Selection Sunday set
Selection Sunday’s bracket reveal is tonight at 6 p.m. ET — the 68-team field kicks off the three‑week NCAA tournament run to April’s Final Four watch tonight. Fifteen teams already clinched automatic bids and 11 more were decided Saturday — Howard beat North Carolina Central 70-63 to lock their third-ever NCAA appearance, while McNeese and others also punched tickets tracking auto bids and schedule/results.
The NCAA reserves 31 automatic berths for conference champions and 37 at‑large spots make up the 68‑team field. ncaa.com McNeese clinched the Southland’s automatic bid with a 76‑59 win over Stephen F. Austin, and Javohn Garcia scored a game‑high 31 points in the title game. mcneesesports.com Utah State punched its ticket for a fourth straight NCAA appearance after winning the Mountain West title, according to the Saturday auto‑bid tracker. nytimes.com Idaho’s Big Sky tournament victory gives the Vandals their first NCAA berth since 1990, while Lehigh’s Patriot League title is the program’s first trip back since 2012. msn.com ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s recent projections list Duke as the projected No. 1 overall seed in his March Bracketology update. bleacherreport.com One bracketology snapshot on Saturday had Miami (OH), Missouri, SMU and Texas listed among the “Last Four In,” with San Diego State, Auburn, Oklahoma and Indiana on the “First Four Out.” on3.com The First Four play‑in games are scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 17, two days after Selection Sunday finalizes the 68‑team bracket. outkick.com CBS and major bracket trackers spent Saturday focused on “bid stealers” and shifting bubble resumes as the final five conference crowns and all at‑large permutations headed into Sunday’s reveal. cbssports.com
