As March Madness approaches, Florida basketball is in prime position for a strong NCAA Tournament showing with just four regular-season games left. The Gators are making waves in the major polls, sitting at No. 7 in both the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25. The NCAA Tournament selection committee also has them ranked at No. 9, solidifying their status among the elite.
In the latest bracketology from ESPN's Joe Lunardi, Florida is pegged as a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, where they would face the No. 14 East Tennessee State Buccaneers in Tampa. On the flip side, USA TODAY Sports sees them as a No. 2 seed in the East.
Turning our attention to the top seeds, the Duke Blue Devils have claimed the No. 1 overall spot in ESPN's bracketology, leading the East. This move was somewhat expected, given Duke's consistent performance. They're joined by other powerhouses: Michigan Wolverines in the Midwest, UConn Huskies in the South, and Arizona Wildcats in the West.
The SEC is making a strong showing with 11 teams in ESPN's bracketology, more than any other conference. Florida leads the SEC pack as a No. 3 seed in the Midwest.
They're followed by Alabama (No. 4, East), Vanderbilt (No.
5, Midwest), and Arkansas (No. 5, South).
Other SEC teams include Kentucky (No. 8, South), Texas A&M (No.
9, Midwest), Georgia (No. 9, East), Auburn (No.
10, West), Texas (No. 10, South), and Missouri (No.
11, East), who just made it into the 68-team field.
Texas and Auburn are among the last four byes, while Missouri is among the last four in, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s tournament landscape. With the SEC leading the charge, the stage is set for an exciting March Madness.