Selection Sunday is creeping up fast - March 15, to be exact - and the men's college basketball landscape is already buzzing with postseason implications. Conference races are heating up, bubble teams are clinging to their tournament hopes, and the top contenders are jockeying for seeding in what promises to be a wide-open NCAA Tournament.
Let’s break down where things stand across the country as we close in on the madness of March.
The Big Ten’s Championship Drought Isn’t Ending This Year
It’s been 26 years since a Big Ten team won the national championship - Michigan State in 2000, to be precise. And despite a strong showing this season, the drought looks poised to continue.
The conference boasts five teams worthy of high seeds: No. 2 Michigan (22-1), No.
7 Nebraska (21-3), No. 8 Illinois (20-5), No.
10 Michigan State (20-4), and No. 13 Purdue (20-4).
That’s an impressive lineup, and on paper, each of these squads has the résumé of a Final Four contender. But when it comes to cutting down the nets in April, none of them quite measure up to the elite-tier teams in this year’s field.
The top national title threats? That conversation starts with No.
1 Arizona, No. 4 Duke, and No.
6 UConn - programs that combine high-end talent, depth, and battle-tested experience. The Big Ten teams are good.
Just not that good.
The ACC Is Back in a Big Way
Last year, the ACC limped into the NCAA Tournament with just four bids - a shocking low for a conference with such a rich basketball pedigree. This season? Expect that number to double.
Duke (22-2) is back in the mix as a legitimate title contender, while No. 11 North Carolina (19-5) and No.
15 Virginia (21-3) are right behind. Clemson (20-4), Louisville (18-6), N.C.
State (18-7), Miami (19-5), SMU (17-7), Virginia Tech (16-8), and California (17-7) are all in the at-large conversation.
The ACC hasn’t just bounced back - it’s reasserted itself as one of the deeper leagues in the country. With potentially eight or more teams dancing in March, the conference is poised to make serious noise when the brackets drop.
Miami (Ohio) Is Undefeated - But Can It Last?
One of the most surprising storylines of the season is unfolding in the Mid-American Conference, where Miami (Ohio) is sitting at a perfect 24-0. The RedHawks, ranked No. 23, are the last unbeaten team in Division I men’s basketball and have a clear path to finish the regular season without a loss.
It’s a feel-good story, no doubt. But when it comes to March, the reality is more sobering.
Miami (Ohio) leads the nation in scoring at 92.7 points per game, but that offensive firepower has come against a light schedule. The RedHawks have just two quadrant two wins and haven’t yet played a quadrant one opponent.
Their defense? Ranked No. 146 in adjusted efficiency, according to KenPom - a red flag in a tournament where stops matter just as much as buckets.
If Miami (Ohio) wins the MAC tournament, it’ll be a fun headline heading into Selection Sunday. But don’t be shocked if the RedHawks’ run ends early once they face a high-major opponent in the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas Is Heating Up at the Right Time
Don’t look now, but Kansas is catching fire - and fast.
The Jayhawks just handed top-ranked Arizona its first loss of the season, an 82-78 thriller in Lawrence. That win extended Kansas’ streak to eight straight victories, pushing their record to 19-5 and vaulting them to No. 9 in the AP poll.
During this run, Kansas hasn’t just been winning - they’ve been beating quality competition. The Jayhawks blew out then-No.
2 Iowa State and took down ranked foes BYU and Texas Tech. And they’ve done it without a full season from freshman phenom Darryn Peterson, a projected top-three pick in the 2026 NBA Draft who’s played just 13 games this year.
With key matchups still ahead against Iowa State (Feb. 14), Arizona (Feb. 23), and No.
3 Houston (March 3), Kansas controls its own destiny in the Big 12. Win out, and they’re not just in the mix for a conference title - they’re firmly in the conversation for a No. 1 seed in March.
The SEC Won’t Run the Table Like Last Year
Let’s rewind to last March: the SEC made history with 14 bids to the NCAA Tournament, sent seven teams to the Sweet 16, and placed two in the Final Four - including eventual national champion Florida.
This year? The league is still strong, but don’t expect the same level of dominance.
The SEC is projected to land somewhere between eight and 10 bids this time around. Florida (17-6) is again the top dog and should earn a No. 3 seed.
The Gators are aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since their own run in 2006 and 2007. But while they’ve got the pieces for another deep run, a repeat championship feels just out of reach.
That doesn’t mean the SEC won’t be a factor in March - the depth is still there. But the league’s grip on the tournament won’t be as tight as it was a year ago.
The Madness Is Coming
From the resurgence of the ACC to Kansas’ late-season surge and Miami (Ohio)’s Cinderella dreams, the 2025-26 season has delivered plenty of intrigue. With Selection Sunday just weeks away, the stage is set for a wild finish - and if the regular season is any indication, March Madness might just live up to its name once again.