ESPN News Services2 Minute Read
INDIANAPOLIS — Alabama is the general prime seed within the NCAA match after cruising by way of the top of a season clouded by a homicide case over the previous two months.
The Crimson Tide had been awarded the highest spot Sunday over Kansas and Houston, every of whom exited their convention match with out the title and lacking key cogs. Purdue secured the ultimate No. 1 seed.
“It was an fascinating course of, and it took a short while,” Chris Reynolds, the match committee chair, stated on CBS after the bracket reveal was concluded. “However, what I’ll say is that this. Those groups on the prime, they carried out persistently all year long. And so we thought of about six or seven groups on the prime. But on the finish of the day, these 4 groups are the groups we chosen.”
It was a day full of excellent information for Alabama, which defeated Texas A&M to win the SEC match earlier than gathering to look at the choice present.
The defending nationwide champion Jayhawks misplaced by 20 to Texas on Saturday within the Big 12 match. They performed with out their coach, Bill Self, who suffered an undisclosed medical situation however was discharged from the hospital and is anticipated again this week. Houston was with out main scorer Marcus Sasser, who went down with a groin harm Saturday.
Action within the 68-team match begins Tuesday with two video games within the First Four. March Madness will get into full swing Thursday and Friday with 32 video games unfold over eight cities. The Final Four is ready for April 1 and three at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Although not the general No. 1 seed, Houston, which may very well be taking part in what quantities to 2 dwelling video games on the Final Four, got here in as the favourite per FanDuel Sportsbook at 11-2. Next was Alabama at 15-2, adopted by Kansas, which is attempting to develop into the primary workforce to win back-to-back titles since Florida in 2007 and is listed at 9-1.
The Tide will play within the South Region and can open Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama, towards the winner of a First Four sport between Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Southeast Missouri State.
Teams making it off the bubble included Mississippi State and Pitt, who will sq. off Wednesday in a First Four sport. Houston will open towards Northern Kentucky on Thursday.
Oklahoma State was amongst some notable bubble groups to not make the match, though the Big 12 program acquired heavy consideration from the committee.
“When you have a look at the résumé, that they had 18 alternatives within the Quad 1, and so they gained solely six video games,” Reynolds stated of the Cowboys. “And that they had alternatives within the nonconference schedule to win some video games to reinforce their résumé, and so they fell somewhat brief.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
