Bracketology Update: Alabama Holds No. 2 Seed Despite Loss to Auburn

Auburn and Alabama Maintain Top Seeds in NCAA Tournament Projection

The latest NCAA Tournament bracket projection remains unchanged at the top, reflecting the selection committee’s Saturday update. Auburn holds the No. 1 overall seed following its victory over Alabama. Meanwhile, despite their loss, the Crimson Tide remains the second overall seed. Duke and Florida are rounding out the No. 1 seeds, reinforcing their strong tournament bids.

Key Shifts in the Bracket

The most immediate change in the seeding occurred in the game following the committee’s bracket release. Wisconsin delivered an incredible performance, shooting 72% in the second half at Mackey Arena to defeat Purdue 94-84. This loss dropped the Boilermakers from a No. 2 seed to a No. 3, while the Badgers climbed up to the No. 2 seed line.

Additional top-16 upsets included No. 3 seed Kentucky, Arizona, and No. 4 seed Kansas. As a result, each of these teams fell one seed line lower, with Kansas dropping out of the top 16 entirely.

Bracketology Top Seeds and Notable Movements

Memphis Takes a Hit in Rankings

Memphis fell two seed lines, landing at No. 7 after a tough road loss to Wichita State. While the Tigers have secured several quality wins in nonconference play, their three Quad 3 losses out of five total defeats significantly impact their ranking. Memphis struggles in predictive metrics, averaging a rank of 46, whereas their overall ranking across other metrics stands at 16. Since the selection committee favours predictive analytics, Memphis could be under-seeded when Selection Sunday arrives.

UConn Joins the Bubble Watch

One of the biggest surprises of the latest bracketology update is the appearance of two-time reigning champion UConn on the tournament bubble. The Huskies suffered their second Quad 3 loss of the season, falling to Seton Hall. If UConn defeats teams they are expected to beat, their position will stabilize. However, their inconsistency puts their tournament hopes in jeopardy.

Texas Makes a Strong Push

Texas emerged as a major winner among bubble teams over the weekend. The Longhorns secured a crucial victory over Kentucky, significantly enhancing their tournament resume. Texas has re-entered the bracket with wins against three of the SEC’s top teams—all on their home court. Their next four games include three road matchups, making this stretch crucial for their tournament fate.

Georgia Falls Out of the Bracket

Texas’ return to the bracket came at the expense of Georgia. The Bulldogs suffered a disappointing home loss to Missouri, dropping their record in Quad 1 games to 2-10. This marks their eighth defeat in their last 10 games, severely damaging their tournament prospects. Alongside Arkansas, Georgia is fighting to remain in contention, but the bracket may not be large enough to accommodate all these struggling teams. Arkansas, currently in the First Four, lost to Texas A&M on Saturday but remains in the field.

Indiana and West Virginia Face Challenges

Indiana missed an opportunity to re-enter the bracket, falling at home to UCLA on Friday. The Hoosiers will have a critical chance to boost their resume when they host Purdue this Saturday.

Meanwhile, West Virginia is on the brink of elimination from the bracket altogether. The Mountaineers have lost six of their last eight games, including a 74-71 overtime defeat at Baylor. Their only matchup against a top-tier opponent is Texas Tech, meaning they must capitalize on the remainder of their schedule to avoid slipping out of the tournament field.

As the NCAA Tournament approaches, the competition for top seeds remains intense. Auburn and Alabama continue to lead the way, but shifts among the No. 2 and No. 3 seed lines demonstrate how volatile the bracket can be. Teams on the bubble, like Texas, UConn, and West Virginia, must seize upcoming opportunities to solidify their positions. Stay tuned for more bracketology updates as Selection Sunday draws closer.