A new bracket update is live on the Bracketology hub, and the top two seeds remain unchanged for now. However, this could change after the games on Monday.
Alabama holds the No. 2 overall seed despite a recent loss to Missouri. They are facing Kentucky this Saturday, and if Alabama loses again, they might slip down in the rankings.
The likely contender to take Alabama’s spot could be the winner of the upcoming match between No. 5 seed Tennessee and No. 6 seed Texas A&M. The outcome of that game will determine if either keeps their No. 2 status.
In another intriguing matchup, No. 3 seed Iowa State will visit No. 2 seed Houston. A win for Iowa State could push them higher in the rankings, depending on how other teams perform. Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Wisconsin is preparing to host Oregon.
No. 1 seed Duke is set to take on Illinois in a nonconference game at Madison Square Garden. Duke, currently the No. 3 overall seed, typically plays here yearly but had to squeeze in this matchup late in the season. With Illinois on a downward trend after two consecutive losses, Duke may catch a break. This matchup is significant for Duke, as they’ve participated in only three high-stakes games recently, all of which were against ACC opponents.
Kansas has dropped to a No. 6 seed after a tough loss to BYU. This setback marks a trend, as Kansas struggled towards the end of the last season too. They’ve lost three of their last four games, including a notable defeat by BYU.
- Texas Tech made the biggest drop in the latest bracket, falling five spots after losing to TCU. They went from a 12 seed to a 17 seed, highlighting a significant shift in their standing.
- Ohio State has fallen off the bracket completely after a disappointing 70-49 defeat to Northwestern. With a current record of 15-12, they have a tough road ahead with three of their final four games away from home.
- This weekend will kick off with a big contest between Michigan State and Michigan, as both teams fight for the top position in the Big Ten. Michigan currently leads by half a game, while Wisconsin is also in the chase.
