LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 25: Elliot Cadeau #3, Aday Mara #15, Will Tschetter #42, and Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate after their team's 3-point basket against the Auburn Tigers during the second half of a Players Era Championship basketball tournament game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 25, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Michigan, Duke, Arizona, Iowa State earn top seeds in 16-team bracket preview

2 months ago

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The NCAA Tournament selection committee unveiled a sneak peek at its top 16 teams for March Madness in Saturday's bracket preview.

Michigan, Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State earned the No. 1 seeds in the early rankings. The Cyclones fended off UConn and Arizona for the final No. 1 spot.

Despite suffering a 91-84 loss to Creighton on Wednesday, the Huskies landed the top No. 2 seed. Houston also snagged a No. 2 seed ahead of its Big 12 showdown against Arizona on Saturday afternoon. Illinois and Purdue rounded out the No. 2 teams.

The Top 16 seeds in bracket form 👀

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NCAA Tournament selection committee chair Keith Gill said Alabama and Arkansas were the first two schools left out of the 16-team field, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

Texas Tech ranked as the top 4-seed in the committee's bracket, even after losing star JT Toppin for the rest of the season to a torn ACL.

Both the Big Ten and Big 12 placed five teams in the rankings. The ACC and SEC each secured two spots, while the Big East and WCC each had one.

Saturday's preliminary rankings are likely to see several changes ahead of Selection Sunday on March 15.