The Southeastern Conference has been the talk of college basketball all season long. With the regular season winding down, there is no better time to take a first crack at projecting the NCAA tournament bids for each conference, who will make the tournament, and their seeds. So, how many bids does the SEC project to receive in 2025?
NCAA Bracketology: SEC Projects To Receive 11 NCAA Tourney Bids With 2 Weeks Left
The SEC has been the top basketball conference, with teams in the Associated Press’s top 25 throughout the year. There has been talk of the conference getting as many as 14 NCAA tournament bids, but that will not happen. At this point, the SEC is likely assured of receiving double-digit bids with the possibility of getting as many as 12.
I project that the Southeastern Conference will receive 11 bids, led by Auburn and Florida, on pace to earn No. 1 seeds. Alabama and Tennessee are also in contention to be on the top line, though I have both as No. 2 seeds. Other top conference bids include the Big Ten (9), Big 12 (6), ACC (5), and Big East (4). The Mountain West (5) and the West Coast Conference (3) also garner multi-bids with a few weeks left in the regular season.
No. 1 Seeds
Auburn 25-2,
Duke 24-3,
Florida 24-3,
Houston 23-4,
No. 2 Seeds
Alabama 22-5,
Michigan State 22-5,
Tennessee 22-5,
Clemson 22-5,
No. 3 Seeds
Iowa State 21-6,
St. John’s 23-4,
Texas Tech 21-6,
St, Mary’s 25-4,
No. 4 Seeds
Wisconsin 21-6
Louisville 21-6
Michigan 20-6
Utah State 24-4
No. 5 Seeds
Texas A&M 20-7
Maryland 21-6
New Mexico 22-5
Marquette 20-7
No. 6 Seeds
Mississippi State 19-7
Memphis 22-5
Purdue 19-8
UCLA 19-8
N0. 7 Seeds
Oregon 20-8
VCU 22-5
Missouri 20-7
BYU 19-8
No. 8 Seeds
Ole Miss 19-8
Arizona 18-9
Creighton 18-8
Connecticut 18-9
No. 9 Seeds
Gonzaga 21-8
SMU 20-7
Kentucky 18-9
Kansas 18-9
No. 10 Seeds
Vanderbilt 18-9
Wake Forest 19-8
San Diego State 18-7
Illinois 17-11
No. 11 Seeds
Nebraska 17-10
Bosie State 19-8
UC San Diego 24-4
Drake 24-3
No. 12 Seeds
Winner: Oklahoma/ Colorado State
Winner: Santa Clara/ Texas
High Point 25-5
Jacksonville State, 19-9
N0. 13 Seeds
Towson (Coastal Athletic) 19-10
Utah Valley (WAC) 20-7
Robert Morris (Horizontal) 21-8
Chattanooga (Southern) 21-8
No. 14 Seeds
Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun) 20-9
McNeese State (Southland) 22-6
Akron (MAAC) 21-6
Yale (Ivy) 18-6
No. 15 Seeds
Montana (Big Sky) 20-8
James Madison (Sun Belt) 19-10
Central Connecticut State (NEC) 21-6
Omaha (Summit) 18-12
No. 16 Seeds
Norfork State (MEAC) 19-8
Marist, Quinnipiac (MAAC) 20-5
Winner: Southern (SWAC)/ Bryant (America East)
Winner: Southeast Missouri State (Ohio Valley)/American (Patriot)
Last Four In
Oklahoma 17-10
Santa Clara 19-10
Texas 16-11
Colorado State 18-9
First Four Out
George Mason 21-6
Xavier 18-10
Cincinnati 16-11
Baylor 16-11
Next Four Out
North Carolina 17-11
West Virginia 16-11
Arkansas 16-11
North Texas 20-6
Others Still With An Outside Chance
San Francisco 22-7
Indiana 16-11
Oregon State 20-9
Villanova 16-12
Georgia 16-11
Bradley 21-7
Dayton 18-9
Pitt 16-11
NCAA Regional Matchups
First Four In Dayton, Ohio
No.12 Oklahoma Sooners vs. No. 12 Colorado State Rams
No. 12 Santa Clara Broncos vs. No. 12 Texas Longhorns
No. 16 Southern Jaguars vs. No. 16 Bryant Bulldogs
No. 16 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks vs. American Eagles
South Region
No. 1 Auburn Tigers vs. No. 16 First Four Winner of Southern/Bryant
No. 8 UConn Huskies vs. No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks
No. 4 Utah State Aggies vs. No. 13 Chattanooga Mocs
No. 5 TexasA&M Aggies vs. No. 12 Jacksonville State Gamecocks
No. 6 UCLA Bruins vs. No. 11 Drake Bulldogs
No.3 Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. No. 14 Yale Bulldogs
No. 7 BYU Cougars vs. No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini
No. 2 Clemson Tigers vs. No. 15 Omaha Mavericks
Midwest Region
No. 1 Florida Gators vs. No. 16 Quinnipiac Bobcats
No. 8 Creighton Bluejays vs. No. 9 SMU Mustangs
No. 4 Louisville Cardinals vs. No. 13 Utah Valley Wolverines
No. 5 Maryland Terrapins vs. No. 12 First Four Game winner: Santa Clara /Texas
No. 6 Memphis Tigers vs. No. 11 Boise State Broncos
No.3 Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. No. 14 McNeese State Mustangs
No. 7 VCU Rams vs. No. No. 10 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
No. 2 Clemson Tigers vs. No. 15 Omaha Mavericks
East Region
No. 1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No. 16 First Four Winner: Southeast Missouri State/American
No. 8 Arizona Wildcats vs. No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats
No. 4 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 13 Robert Morris Colonials
No. 5 New Mexico Lobos vs. No. 12 High Point Panthers
No. 6 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. No. 11 UC San Diego Tritons
No.3 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 14 Akron Zips
No. 7 Missouri Tigers vs. No. No. 10 San Diego State Aztecs
No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 15 Central Connecticut Blue Devils
West Region
No. 1 Houston Cougars vs. No. 16 Norfolk State Spartans
No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels vs. No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs
No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 13 Towson Tigers
No. 5 New Mexico Lobos vs. First Four Winner: Oklahoma/ Santa Clara
No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No. 11 UC San Diego Tritons
No.3 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 14 Akron Zips
No. 7 Missouri Tigers vs. No. No. 10 Nebraska Cornhuskers
No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Montana Grizzlies
Photo Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.- Imagn Images
