The anticipation is palpable as the NCAA Tournament looms large. With spring break in full swing and the Chicago River donning its iconic green hue, college basketball fans are buzzing with excitement for Selection Sunday. After missing the tournament in the past two seasons, the Iowa Hawkeyes are eager to hear their name called once again.
Today’s action is the final hurdle before the Selection Show. It all kicks off with an intriguing matchup at 11 a.m.
CT on ESPN2, where former Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery now leads the Penn Quakers against Yale for the Ivy League Tournament Championship. An hour later, ESPN will broadcast the SEC title game, featuring two powerhouse teams: #22 Vanderbilt and #17 Arkansas.
Simultaneously, CBS presents the A-10 Championship Game with Dayton taking on VCU. The Rams are currently projected as an 11-seed, while Dayton aims to clinch a spot with a victory.
In the American Conference title game at 2:15 p.m. CT on ESPN, South Florida and Wichita State face off. The Bulls are projected as an 11-seed, but the Shockers need a win to secure their place in the tournament.
The day wraps up with the Big Ten Championship Game, showcasing #18 Purdue against #3 Michigan. The Wolverines are eyeing a potential top overall seed, but they need a standout performance, especially since #2 Arizona and #1 Duke both secured wins in their respective championships.
Michigan enters the game as a 6.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. They’ve been a popular choice in national polls, while Purdue has been somewhat overlooked, with only 6% of SB Nation readers picking them to win the Big Ten Tournament. However, Purdue has rediscovered their form, reminiscent of their victory in Iowa City back in February, despite a rocky end to the regular season.
The Purdue-Michigan showdown tips off at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS, leading directly into the Selection Sunday show at 5 p.m. CT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
With both Purdue and Michigan safely in the tournament, only three bids remain up for grabs today. The Hawkeyes are hopeful for one of the 37 at-large bids.
Despite some late-season struggles, Iowa remains in the conversation, thanks to a relatively weak bubble this year. As of this morning, Bracket Matrix projects Iowa as a 9-seed, though they’ve fluctuated between a 6 and a 10-seed recently.
Interestingly, slipping to a 10-seed might be advantageous for Iowa. Positioned in the middle of the pack, they’re a formidable opponent for many teams and could avoid facing a top seed in the second round. With elite teams like Duke, Michigan, Arizona, and Florida posing significant challenges, a matchup against a 2-seed might offer a more favorable path for Iowa to break through to the Sweet Sixteen.
As the tournament schedule unfolds, the First Four will tip off on Tuesday, March 17th, in Dayton, Ohio, setting the stage for an exhilarating March Madness.