Michigan's dominance in the college basketball scene took another step forward Tuesday night as the Wolverines secured a decisive 91-80 victory over Purdue on the road. With this win, Michigan solidified its position as the No. 1 overall seed heading into the NCAA Tournament selection committee's bracket preview on Saturday.
The Wolverines' resume is nothing short of impressive. They're a perfect 10-0 in Quad 1 games and boast a 19-1 record across the first two quadrants.
Their metrics speak volumes, with a 10.55 Wins Above Bubble (WAB) score, comfortably ahead of Duke's 9.25. On KenPom, Michigan's 39.33 Net Rating surpasses even last year's exceptional Duke team.
However, the landscape could shift come Saturday. Michigan is set to face No.
3 Duke on a neutral court in Washington, D.C. This matchup presents a golden opportunity for the Blue Devils to challenge Michigan's supremacy and make their case for the No. 1 overall seed.
For now, Michigan stands tall at the top. Let's dive into the current top seeds in today's Bracketology update.
Bracketology Top Seeds
Explore the full field of 68 at the CBS Sports Bracketology hub.
Nebraska's Journey
Nebraska basketball has been on a thrilling journey this season. Starting with a 20-0 streak and climbing to No. 5 in the AP poll, the Cornhuskers have taken down formidable opponents like Illinois and Michigan State.
They're in a strong position to win an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history. Yet, as Selection Sunday approaches, Nebraska's momentum has slowed.
Following a 57-52 loss to Iowa, they've dropped four of their last six games and now sit as a No. 4 seed.
Despite this setback, Nebraska's 11-4 record across Quads 1 and 2 keeps hope alive for an upward move in seeding. Their remaining schedule lacks marquee matchups, with upcoming home games against Penn State and Maryland offering limited resume boosts. However, a challenging west coast trip to USC and UCLA presents a chance to regain their early-season form.
Navigating Rematches
With conference consolidation and more nonconference matchups among high-major schools, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee faces the tricky task of avoiding regular-season rematches. The 2025 tournament had several potential second-round conference matchups, though none materialized.
While the committee aims to minimize these rematches, NCAA bracketing principles allow for some flexibility. Conference teams that met once can face off in the second round, while those meeting twice should wait until the Sweet 16, and thrice until the Elite Eight.
For nonconference rematches, principles advise avoiding them in the First Four and first round, with efforts to steer clear in the second round as well. However, maintaining teams on their natural seed line often takes precedence over avoiding rematches.
As we move closer to the tournament, these dynamics will play a crucial role in shaping the bracket and the thrilling matchups that lie ahead.