22-12It was ROUGH for the Wildcats outside of conference season.
7MW25. BIG1219-14Cyclones want to play Baylor every game now.
S26. BTEN21-12Not exactly an inspiring performance vs. Ohio State.
W27. BTEN22-12Still worry Wildcats peaked a month ago.
E28. BTEN22-13Kept up with Hooisers for a half, but eventually faded.
8E29. SEC25-10Crimson Tide pulled away in second half of SEC semi.
MW30. BTEN20-13Rough away from home -- which continued vs. Penn State.
W31. SEC22-13Still don't know what to make of Razorbacks.
S32. AAC33-3Surprise, Owls do get the bump up to an 8.

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9MW33. AAC26-9Beating Houston won't mean much of anything--will be an 8 or 9.
E34. MWC24-10Fell apart in the last 8 minutes vs. Utah State.
S35. BIGE21-12Simply put, a terrible three-game stretch for Friars.
W36. BTEN19-14If form holds, Hawkeyes opponent will have little trouble scoring.
10S37. SEC21-13Tigers NEEDED that Tennessee win in the worst way.
W38. BIG1219-15No. 4 overall SOS gets Huggins well out of play-in.
E39. SEC21-13Held serve, enough to keep their spot.
MW40. BTEN23-14Conference conflicts probably mean Nittany Lions are capped here win or lose.
11MW41. ACC23-11Upon further review, Wolfpack slide much closer to first four.
E42. PAC1222-11Trojans are "probably" ok, need Petersen to get healthy or it will be one-and-done.
S43. ACC24-12Panthers now fall into play-in territory.
W44. BTEN19-15Some good wins but SO many Q3 losses.
W45. MWC26-9Got very close to auto-bid, now will need to go to Dayton.
S46. PAC1223-13The final team in the field.
12W47. CAA31-4Was tight vs. UNCW but Cougars earn the bid and a 12 seed.

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E48. A1027-8Rams would have had a bit of an at-large case--didn't need it.

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S49. SUMM30-5What a difference a day made, left no doubt in final.

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MW50. MVC27-8Arch Madness was a mismatch from the jump.

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13S51. MAAC27-8Gaels win easily to bring Pitino back to NCAAs.

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MW52. MAC28-7Golden Flashes are this year's danger team from the MAC.

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W53. SOUTH28-8After a tough final loss in 2022, earned first bid since 1980!

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E54. SBELT26-8Carnage in the Sun Belt leaves Ragin' Cajuns in!

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14W55. ASUN26-9Welcome to the tourney for the first time!

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E56. IVY23-8Having the Ivy League tournament at home might have helped a bit.

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MW57. BSKY25-10MUCH better offense in Big Sky final win.

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S58. PAT26-9Cruised to a third straight NCAA berth.

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15MW59. WAC24-12Antelopes are back for another NCAA shot.

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S60. AEAST23-11Played five teams in this NCAA field, and beat one (Colgate).

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W61. BIGW27-8Irvine finally stumbled one too many times.

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E62. HORIZ22-13Norse eek out win over Vikings for bid.

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16MW63. BSOU27-8Actually have a decent win at UCF.

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W64. SLAND24-11Back out of the play-in and directly to Birmingham to play Houston.

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E65. MEAC22-13Made first NCAAs since 1992.

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S66. OVC19-17First team to be officially in!

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E67. NEC21-16Moved up from the 68 spot thanks to SWAC champ!

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S68. SWAC14-21Only team with a losing record is number 68.

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On the Bubble:
Conference Breakdown: America East (1), American (2), Atlantic 10 (1), Atlantic Coast (5), Atlantic Sun (1), Big 12 (8), Big East (5), Big Sky (1), Big South (1), Big Ten (9), Big West (1), Colonial (1), Horizon (1), Ivy League (1), Metro Atlantic Athletic (1), Mid-American (1), Mid-Eastern (1), Missouri Valley (1), Mountain West (3), Northeast (1), Ohio Valley (1), Pac-12 (4), Patriot League (1), Southeastern (8), Southern (1), Southland (1), Southwestern Athletic (1), Summit (1), Sun Belt (1), West Coast (2), Western Athletic (1)