The first weekend of February is here, and it brings some serious college basketball rivalries on the schedule.
Duke meets North Carolina. Purdue plays Indiana. Gonzaga and St. Mary's are hooking up on the West Coast. It’s time to start projecting our Field of 68 for the 2023 men’s basketball tournament. We will unveil a new projected tournament field each week ahead of Selection Sunday on March 12.
This year’s Final Four is April 1-3 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
SN will update our tournament projections each day the week leading up to Selection Sunday. The Boilermakers are one of four SN picks to be a No. 1 seed in their initial field. They join Houston and a pair of SEC schools in Tennessee and Alabama.
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We also will break down the tournament bubble each week. Right now our first four out features Ohio State, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia Tech.
Who is our Field of 68? Here is a closer look:
* - Projected automatic bid
**- First Four game
Net - NCAA's Net rankings
KenPom - Pomeroy Ratings
NCAA tournament Field of 68 projections
No. 1 Seeds
*Houston (20-2, 8-1 American)
Resume: Net: 1, KenPom: 2
The Cougars have an impressive resume, but they also don’t have a ranked team left on the schedule.
*Purdue (21-1, 10-1 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 3, KenPom: 4
Boilermakers have piled up an impressive 7-1 record in Quad 1.
*Alabama (18-3, 8-0 SEC)
Resume: Net: 4, KenPom: 5
A 93-69 loss to Oklahoma was startling, but an unbeaten record in the SEC keeps the Crimson Tide here.
Tennessee (18-3, 7-1 SEC)
Resume: Net: 2, KenPom: 1
The Vols have won four straight since the 63-56 loss to Kentucky on Jan. 14.
No. 2 Seeds
Kansas (17-4, 5-3 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 8, KenPom: 9
Jayhawks broke a three-game losing streak by beating Kentucky, and they get a return game Tuesday with Kansas State.
Kansas State (18-3, 6-2 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 16, KenPom: 25
Wildcats have been impressive, but KenPom the ratings metrics do not favor them as much as the other Big 12 powers.
*Arizona (19-3, 8-3)
Resume: Net: 10, KenPom: 12
Wildcats are 7-2 in Quad 1 and have a real case to be a No. 1 seed.
UCLA (17-4, 8-2 Pac-12)
Resume: Net: 5, KenPom: 3
Bruins are on a two-game skid that has them close to dropping another seed line.
No. 3 Seeds
Texas (18-4, 7-2 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 9, KenPom: 10
The loss at Tennessee was a missed opportunity, but Monday's win against Baylor inches the Longhorns closer to a No. 2 seed.
*Virginia (17-3, 9-2 ACC)
Resume: Net: 15, KenPom: 13
The Cavaliers stand as the highest-ranked ACC team. Virginia is 3-3 in Quad 1.
Iowa State (15-6, 6-3 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 11, KenPom: 17
Back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Missouri hurt, but the Cyclones can validate high rankings with a victory against Kansas on Saturday.
*Xavier (17-5, 9-2 Big East)
Resume: Net: 27, KenPom: 22
The Musketeers are the top Big East team, and Wednesday’s showdown with Providence is a chance to bounce back from a loss to Creighton.
No. 4 seeds
Marquette (16-5, 8-2 Big East)
Resume: Net: 12, KenPom: 8
Marquette is on a three-game winning streak. The rematch with Xavier on Feb. 15 will be huge.
Baylor (16-6, 5-4 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 13 KenPom: 14
The Bears have had ups-and-downs, but they still have a 7-6 record against Quad 1 after Monday's loss to Texas.
TCU (16-5, 5-3 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 17, KenPom: 15
Guard Mike Miles’ injury is not season-ending, but the Horned Frogs will have to negotiate a tough stretch ahead in the Big 12 without him.
Gonzaga (18-4, 7-1 WCC)
Resume: Net: 14, KenPom: 16. There aren’t too many opportunities for Quad 1 games, where the Bulldogs are 3-3 this season.
No. 5 seeds
UConn (16-6, 5-6 Big East)
Resume: Net: 7, KenPom: 6
The Huskies have the highest combined Net/KenPom ranking of any Big East team.
Indiana (15-6, 6-4 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 20, KenPom: 19
The Hoosiers have won five in a row and have a chance to move up against rival Purdue on Saturday.
Illinois (15-6, 6-4 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 26, KenPom: 23
The Illini don’t have a ranked team on the schedule until a Feb. 18 date against Indiana. Look for Illinois to surge up.
Providence (17-5, 8-2 Big East)
Resume: Net: 32, KenPom: 30
The rankings aren’t indicative of a good Friars’ team. That 3-4 record against Quad 1 needs to improve.
No. 6 seeds
Miami (16-5, 7-4 ACC)
Resume: Net: 45, KenPom: 39
The Canes are part of that second tier of ACC teams whose seed could fluctuate a great deal for the next few weeks.
St. Mary's (18-4, 7-0 WCC)
Resume: Net: 6, KenPom: 7
St. Mary’s has just one Quad 1 victory, which weighs down an otherwise impeccable resume.
New Mexico (19-3, 6-3 MWC)
Resume: Net: 30, KenPom: 45
The Lobos also will be in this range provided they build on a 3-1 record against Quad 1.
Duke (14-6, 5-4 ACC)
Resume: Net: 24, KenPom: 28. The Blue Devils are 3-6 in Quad 1, but they are 12-0 outside it. This is the right spot heading into the first matchup with North Carolina on Saturday.
No. 7 seeds
Missouri (16-5, 4-4 SEC)
Resume: Net: 44, KenPom: 51
A victory against Iowa State bumps the Tigers up a line, but they need to be better than .500 in SEC play.
Michigan State (14-7, 6-4)
Resume: Net: 47, KenPom: 44
The Spartans have been up and down, and a 4-6 record against Quad 1 teams sounds about right.
North Carolina (15-6, 7-3 ACC)
Resume: Net: 33, KenPom: 31
The Tar Heels are on a four-game winning streak ahead of Saturday’s with Duke.
Auburn (16-5, 6-2, SEC)
Resume: Net: 31, KenPom: 29
Auburn hit a rough patch with losses to Texas A&M and West Virginia last week.
No. 8 seeds
Rutgers (14-7, 6-4 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 20, KenPom: 17
Rutgers has dropped two of three, but home games against Minnesota and Michigan State are solid opportunities this week.
Clemson (18-4, 10-1 ACC)
Resume: Net: 58, KenPom: 59.
It's a low Net ranking for the Tigers, but they have been strong in conference play. Flip Clemson with Duke if you want.
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San Diego State (16-4, 7-1 MWC)
Resume: Net: 23, KenPom: 24
This is a usual landing spot for the Aztecs, who are 14-0 outside of Quad 1.
Kentucky (14-7, 5-3 SEC)
Resume: Net: 36, KenPom: 34
If you don’t think they are going to seed Kentucky a line higher than expected, then we can’t help you.
Rest of the field ...
No. 9 seeds
Creighton (13-8, 7-3 Big East)
Resume: Net: 18, KenPom: 11
Boise State (17-5, 7-2 MWC)
Resume: Net: 22, KenPom: 26
Maryland (14-7, 5-5 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 38, KenPom: 32
Memphis (17-5, 7-2 AAC)
Resume: Net: 41, KenPom: 36
No. 10 seeds
Northwestern (15-5, 6-3 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 40, KenPom: 43
Texas A&M (15-6, 6-1 SEC)
Resume: Net: 42 KenPom: 41
NC State (17-5, 7-4 ACC)
Resume: Net: 39 KenPom: 52
*FAU (21-1, 11-0 C-USA)
Resume: Net: 19, KenPom: 38
No. 11 seeds
Iowa (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 35, KenPom: 35
USC (15-6, 7-3 Pac-12)
Resume: Net: 55, KenPom: 42
**Arkansas (14-7, 3-5 SEC)
Resume: Net: 28, KenPom: 21
**West Virginia (13-8, 2-6, Big 12)
Resume: Net: 25, KenPom: 20
**Nevada (16-6, 6-3 MWC)
Resume: Net: 37, KenPom: 56
**Penn State (14-7, 5-5 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 52, KenPom: 40
No. 12 seeds
*Liberty (18-5, 9-1 Atlantic Sun)
Resume: Net: 46, KenPom 47
*Oral Roberts (20-4, 11-0 Summit)
Resume: Net: 53, KenPom: 63
*Charleston (21-2, 9-1 CAA)
Resume: Net: 61, KenPom: 77
*St. Louis (15-6, 7-1 Atlantic 10)
Resume: Net: 85, KenPom: 79
No. 13 seeds
*Kent State (17-4, 7-1 MAC)
Resume: Net: 60, KenPom: 69
*UC-Santa Barbara (17-3, 8-1 Big West)
Resume: Net: 84, KenPom: 88
*Furman (17-6, 8-2 Southern)
Resume: Net: 98, KenPom: 90
*Louisiana (18-4, 8-2 Sun Belt)
Resume: Net: 94, KenPom: 102
No. 14 seeds
*Colgate (17-7, 11-0 Patriot)
Resume: Net: 105, KenPom: 115
*Princeton (14-5, 5-1 Ivy)
Resume: Net: 109, KenPom: 111
*Southern Illinois (17-6, 9-3)
Resume: Net: 108, KenPom: 118
*Seattle (16-6, 7-2 WAC)
Resume: Net: 106, KenPom: 116
No. 15 seeds
*Eastern Washington (16-7, 10-0 Big Sky)
Resume: Net: 136, KenPom: 150
*Siena (15-7, 9-2 MAAC)
Resume: Net: 143, KenPom: 144
*Vermont (12-10, 6-2 America East)
Resume: Net: 147, KenPom: 137
*UT-Martin (15-8, 7-3 OVC)
Resume: Net: 233, KenPom: 265
No. 16 seeds
*UNC-Asheville (17-6, 9-1 Big South)
Resume: Net: 181, KenPom: 164
*Milwaukee (15-7, 9-3 Horizon)
Resume: Net: 161, KenPom: 202
**Southern (12-10, 8-1 SWAC)
Resume: Net: 215, KenPom: 230
**Maryland Eastern-Shore (13-8, 5-1 MEAC)
Resume: Net: 231, KenPom: 260
**Southeast Louisiana (13-9, 6-2 Southland)
Resume: Net: 247, KenPom: 264
**Fairleigh Dickinson (14-10, 6-2 Northeast)
Resume: Net: 298 , KenPom: 311
Four on the bubble
Ohio State (11-10, 3-7 Big Ten)
Resume: Net: 29, KenPom: 27
The Buckeyes have great ratings, but they have lost seven of eight games.
Oklahoma (12-9, 2-6 Big 12)
Resume: Net: 56, KenPom: 37
The Sooners scored a huge win against Alabama in the SEC-Big 12 challenge. Now they need to turn it up in conference play.
Utah (15-7, 8-3 Pac-12)
Resume: Net: 45 KenPom: 40
The Utes have a solid Net/KenPom combination, but they are not getting much love across most bracket projections. The Utes have a 4-8 record in Quads 1-2.
Virginia Tech (13-8, 3-7 ACC)
Resume: 51, KenPom: 50
The Hokies are the team in the bottom half of the ACC that could make a February surge. Ranked games against Miami and Virginia this week are a chance to prove it.
