The SEC’s men’s basketball prowess was on full display during the NCAA’s early bracket reveal on Saturday.
If the season ended today, the SEC would have three of the top four seeds in the NCAA tournament and five of the top six teams. The selection committee revealed what its top 16 seeds would be with roughly a month to go in the season with Auburn, Alabama and Florida all getting No. 1 seeds.
Duke, the No. 3 overall seed, was the only non-SEC team on the top seed line. Auburn plays at Alabama at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers were the “unanimous” No. 1 overall seed, according to selection committee chair and North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham. He also noted No. 2 Alabama has two games remaining against the Tigers and a tough schedule. Alabama is far from out of the mix for the top overall seed.
Tennessee is the top No. 2 seed as Cunningham said the Vols were very close to being a No. 1 seed. The Vols were just ahead of fellow SEC member Texas A&M at No. 6.
The SEC is likely to set the record for the most teams in the men’s tournament. The conference could get 13 teams in the tournament; the Big East currently holds the record with 11 teams in one NCAA tournament.
The Big 12 had five teams in the top 16 with Houston, Iowa State, Arizona, Texas Tech and Kansas. The Big 12 and SEC combine to have 11 of the top 16 seeds at the moment with the Big Ten having three teams and the ACC and Big East each having one.
Provisional top 16 NCAA tournament seeds
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Duke
4. Florida
5. Tennessee
6. Texas A&M
7. Purdue
8. Houston
9. Iowa State
10. Kentucky
11. Wisconsin
12. Arizona
13. Texas Tech
14. Michigan
15. Kansas
16. St. John’s
South Region
1. Auburn
2. Texas A&M
3. Wisconsin
4. Texas Tech
Midwest Region
1. Alabama
2. Purdue
3. Iowa State
4. Kansas
East Region
1. Duke
2. Tennessee
3. Arizona
4. St. John’s
West Region
1. Florida
2. Houston
3. Kentucky
4. Michigan
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