March Madness is only a month away.
With that in mind, Sporting News announced the first 68th Field for the upcoming NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which begins March 15. This year’s finals take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans from April 2-4.
Every week, SN will update our tournament predictions leading up to Big Dance.
GIVE ADVICE: UCLA, Confidence Is Rising in SN’s Latest NCAA Basketball Strength Rankings
Our first installment featured Auburn, Gonzaga and Big 12 rival Kansas and Baylor on the first seed. The Jayhawks and Bears both lost the SEC-Big 12 challenge, but they meet on Saturday in A match could help the conference host at least one of the top seeds.
We will also burst the league bubble every week. Creighton, West Virginia and San Diego State are among the official tournaments on the bubble this week.
Who is our field 68? Here’s a closer look:
NCAA School Tournament of 68 Predictions
No. 1 seed
* Auburn (20-1, 8-0 SECOND)
Summary: Net: 6, KenPom: 6. The Tigers are the first team to have 20 wins and Bruce Pearl is locked in a renewal. Auburn is the most solid No. 1 seed at the moment.
* Gonzaga (17-2, 6-0 WCC)
Summary: Net: 1, KenPom: 1. Bulldogs are leading 6-2 in matches with Quad 1 and Quad 2.
* Kansas (17-3, 6-1, Big 12)
Summary: Net: 9, KenPom: 10. The loss to Kentucky was a setback, but the Jayhawks can continue to maintain this win with a win over Baylor on Saturday.
Baylor (18-3, 6-2, Big 12)
Summary: Net: 4, KenPom: 2. The loser of Saturday’s Big 12 will drop to second place. Currently, both are on this line.
Bead No. 2
* Wisconsin (March 17, 8-2 Big Ten)
Summary: Net: 21, KenPom: 26, in Illinois on Feb. 2. The Badgers have 10 wins against Quad 1 or Quad 2 teams.
Purdue (18-3, 7-3 Big Ten)
Summary: Net: 8, KenPom: 8. Motherboard is a solid 2 with a 6-2 record against Quad 1 teams.
* UCLA (16-2, 8-1 Pac-12)
Summary: Net: 10, KenPom: 9. Bruins are winning against Quad 1 or Quad 2 teams by 7-2, which helps them to maintain their form.
* Duke (17-3, 7-2 ACC)
Summary: Net: 13, KenPom: 12. Duke’s ratings are a bit lower, but the road games in Notre Dame and North Carolina will draw attention this week.
Bead No. 3
Kentucky (17-4, 6-2 SECOND)
Summary: Net: 7, KenPom: 3. The Wildcats were announced with a decisive 80-62 win over Kansas on Saturday.
Texas Tech (16-5, 5-3 Big 12)
Summary: Net: 11, KenPom: 11. The Red Raiders face Texas on Tuesday in Chris Beard’s first game at Lubbock.
* Supply (18-2, 8-1 Big East)
Summary: Net: 30, KenPom: 46. Friars won 4-0 against ranked Big East teams even though Net and KenPom’s rankings were lower than other Big East contenders.
LSU (16-5, 4-4 SECOND)
Summary: Net: 10, KenPom: 12. TCU’s loss was a defeat, but the Tigers’ next six games were against underrated opponents.
Bead No. 4
Villanova (16-5, 9-2 Big East)
Summary: Net: 5, KenPom: 7. The Wildcats have Net and KenPom ratings well above their record, and they need to beat Providence in the Big East race to get ahead.
Michigan State (April 16, 7-2 Big Ten)
Summary: Net: 18, KenPom: 19. Sparta face Maryland and Rutgers this week before having a chance to wipe out the Badgers on Feb. 8.
* Houston (18-2, 7-0 AAC)
Summary: Net: 2, KenPom: 5. Cougars have a good case for the 2nd seed, but without many flaws.
Arizona (16-2, 6-1 Pac-12)
Summary: Net: 3, KenPom: 4. Wildcats are 6-2 in Quad or Quad 2 games.
Bead No. 5
Texas (16-5, 5-3 Big 12)
Summary: Net: 17, KenPom: 15. The Longhorns scored after a 52-52 win over Tennessee and former coach Rick Barnes.
Tennessee (14-5, 5-3 SECOND)
Summary: Net: 12, KenPom: 14. Vols is 6-6 against Quad 1 and Quad 2, so the case for the 4th seed is still strong.
Illinois (May 15, 8-2 Big Ten)
Summary: Net: 15, KenPom: 16. Illini has a declared home game against Wisconsin on Wednesday.
Alabama (14-7, 4-4 SECOND)
Summary: Net: 22, KenPom: 18. The 87-78 win over Baylor was a huge boost.
Bead No. 6
UConn (April 15, 6-2 Big East)
Summary: Net: 16, KenPom: 17. Huskies could come up with wins over Creighton and Villanova this week.
Ohio State (May 13, 6-3 Big Ten)
Summary: Net: 19, KenPom: 21. Buckeyes have six straight games against underrated opponents.
Iowa State (16-5, 3-5 Big 12)
Summary: Net: 27, KenPom: 28. The Cyclones get Kansas at home on Tuesday.
USC (18-3, 8-3 Pac-12)
Summary: Net: 26, KenPom: 27. The Trojan has Net/KenPom consistent with this line.
Bead No. 7
Xavier (15-5, 5-4 Big East)
Summary: Net: 20, KenPom: 23. Musketeers lost head-to-head to Marquette. If not, we’ll push them to line 6.
Indiana (16-5, 7-4 Big Ten)
Summary: Net: 25, KenPom: 29. Hoosiers are 4-5 ahead of Quad 1 / Quad 2.
St. Mary’s (April 17, 5-1 WCC)
Summary: Net: 24, KenPom: 20. Gaels are 5-4 against Quad 1 / Quad 2.
Marquette (15-7, 7-4 Big East)
Summary: Net: 28, KenPom: 30. The Eagles are leading 5-5 ahead of Quad 1.
Bead No. 8
* Loyola-Chicago (April 16, 7-2)
Summary: Net: 31, Ken: Pom 32. Watch out for Drake, who beat the Ramblers 77-68 on January 29.
Miami (16-5, 8-2 ACC)
Summary: Net: 61, KenPom: 54. The Hurricanes’ Net/KenPom didn’t match first in the ACC.
Wake Forest (17-5, 7-4 ACC)
Summary: Net: 43, KenPom: 43. Deacons are about to lose to Syracuse.
Iowa (14-6, 4-5 Big Ten)
Summary: Net: 23, KenPom 22. The Hawkeyes could score a big road win at Ohio State on Thursday.
THAN: Louisville can avoid pain by naming its new coach Kenny Payne
Bead No. 9
Arkansas (16-5, 5-3 SECOND)
Summary: Net: 46, KenPom: 39. The Razorbacks have won six games in a row.
Oklahoma (13-8, 3-5 Big 12)
Summary: Net: 34, KenPom: 28. Sooners are 3-7 against Quad 1.
* Boise status (17-4, 8-0 MWC)
Summary: Net: 39, Ken: Pom 40. The Broncos are 4-1 against the Quad.
TCU (14-4, 3-3 Big 12)
Summary: Net: 52, KenPom: 50. Horned Frogs had a winning streak with a 77-68 win over LSU.
Bead No. 10
State of Colorado (February 16, February 6 MWC)
Summary: Net: 36, Ken: Pom 48. The Rams will suffer an 88-74 defeat to UNLV.
* Murray State (20-2, 10-0 OVC)
Summary: Net: 27, KenPom: 37. The drivers were the 12th seed in 2018 and 2019.
BYU (17-6, 5-3 WCC)
Summary: Net: 28, KenPom: 33. Cougars drop after losing to Santa Clara and Pacific.
* Davidson (17-3, 7-1 A-10)
Summary: Net: 48, KenPom: 51. Wildcats are 13-0 against Quad 3 and Quad 4.
Bead No. 11
North Carolina (14-6, 6-3 ACC)
Summary: Net: 37, KenPom: 34. Tar Heels could settle their records with Louisville and Duke this week.
Wyoming (March 16, March 5 of MWC)
Summary: Net: 35, KenPom: 53. Cowboys play Boise State on Thursday.
Seton Hall (12-7, 3-6 Big East)
Summary: Net: 42, KenPom: 44. Three Quad 1 wins are helping the Pirates.
San Francisco (May 17, 4-3 WCC)
Summary: Net: 40, KenPom: 36. The Dons are team 2-3 against Quad 1.
Bead No. 12
Oregon (13-7, 6-3 Pac-12)
Summary: Net: 58, KenPom: 49. The Ducks won USC and UCLA.
State of Florida (13-7, 6-3 ACC)
Summary: Net: 79, KenPom: 79. Seminoles are 5-5 against Quad 1 and Quad 2.
Notre Dame Cathedral (June 14, 7-2 ACC)
Summary: Net: 68, KenPom: 66. Irish are 1-4 against Quad 1.
Texas A&M (15-6, 4-4 SECOND)
Summary: Net: 65, KenPom: 72. The Aggies are on a four-game losing streak.
* North Texas (April 15, 8-1)
Summary: Net: 54, KenPom: 67. Mean Green will have to draw UAB in C-USA.
* Iona (18-3, 10-0 MAAC)
Summary: Net: 57, KenPom: 70. Rick Pitino took on Gaels 9-0 at home.
Bead No. 13
* Chattanooga (April 18, January 8 in the South)
Summary: Net: 39, KenPom: 59
* Toledo (17-4, 9-1 MAC)
Summary: Net: 60, KenPom: 71
* Vermont (April 15, February 7, US East)
Summary: Net: 70, KenPom: 76
* South Dakota State (April 19, 10-0) Summit
Summary: Net: 74, KenPom: 78
Bead No. 14
* Wagner (14-2, 10-0 North East)
Summary: Net: 84, KenPom: 108
* Oakland (May 16, 9-1 Horizon)
Summary: Net: 101, KenPom: 110
* Jacksonville State (June 15, A-Sun 8-0)
Summary: Net: 111, KenPom: 113
* Princeton (April 15, 5-1 Ivy)
Summary: Net: 129, KenPom: 148
THAN: Sporting News’ Midseason Americans
Bead No. 15
* Seattle (17-4, 8-0 WAC)
Summary: Real: 118, KenPom: 125
* Bang Weber (May 16, 9-1 Big Sky)
Summary: Net: 122, KenPom: 119
* Cal-State Fullerton (12-6, 5-1 Big West)
Summary: Net: 143, KenPom: 147
* Longwood (15-5, 7-0 Big South)
Summary: Net: 141, KenPom: 161
Bead No. 16
* Appalachian State (September 14, 8-2 The Belt of the Sun)
Summary: Net: 150, KenPom: 157
* Norfolk State (April 15, 6-0 MEAC)
Summary: Net: 144, KenPom: 206
* UNC-Wilmington (14-5, 7-0 CAA)
Summary: Net: 196, KenPom: 222
* Army (September 13, 7-3 Patriot)
Summary: Net: 261, KenPom: 276
* New Orleans (12-8, 5-0 Southland)
Summary: Real: 256, KenPom: 272
* Florida A&M (8-11, 6-2 SWAC)
Summary: Net: 305, KenPom: 303
Four on the bubble
Creighton (12-6, 4-3 Big East)
Summary: Net: 67, KenPom: 56. The Blue Jays are on a two-game losing streak and had a rough week against UConn and Seton Hall.
West Virginia (13-7, 2-5 Big 12)
Summary: Net: 64, KenPom: 64. The Mountaineers have lost 5 games in a row.
San Diego State (May 11, 3-2 MWC)
Summary: Net: 51, KenPom: 38. 10-1 in Quads 3-4, the Aztecs have plenty to do in a competitive MWC.
SMU (16-4, 7-1 AAC)
Summary: Net: 55, KenPom: 60. Mustang hasn’t lost since January 6 and could make AAC a two-bid tournament.
Upcoming Bubble games to follow
Iowa in West Virginia (Tuesday)
Wyoming vs. Boise State (Thursday)
Stanford in Oregon (Thursday)
Seton Hall at Creighton (Friday)
Wake Forest in Florida State (Saturday)
