Purdue, UConn Lead Way in NCAA’s Top 16 Bracket Reveal
The NCAA revealed its top 16 college basketball teams on Saturday, giving fans a sneak preview at how the committee views the best teams in the country.
To no surprise, No. 1 UConn and No. 2 Purdue lead the way as the top two seeds, but the committee flipped them in their mock bracket from their positions in the AP Top 25. Both teams are 22–2 on the season and are the consensus top two teams in the country, but the Boilermakers get the edge over defending-champion Huskies for the No. 1 overall seed.
No. 3 Houston is the only other team in the country with more than 20 wins, currently sitting at 21–3, making the Cougars the third No. 1 seed in the reveal. Rounding out the top seeds is No. 5 Arizona, which is 19–5 on the year.
In order, the committee’s No. 2 seeds are No. 7 North Carolina, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 4 Marquette and No. 6 Kansas. For the No. 3 seeds, the committee has No. 15 Alabama, No. 12 Baylor, No. 10 Iowa State and No. 9 Duke. Finally, rounding out the top 16 are No. 13 Auburn, unranked San Diego State, No. 14 Illinois and No. 20 Wisconsin.
NCAA early seed reveal:
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) February 17, 2024
1s. Purdue, UConn, Houston, Arizona
2s. North Carolina, Tennessee, Marquette, Kansas
3s. Alabama, Baylor, Iowa State, Duke
4s. Auburn, San Diego State, Illinois, Wisconsin
With a month left in the regular season, these rankings will obviously change when the official bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday. However, for now, this is where the top 16 teams stand in the eyes of the committee.