EAST
No. 1 Purdue will be the top team in the East Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers will have plenty of competition, as Marquette, Kansas State, and Tennessee are also in the region. The East Region semifinals and finals will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Led by big man Zach Edey, Purdue held onto the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll for a long stretch of the season. The Boilermakers struggled in conference play down the stretch, but won the regular season and conference tournaments. They will be a threat to cut down the nets in Houston.
Despite losing 20 games in the regular season, Texas Southern rallied to win the SWAC Tournament and earned its third straight trip to March Madness. It’d be a real shock if they advance.
The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights moved from 4-22 to an NCAA Tournament team in Year 1 of the Tobin Anderson era.
Memphis finished their regular season as the second seed in the AAC after two losses to Houston, but ended up grabbing the automatic bid after beating the top-ranked Cougars in the AAC Championship Game.
The Florida Atlantic Owls have had a magical run this season, finishing 29-3 while making an appearance in the Top 25. FAU’s winning streak peaked at 20 in a row from November to January. They were able to win the regular season title in Conference USA and grabbed the auto-bid by winning the league tournament.
A Duke finished the season on a nine-game winning streak after some inconsistency throughout the earlier months. They lack depth but have thrived defensively, and are top-ten nationally in offensive rebounding.
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles head will enter the NCAA Tournament as a 30-game winner with a 17-game winning streak on the line in the Round of 64.
Despite losing 20 games in the regular season, Texas Southern rallied to win the SWAC Tournament and earned its third straight trip to March Madness. It’d be a real shock if they advance.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly a decade thanks to the Sun Belt’s third-leading scorer Jordan Brown (19.4 PPG).
After notching a collection of impressive wins over fellow Big 12 powerhouses, K-State enters the Big Dance with the confidence to match up with anyone.
The Montana State Bobcats will bring an eight-game winning streak to March Madness after qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.
After a shaky start to the season, Kentucky won five of its last six games to finish third in SEC standings. They fell to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament, but are in good shape as a team as they head into the NCAA tournament.
Providence put together a solid season in a very good Big East, finishing fourth in conference standings before falling to UConn in the conference tournament.
This marks the 24th-consecutive NCAA Tournament bid for Michigan State and legendary head coach Tom Izzo. The Spartans have lost in the first round just five times in that span. Will this year be the sixth?
USC has been up-and-down in the Pac-12 this season, but the Trojans have enough talent to make a surprise run, as shown with a 13-point victory vs. No. 2 UCLA earlier this season.
The Marquette Golden Eagles finished atop the Big East standings and reached the conference championship after its best regular season in program history. Marquette averages a whopping 79.9 points per game, one of the best marks in the nation.
Vermont defeated UMass Lowell in the American East Conference Championship Game to grab an automatic bid to the tournament. The Catamounts lost just two conference games all season.
Tennessee +380
Marquette +450
Kansas State +900
Duke +1000
Kentucky +1200
Michigan State +1500
Memphis +1600
Florida Atlantic +2200
USC +2500
Providence +3000
Oral Roberts +6000
Vermont +10000
Lousiana +10000
Montana State +20000
Texas Southern +40000
Fairleigh Dickinson +40000
WEST
No. 1 Kansas will be the top team in the West Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks will have plenty of competition, as UCLA, Gonzaga, and UConn are also in the region. The West Region semifinals and finals will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
KU enters the tournament as the defending champs from last year. Can it bring back-to-back NCAA Tournament championships to Lawrence for the first time in its storied history?
Howard swept both the MEAC regular season and conference tournament championships to earn its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1992.
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
Eric Mussleman always has his teams ready to play in March, and despite the three straight losses to end the regular season, the Hogs still have the talent to make a deep run.
The Illinois Fighting Illini were a bit inconsistent down the stretch, but Terrence Shannon Jr. has the star power to take over a game with 10 20-plus point games this season.
MVP Arena, Albany, NY
The Saint Mary’s Gaels finished as the top seed after the regular season and the runner-up in the WCC tournament. Their top defense allows opponents to score just 60.1 points per game.
The VCU Rams qualified for a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four events and will bring a nine-game winning streak with them.
MVP Arena, Albany, NY
Despite finishing fourth in the Big East regular season standings, the UConn Huskies are a dangerous team to watch in the NCAA Tournament. Connecticut has been incredibly balanced this season, ranking in the top 20 for offensive efficiency, defensive efficiency and rebound rate.
Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels grabbed an automatic bid with a statement win over a Cinderella Marist squad in the MAAC Championship Game. They rank in the top 20 in assist-to-turnover ratio and protect the ball well. Forward Nelly Jackson Junior leads the team with 9.4 rebounds per game.
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
The Zags failed to win the WCC regular season title outright for the first time since 2016. While this isn’t as good a team as past Bulldogs units under Mark Few, they are playing their best basketball in March. Can they get back to the Final Four?
The Antelopes join March Madness as the WAC automatic qualifier and have the offensive firepower to put a scare into some of the top teams in the country.
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Despite TCU’s .500 conference record, the Frogs have some of the biggest wins of the season under their belts after facing a tough Big 12.
Arizona State wrapped up the regular season with two losses, but overcame Oregon State and USC in the Pac-12 tournament. The Sun Devils likely squeaked in at the last moment, and will need to win a game in Dayton to make the main field.
The Nevada Wolf Pack closed out the regular season on a three-game losing streak but secured their first 20-win season in the Steve Alford era.
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
The Northwestern Wildcats have exceeded all expectations this season with a second-place regular season finish in Big Ten play.
Boise State is 0-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament games, but the Broncos play outstanding defense, with legitimate shooters in Max Rice and Chibuzo Agbo to get off the schneid.
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
The UCLA Bruins have been on fire this season, finishing on a 10-game winning streak before reaching the Pac-12 Championship Game. They bring the top-ranked defense in the country to the court, allowing a paltry 60.1 points per game.
UNC Asheville makes their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2016 after mounting a huge comeback win in the Big South Conference Championship Game.
UCLA +275
Kansas +350
UConn +400
Gonzaga +425
Saint Mary’s +1000
TCU +1200
Arkansas +1400
Boise State +2200
Northwestern +3500
Illinois +3500
VCU +5000
Nevada +6000
Arizona State +7000
Iona +7000
Grand Canyon +10000
Howard +30000
UNC Asheville +40000
MIDWEST
No. 1 Houston will be the top team in the Midwest Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Cougars will have plenty of competition, as Texas, Xavier, and Indiana are also in the region. The Midwest Region semifinals and finals will take place at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO.
Houston finished the regular season with 32 wins, but were outmatched against Memphis in the AAC title game. They bring one of the best defenses in the country to the court, holding opponents to 56.5 points per game (second in the nation).
The Northern Kentucky Norse picked up an automatic bid to the Big Dance from the Horizon League for just their second appearance in school history. They’re led by Marques Warrick who tallies 19.1 points per game.
The Iowa Hawkeyes’ all-offense, no-defense style continued this season, but it hasn’t resulted in much NCAA Tournament success with no Sweet 16 appearances in the Fran McCaffery era.
The Auburn Tigers biggest strength comes on the defensive end, but the offensive struggles are a major reason they finished 4-9 over their final 13 contests.
Miami was crowned ACC regular-season champions, and the Hurricanes certainly have enough offensive firepower to make a Final Four run.
The Drake Bulldogs earned the auto bid from the Missouri Valley led by Tucker DeVries, who has potential to become a March Madness star after scoring 19.1 points per game. The Bulldogs enter the NCAA’s having won 13 of their last 14 games.
The Hoosiers had a dominant regular season before dropping their last few games as they lost steam in conference play. They are led by Trayce Jackson-Davis, one of the best players in college basketball this season, who averaged 20.5 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Thanks to a huge second half, the Kent State Golden Flashes beat the Toledo Rockets in the MAC Championship Game to grab an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Sincere Carry is a name to watch this tournament season – the guard leads the team with 17.6 points per game.
Xavier finished second in a strong Big East this season with wins over UConn, Creighton, and Marquette. They reached the conference championship game despite the absence of injured center, and leading rebounder, Zach Freemantle.
The Atlantic-Sun champs are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history after winning 16 of the last 18 contests.
The Cyclones had a strong start in the Big 12 but late-season struggles saw them end in sixth place and fall to Kansas in the conference tournament. They dominate on the defensive end of the court, allowing just 62.2 points per game to opponents.
We know that Mississippi State will bring it differently defensively, but will Tolu Smith and the Bulldogs’ offense show up when they need it most?
The Pittsburgh Panthers are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time during the Jeff Capel thanks to their strengths on the offensive end of the floor.
Led by Wade Taylor IV and Taylor Radford, Texas A&M finished in second place in the SEC standings after winning 17 of their last 20 games — including an upset victory over No. 2 Alabama.
After being on the bubble in mid-February, Penn State surged late to earn its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2011. Will the Nittany Lions be able to keep their hot streak going?
The Longhorns have battled arduously this year, both on and off the court. After a major win over No. 3 Kansas to close the regular season, Texas joins the Big Dance with high expectations.
The Colgate Raiders are riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the NCAA Tournament with an offense that features five players scoring double-digit points per game, and are the nation’s No. 1 team in three-point percentage at 40.9%.
Texas +300
Xavier +700
Iowa State +1000
Indiana +1200
Miami +1400
Auburn +1500
Texas A&M +1800
Iowa +2000
Penn State +3500
Drake +4500
Mississippi State +5000
Kent State +5000
Pittsburgh +8000
Kennesaw State +20000
Colgate +20000
Northern Kentucky +40000
SOUTH
No. 1 Alabama will be the top team in the South Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide will have plenty of competition, as Arizona, Baylor, and Virginia are also in the region. The South Region semifinals and finals will take place at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY.
Legacy Arena, Birmingham, AL
The Tide finished atop the SEC in the regular season, and bring an elite defense that holds opponents to the second-lowest effective field goal percentage in all of Division I. With future NBA Lottery pick Brandon Miller playing well despite controversy, the Tide are certainly capable of winning it all.
TAMU-CC won the Southland Conference for the second year in a row with a victory over Northwestern State. They wil lean on their high-scoring offense in an attempt to break out of the first few days of the Big Dance.
SEMO won the Ohio Valley Conference in an overtime thriller over Tennessee Tech. They will have to hope that their offensive productivity remains high as they go dancing.
Legacy Arena, Birmingham, AL
Maryland was outstanding at home this season (16-1) while going just 2-9 on the road. That begs the question: can the Terrapins pick up big wins outside of their home building?
West Virginia has the goods to bust a few brackets this tournament. The Mountaineers played one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season, notching quality wins over Pittsburgh, TCU, Auburn, Iowa State (twice), and Kansas State.
Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Thriving behind a deep bench, San Diego State will use depth and defense to show others why they are the Mountain West’s best.
Charleston Cougars enters the NCAA Tournament with a 10-game winning streak, including a sweep of the CAA regular season and conference titles.
Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Virginia can play quality defense, but can the Cavaliers muster enough points to make a run in the NCAA Tournament? If not, it’ll be a short stint for the Cavs.
The Furman Paladins are dancing for the first time in 43 years behind Southern Conference leading scorer Mike Bothwell, who averages 18 points per game. They are the nation’s No. 1 team from two-point range at 59.1%.
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
The Baylor Bears have ranked inside the top 15 since late January with Keyonte George, Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer all scoring 14+ points per game.
UCSB finished their regular season with four wins before reaching the Big West Championship Game. They beat Cal State Fullerton by 10 points to grab an automatic bid.
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Even though Creighton exited the Big East Tournament with a loss to Xavier, the Bluejays got healthy and found their rhythm in the final six weeks of the season. They bring a 14-6 mark in Big East play and a top-15 defense in adjusted efficiency.
North Carolina State enters the tournament with a chance to make some noise, but will the Wolfpack’s most recent losses catch up to them and force them into an early exit?
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Missouri finished the season with five wins in its last six games, notching an impressive 24-9 overall record while ranking fourth in the SEC.
Utah State put together a late-season run that carried the Aggies to the Mountain West Conference Championship Game. They fell in that game to SDSU, but the Aggies’ powerful offense and impressive run earned them an at-large bid.
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Despite dropping two of their final three regular season games, the Arizona Wildcats won the Pac-12 Tournament and enter the Big Dance with all the aspirations of making another run to the Final Four. In head coach Tommy Lloyd’s second year, can U of A make it back to the promised land?
Princeton secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after beating Yale in the Ivy League Championship. Thanks to Ivy League Rookie of the Year Caden Pierce, the Tigers have been a very good rebounding team this season.
Alabama +200
Arizona +380
San Diego State +600
Creighton +800
Baylor +800
Utah State +1300
West Virginia +1400
Virginia +1500
Maryland +2500
Missouri +4000
NC State +5000
Charleston +5000
Furman +8000
UC Santa Barbara +15000
Princeton +30000
Southeast Missouri State +50000
Texas A&M Corpus-Christi +50000
No. 1 Purdue will be the top team in the East Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers will have plenty of competition, as Marquette, Kansas State, and Tennessee are also in the region. The East Region semifinals and finals will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Texas Southern/Fairleigh Dickinson
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OHLed by big man Zach Edey, Purdue held onto the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll for a long stretch of the season. The Boilermakers struggled in conference play down the stretch, but won the regular season and conference tournaments. They will be a threat to cut down the nets in Houston.
Despite losing 20 games in the regular season, Texas Southern rallied to win the SWAC Tournament and earned its third straight trip to March Madness. It’d be a real shock if they advance.
The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights moved from 4-22 to an NCAA Tournament team in Year 1 of the Tobin Anderson era.
No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OHMemphis finished their regular season as the second seed in the AAC after two losses to Houston, but ended up grabbing the automatic bid after beating the top-ranked Cougars in the AAC Championship Game.
The Florida Atlantic Owls have had a magical run this season, finishing 29-3 while making an appearance in the Top 25. FAU’s winning streak peaked at 20 in a row from November to January. They were able to win the regular season title in Conference USA and grabbed the auto-bid by winning the league tournament.
No. 5 Duke vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts
Amway Center, Orlando, FLA Duke finished the season on a nine-game winning streak after some inconsistency throughout the earlier months. They lack depth but have thrived defensively, and are top-ten nationally in offensive rebounding.
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles head will enter the NCAA Tournament as a 30-game winner with a 17-game winning streak on the line in the Round of 64.
No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Louisiana
Amway Center, Orlando, FLDespite losing 20 games in the regular season, Texas Southern rallied to win the SWAC Tournament and earned its third straight trip to March Madness. It’d be a real shock if they advance.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly a decade thanks to the Sun Belt’s third-leading scorer Jordan Brown (19.4 PPG).
No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 14 Montana State
Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NCAfter notching a collection of impressive wins over fellow Big 12 powerhouses, K-State enters the Big Dance with the confidence to match up with anyone.
The Montana State Bobcats will bring an eight-game winning streak to March Madness after qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence
Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NCAfter a shaky start to the season, Kentucky won five of its last six games to finish third in SEC standings. They fell to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament, but are in good shape as a team as they head into the NCAA tournament.
Providence put together a solid season in a very good Big East, finishing fourth in conference standings before falling to UConn in the conference tournament.
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 USC
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OHThis marks the 24th-consecutive NCAA Tournament bid for Michigan State and legendary head coach Tom Izzo. The Spartans have lost in the first round just five times in that span. Will this year be the sixth?
USC has been up-and-down in the Pac-12 this season, but the Trojans have enough talent to make a surprise run, as shown with a 13-point victory vs. No. 2 UCLA earlier this season.
No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Vermont
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OHThe Marquette Golden Eagles finished atop the Big East standings and reached the conference championship after its best regular season in program history. Marquette averages a whopping 79.9 points per game, one of the best marks in the nation.
Vermont defeated UMass Lowell in the American East Conference Championship Game to grab an automatic bid to the tournament. The Catamounts lost just two conference games all season.
Odds to win East Region courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Purdue +220Tennessee +380
Marquette +450
Kansas State +900
Duke +1000
Kentucky +1200
Michigan State +1500
Memphis +1600
Florida Atlantic +2200
USC +2500
Providence +3000
Oral Roberts +6000
Vermont +10000
Lousiana +10000
Montana State +20000
Texas Southern +40000
Fairleigh Dickinson +40000
WEST
No. 1 Kansas will be the top team in the West Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks will have plenty of competition, as UCLA, Gonzaga, and UConn are also in the region. The West Region semifinals and finals will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Howard
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
KU enters the tournament as the defending champs from last year. Can it bring back-to-back NCAA Tournament championships to Lawrence for the first time in its storied history?
Howard swept both the MEAC regular season and conference tournament championships to earn its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1992.
No. 8 Arkansas vs. No. 9 Illinois
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
Eric Mussleman always has his teams ready to play in March, and despite the three straight losses to end the regular season, the Hogs still have the talent to make a deep run.
The Illinois Fighting Illini were a bit inconsistent down the stretch, but Terrence Shannon Jr. has the star power to take over a game with 10 20-plus point games this season.
No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 VCU
MVP Arena, Albany, NY
The Saint Mary’s Gaels finished as the top seed after the regular season and the runner-up in the WCC tournament. Their top defense allows opponents to score just 60.1 points per game.
The VCU Rams qualified for a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four events and will bring a nine-game winning streak with them.
No. 4 UConn vs. No. 13 Iona
MVP Arena, Albany, NY
Despite finishing fourth in the Big East regular season standings, the UConn Huskies are a dangerous team to watch in the NCAA Tournament. Connecticut has been incredibly balanced this season, ranking in the top 20 for offensive efficiency, defensive efficiency and rebound rate.
Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels grabbed an automatic bid with a statement win over a Cinderella Marist squad in the MAAC Championship Game. They rank in the top 20 in assist-to-turnover ratio and protect the ball well. Forward Nelly Jackson Junior leads the team with 9.4 rebounds per game.
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Grand Canyon
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
The Zags failed to win the WCC regular season title outright for the first time since 2016. While this isn’t as good a team as past Bulldogs units under Mark Few, they are playing their best basketball in March. Can they get back to the Final Four?
The Antelopes join March Madness as the WAC automatic qualifier and have the offensive firepower to put a scare into some of the top teams in the country.
No. 6 TCU vs. No. 11 Arizona State/Nevada
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Despite TCU’s .500 conference record, the Frogs have some of the biggest wins of the season under their belts after facing a tough Big 12.
Arizona State wrapped up the regular season with two losses, but overcame Oregon State and USC in the Pac-12 tournament. The Sun Devils likely squeaked in at the last moment, and will need to win a game in Dayton to make the main field.
The Nevada Wolf Pack closed out the regular season on a three-game losing streak but secured their first 20-win season in the Steve Alford era.
No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 Boise State
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
The Northwestern Wildcats have exceeded all expectations this season with a second-place regular season finish in Big Ten play.
Boise State is 0-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament games, but the Broncos play outstanding defense, with legitimate shooters in Max Rice and Chibuzo Agbo to get off the schneid.
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 UNC Asheville
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
The UCLA Bruins have been on fire this season, finishing on a 10-game winning streak before reaching the Pac-12 Championship Game. They bring the top-ranked defense in the country to the court, allowing a paltry 60.1 points per game.
UNC Asheville makes their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2016 after mounting a huge comeback win in the Big South Conference Championship Game.
Odds to win West Region courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
UCLA +275
Kansas +350
UConn +400
Gonzaga +425
Saint Mary’s +1000
TCU +1200
Arkansas +1400
Boise State +2200
Northwestern +3500
Illinois +3500
VCU +5000
Nevada +6000
Arizona State +7000
Iona +7000
Grand Canyon +10000
Howard +30000
UNC Asheville +40000
MIDWEST
No. 1 Houston will be the top team in the Midwest Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Cougars will have plenty of competition, as Texas, Xavier, and Indiana are also in the region. The Midwest Region semifinals and finals will take place at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO.
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Northern Kentucky
Legacy Arena, Birmingham, ALHouston finished the regular season with 32 wins, but were outmatched against Memphis in the AAC title game. They bring one of the best defenses in the country to the court, holding opponents to 56.5 points per game (second in the nation).
The Northern Kentucky Norse picked up an automatic bid to the Big Dance from the Horizon League for just their second appearance in school history. They’re led by Marques Warrick who tallies 19.1 points per game.
No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Auburn
Legacy Arena, Birmingham, ALThe Iowa Hawkeyes’ all-offense, no-defense style continued this season, but it hasn’t resulted in much NCAA Tournament success with no Sweet 16 appearances in the Fran McCaffery era.
The Auburn Tigers biggest strength comes on the defensive end, but the offensive struggles are a major reason they finished 4-9 over their final 13 contests.
No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Drake
MVP Arena, Albany, NYMiami was crowned ACC regular-season champions, and the Hurricanes certainly have enough offensive firepower to make a Final Four run.
The Drake Bulldogs earned the auto bid from the Missouri Valley led by Tucker DeVries, who has potential to become a March Madness star after scoring 19.1 points per game. The Bulldogs enter the NCAA’s having won 13 of their last 14 games.
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 Kent State
MVP Arena, Albany, NYThe Hoosiers had a dominant regular season before dropping their last few games as they lost steam in conference play. They are led by Trayce Jackson-Davis, one of the best players in college basketball this season, who averaged 20.5 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Thanks to a huge second half, the Kent State Golden Flashes beat the Toledo Rockets in the MAC Championship Game to grab an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Sincere Carry is a name to watch this tournament season – the guard leads the team with 17.6 points per game.
No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State
Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NCXavier finished second in a strong Big East this season with wins over UConn, Creighton, and Marquette. They reached the conference championship game despite the absence of injured center, and leading rebounder, Zach Freemantle.
The Atlantic-Sun champs are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history after winning 16 of the last 18 contests.
No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 11 Mississippi State/Pittsburgh
Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NCThe Cyclones had a strong start in the Big 12 but late-season struggles saw them end in sixth place and fall to Kansas in the conference tournament. They dominate on the defensive end of the court, allowing just 62.2 points per game to opponents.
We know that Mississippi State will bring it differently defensively, but will Tolu Smith and the Bulldogs’ offense show up when they need it most?
The Pittsburgh Panthers are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time during the Jeff Capel thanks to their strengths on the offensive end of the floor.
No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Penn State
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IALed by Wade Taylor IV and Taylor Radford, Texas A&M finished in second place in the SEC standings after winning 17 of their last 20 games — including an upset victory over No. 2 Alabama.
After being on the bubble in mid-February, Penn State surged late to earn its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2011. Will the Nittany Lions be able to keep their hot streak going?
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Colgate
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IAThe Longhorns have battled arduously this year, both on and off the court. After a major win over No. 3 Kansas to close the regular season, Texas joins the Big Dance with high expectations.
The Colgate Raiders are riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the NCAA Tournament with an offense that features five players scoring double-digit points per game, and are the nation’s No. 1 team in three-point percentage at 40.9%.
Odds to win Midwest Region courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Houston +160Texas +300
Xavier +700
Iowa State +1000
Indiana +1200
Miami +1400
Auburn +1500
Texas A&M +1800
Iowa +2000
Penn State +3500
Drake +4500
Mississippi State +5000
Kent State +5000
Pittsburgh +8000
Kennesaw State +20000
Colgate +20000
Northern Kentucky +40000
SOUTH
No. 1 Alabama will be the top team in the South Region in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide will have plenty of competition, as Arizona, Baylor, and Virginia are also in the region. The South Region semifinals and finals will take place at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY.
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 16 Texas A&M Corpus-Christi/Southeast Missouri State
Legacy Arena, Birmingham, AL
The Tide finished atop the SEC in the regular season, and bring an elite defense that holds opponents to the second-lowest effective field goal percentage in all of Division I. With future NBA Lottery pick Brandon Miller playing well despite controversy, the Tide are certainly capable of winning it all.
TAMU-CC won the Southland Conference for the second year in a row with a victory over Northwestern State. They wil lean on their high-scoring offense in an attempt to break out of the first few days of the Big Dance.
SEMO won the Ohio Valley Conference in an overtime thriller over Tennessee Tech. They will have to hope that their offensive productivity remains high as they go dancing.
No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 West Virginia
Legacy Arena, Birmingham, AL
Maryland was outstanding at home this season (16-1) while going just 2-9 on the road. That begs the question: can the Terrapins pick up big wins outside of their home building?
West Virginia has the goods to bust a few brackets this tournament. The Mountaineers played one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season, notching quality wins over Pittsburgh, TCU, Auburn, Iowa State (twice), and Kansas State.
No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 Charleston
Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Thriving behind a deep bench, San Diego State will use depth and defense to show others why they are the Mountain West’s best.
Charleston Cougars enters the NCAA Tournament with a 10-game winning streak, including a sweep of the CAA regular season and conference titles.
No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Furman
Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Virginia can play quality defense, but can the Cavaliers muster enough points to make a run in the NCAA Tournament? If not, it’ll be a short stint for the Cavs.
The Furman Paladins are dancing for the first time in 43 years behind Southern Conference leading scorer Mike Bothwell, who averages 18 points per game. They are the nation’s No. 1 team from two-point range at 59.1%.
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
The Baylor Bears have ranked inside the top 15 since late January with Keyonte George, Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer all scoring 14+ points per game.
UCSB finished their regular season with four wins before reaching the Big West Championship Game. They beat Cal State Fullerton by 10 points to grab an automatic bid.
No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 11 NC State
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Even though Creighton exited the Big East Tournament with a loss to Xavier, the Bluejays got healthy and found their rhythm in the final six weeks of the season. They bring a 14-6 mark in Big East play and a top-15 defense in adjusted efficiency.
North Carolina State enters the tournament with a chance to make some noise, but will the Wolfpack’s most recent losses catch up to them and force them into an early exit?
No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Utah State
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Missouri finished the season with five wins in its last six games, notching an impressive 24-9 overall record while ranking fourth in the SEC.
Utah State put together a late-season run that carried the Aggies to the Mountain West Conference Championship Game. They fell in that game to SDSU, but the Aggies’ powerful offense and impressive run earned them an at-large bid.
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Princeton
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Despite dropping two of their final three regular season games, the Arizona Wildcats won the Pac-12 Tournament and enter the Big Dance with all the aspirations of making another run to the Final Four. In head coach Tommy Lloyd’s second year, can U of A make it back to the promised land?
Princeton secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after beating Yale in the Ivy League Championship. Thanks to Ivy League Rookie of the Year Caden Pierce, the Tigers have been a very good rebounding team this season.
Odds to win South Region courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Alabama +200
Arizona +380
San Diego State +600
Creighton +800
Baylor +800
Utah State +1300
West Virginia +1400
Virginia +1500
Maryland +2500
Missouri +4000
NC State +5000
Charleston +5000
Furman +8000
UC Santa Barbara +15000
Princeton +30000
Southeast Missouri State +50000
Texas A&M Corpus-Christi +50000
