Thursday evening offered a unique glimpse into the NCAA Tournament selection process as national media members participated in a mock selection for the 2025-26 bracket. This exercise highlighted how the committee selects the 68-team field, and unsurprisingly, Michigan emerged as the No. 1 overall seed.
The Wolverines have been a dominant force this season, boasting a 15-1 record in the Big Ten and 25-1 overall. They're leading the pack in the AP Poll, NCAA NET rankings, KenPom, Torvik's T-rank, KPI, strength of record, and wins above bubble. In the mock bracket, Michigan was set to face the winner between 16-seeds Morgan State and Dartmouth, with North Carolina State and Central Florida potentially squaring off in the 8-9 matchup.
What really caught attention, though, was Michigan's preference for its opening-weekend location. Despite Buffalo being the closest site to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines have expressed a desire to play in Philadelphia. This choice is strategic, considering the substantial Michigan alumni presence in cities like New York, Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia itself.
According to the NCAA's rules, the four No. 1 seeds are placed in separate regions, and the top-seeded team gets to choose its closest regional location. The goal is to place teams as near to home as possible to maximize fan accessibility. While Buffalo is the closest at a 299-mile drive from Ann Arbor, Philadelphia offers a broader alumni reach.
If Michigan advances to the second weekend, Chicago is their clear preference, given its proximity and the presence of about 23,000 Michigan alumni. Other second-weekend locations include Washington DC, Houston, and San Francisco. However, Michigan will face competition from Illinois, Iowa State, and Purdue for the Chicago spot.
As the Wolverines prepare for their upcoming clash with Duke, they hold the top spot across most metrics:
- Overall record: 25-1
- Big Ten record: 15-1
- Non-conference record: 10-0
- Home record: 12-1
- Away record: 9-0
- Neutral site record: 4-0
Their Quadrant-1 record stands at a perfect 10-0, showcasing their ability to win against top-tier competition. Michigan leads the NET, KenPom, Torvik T-rank, KPI, and Strength of Record, with a second-place spot in the Basketball Power Index.
The Wolverines' strength of schedule ranks 11th in both NET and RPI, with a non-conference strength of schedule at 17th (NET) and 9th overall. Their five best wins include impressive victories over Gonzaga, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Ohio State.
In terms of projections, Michigan is a 1-seed in all 113 recent brackets on BracketMatrix and the top overall seed according to ESPN, where they're slated to face the NJIT-Howard winner in Buffalo, with hopes of advancing to the Midwest regional in Chicago.
As Selection Sunday approaches, Michigan's path is clear, but the competition remains fierce. Their strategic location preferences underscore the importance of fan support and regional advantages in their quest for a national title.