Sunday’s selection for the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is here.
The 68-team field has taken shape through conference tournament week, and Sunday’s schedule will complete it with five tournament finals. The bracket changed from the No. 1 seed to Bubbles in the last five days, and SN tracked all the action with a daily update.
More: tracking automatic bids
One of Sporting News’s updated fields is to watch the selections on Sunday.
March Madness bracket forecast for 2021 NCAA tournament
Estimated number 1 seed
- ** Gonzagaaga 26-0 (West Coast)
- Boiler 22-2
- Illinois 22-6 (Big Ten)
- Michigan 20-4
Inferiority: Will Michigan further influence Isaiah Liver’s foot injury to the selection committee? The Wolverines lost 68–67 to Ohio State in the Big Ten semifinals and would have topped the Illinois tournament, at least. Michigan lost three of its last five matches. That said, it should hold on to the final No. 1 seed.
Estimated 2 seeds
- Ohio State 21-8
- Alabama 23-6 (SEC)
- Houston 23-3 (American)
- Iowa 21-8
Inferiority: Houston, Ohio State and Alabama all play Sundays, but it will be difficult for any of them to walk that number 1 line. Ohio State ensured the No. 2 seed with a win against rival Michigan, and the Buckeyes could be served as a No. 1 seed in a loose conversation, as they would have a 3–2 record against the Wolverines and the Illini . Alabama should also remain as the No. 2 seed after being knocked out of Tennessee in the SEC semi-final thriller 73-68. It didn’t hurt that Arkansas lost.
Estimated 3 seeds
- ** Texas 19-7 (Big 12)
- Arkansas 22-6
- Oklahoma State 20-8
- Kansas 20-8
Inferiority: This is the Big 12 line. Texas is the conference tournament champion and thus a No. 3 seed. Oklahoma State, the Longhorns’ rival in the finals, will share that line. Both Coons and Virginia left their conference tournament due to COVID-19 trials, and the best case scenario for both is that they can play on Saturday in the first round. It will be interesting to see how uncertainty extends to their seeds, but this line seems like an easy solution for KU.
4 seeds are estimated
- Florida State 16-6
- West Virginia 18-9
- Virginia 18-6
- Purdue 18-9
Inferiority: The states of Virginia and Florida fall on this line as a result of an ACC tournament that was influenced by COVID-19. The semifinals lost their chance to climb to the No. 3 line after losing the ACC championship game to Georgia Tech.
Estimated 5 seeds
- Villanova 16-6
- Crayton 20-8
- LSU 18-8
- Tennis 18-8
Inferiority: LSU has won seven of the top seven matches in the matchup with Alabama. Tennessee also got the line after Colorado lost in the Pac-12 championship game. Craigton and Villanova lost opportunities to go in a row after losing to Georgetown in the Big East tournament.
6 seeds are estimated
- Wisconsin 17-12
- Colorado 22-8
- Texas Tech 17-10
- USC 22-7
Inferiority: Texas Tech and Wisconsin have double-digit losses, but both will also benefit from the strength of their conferences to stay on the line. The Red Raiders and Badgers should not go beyond number 7.
Projected 7 seeds
- BYU 20-6
- ** San Diego State 23-4 (Mountain West)
- Oregon 20-6
- North Carolina 18-10
Inferiority: It is the West Coast line with BYU, Oregon and San Diego State. Aztec and Cougar rank in the top 25 in Kentech. North Carolina may be a No. 8 seed, but a strong performance in the ACC tournament, not to mention the power of the brand, will put the Tar Heels on the line.
8 seeds are estimated
- ** Loyola Chicago 24-4 (MVC)
- ** Georgia Tech 17-8 (ACC)
- Connecticut 15-6
- Oklahoma 15-10
Inferiority: Georgia Tech jumps to this line after winning the ACC tournament. The Rumblers are an interesting team; They could challenge a top seed given the right matchup. If the Atlantic lose to VCU in the 10 championship games then St. Bonventure could fall a touch.
MORE: Michigan’s Juwan Howard is Sporting News’ Coach of the Year
Estimates for rest area
No. 9 seeds: Clemson 16-7, St. Bonventure 15-4 (A-10), Virginia Tech 15-6, Florida 14-9
Number 10 seed: Missouri 17-9, Maryland 16-13, Rutgers 15-10, VCU 19-6
11 seeds: ** Oregon State 17-12 (Pac-12), Louisville 13-7, Michigan State 15-12, Utah State * 20-8, Drake * 25-4
Number 12 seed: ** North Texas 17-9 (C-USA), ** UC Santa Barbara 22-4 (Big West), ** Georgetown (Big East) 12-12, UCLA * 17-9, Syracuse * 16-9
13 no seeds: ** Liberty 22-5 (A-Sun), ** Winthrop 23-1 (Big South), ** Ohio 16-7 (MAC), Colgate 12-7 (Patriots)
14 seeds: ** UNC-Greensboro 20-8 (Southern), ** Morehead State 23-7 (Ohio Valley), ** Grand Canyon 17-6 (WAC), ** Eastern Washington 15-7 (Big Sky)
15 no seeds: ** Cleveland State 19-7 (Horizon), ** Iona 12-5 (MAAC), ** Oral Roberts 16-10 (Summit), ** Drexel 12-7 (Colonial)
No. 16 seeds: ** Abilene Christian 23-4 (Southland), ** Hartford 15-America (East of America), ** Norfolk State * 15- (MEAC), ** Texas Southern * 16- ((SWAC), ** Appalachian State * 17-11 (Sun Belt), ** Mount St. Mary * 12-10 (Northeast)
Teams play on Sundays
* First four teams
** Teams that make automatic bids
In the last four
- Drake 25-4
- Utah State 20-8
- Syracuse 16-9
- UCLA 17-9
Inferiority: This sets up a blood-blood first four matchup between UCLA and Syracuse. There are also Drake and Utah states. All of these teams are rooting for Houston in the American Athletic Conference Championship over Cincinnati.
First four out
- Wichita State 16-5
- St. Louis 14-6
- Colorado State 18-6
- Xavier 13-8
Inferiority: Oregon State and Georgetown edged out Wichita State and St. Louis with a surprise conference tournament run. The MWC teams Boise State and Colorado State will not crack much in the 68-team field. Xavier’s bubble was burst with the loss of Seton Hall. The Duke also remains to be seen outside.
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