Purdue, UConn, Houston and Arizona were ranked as No. 1 seeds Saturday by the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee in its top 16 preview, three weeks ahead of Selection Sunday.
The top four seeds were voted in that order on every member’s ballot for the first time in selection committee history, chairman Charles McClelland said.
The No. 2 seeds were North Carolina, Tennessee, Marquette and Kansas. The No. 3s were Alabama, Baylor, Iowa State and Duke, while the No. 4s were Auburn, San Diego State, Illinois and Wisconsin.
According to the NCAA, 83 percent of teams included since the bracket preview began in 2017 have remained among the top four seeds. In each of the last two years, 15 of the early top 16 seeds were still there when the tournament tipped off. Last year, all four of the early No. 1 seeds and three of the No. 2 seeds held on to their status; nine of the top 16 moved two spots or less from the early reveal to the final seed list.
Selection Sunday is set for March 17. The 68-team men’s bracket and field for the NCAA Tournament will be announced at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
NCAA Top 16
1. Purdue
2. UConn
3. Houston
4. Arizona
5. North Carolina
6. Tennessee
7. Marquette
8. Kansas
9. Alabama
10. Baylor
11. Iowa State
12. Duke
13. Auburn
14. San Diego State
15. Illinois
16. Wisconsin
Midwest (Detroit)
1. Purdue
2. Tennessee
3. Baylor
4. San Diego State
East (Boston)
1. UConn
2. North Carolina
3. Iowa State
4. Wisconsin
South (Dallas)
1. Houston
2. Marquette
3. Alabama
4. Illinois
West (Los Angeles)
1. Arizona
2. Kansas
3. Duke
4. Auburn
This story will be updated.
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(Photo of Purdue’s Braden Smith and Arizona’s Kylan Boswell: Michael Hickey / Getty Images)
