Ranking all 64 NCAA Tournament teams

Ranking all 64 NCAA Tournament teams

Some last minute help for you last minute bracket filler-outers

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No more bubbles. No more first four in or out. No more teams wondering if they made the most exclusive group in college basketball. Only 68 teams of the 350+ Division-I squads have a chance to become national champions now. Before the First Four begins on Tuesday, we’ve ranked every team that hopes to win the whole shebang. From the No. 1 seeds to No. 16 seeds that’ll lose to fellow No. 16 seeds, everyone’s here.

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Of course, upsets will happen and there has only been one occasion ever where all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four. And Saint Peter’s unlikely run to the Elite Eight last season as a No. 15 seed won’t be replicated. So where does every team rank heading into the tournament? Here you go.

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64. Fairleigh Dickinson

64. Fairleigh Dickinson

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The Knights of Teaneck, New Jersey haven’t won 20 games yet from a low major. One and done, provided it doesn’t get clipped in the First Four.

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63. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

63. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

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The Islanders are in their second-straight NCAA Tournament and should be in the First Four, if not just miss it. They won’t make it past Friday.

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62. Northern Kentucky

62. Northern Kentucky

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The Norse snuck into the tournament from one of the weaker conferences in Division I and will be cut from the contenders early into the tournament.

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61. Grand Canyon

61. Grand Canyon

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The Lopes are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance of all time but don’t have the experience to truly test some of the nation’s best.

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60. UC Santa Barbara

60. UC Santa Barbara

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The Gauchos won 27 regular-season games and have a great scorer in Ajay Mitchell, but going deep in the NCAA Tournament isn’t something they’ll do.

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59. Howard

59. Howard

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For the first time since 1992, the Bison are in the NCAA Tournament. They overcame trailing by four with 20 seconds left in the MEAC Championship game to get to The Big Dance.

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58. Montana State

58. Montana State

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Making back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history is a major accomplishment. That’s all the Bobcats will do in The Big Dance.

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57. Kennesaw State

57. Kennesaw State

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The Owls are appearing in their first NCAA Tournament since moving to Division I. They won the Atlantic Sun but won’t get their first win in The Big Dance.

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56. Louisiana

56. Louisiana

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The Ragin’ Cajuns are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2014. They pose a solid threat as one of the lowest-seeded teams in the showcase.

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55. Princeton

55. Princeton

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The Ivy League winners won its conference tournament on its home court and are in The Big Dance for the first time since 2017.

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54. UNC Asheville

54. UNC Asheville

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A solid mid-major with the potential to win a Round of 64 game as a lower seed. Despite a 27-win season, the Bulldogs won’t make it out of the first weekend.

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53. Drake

53. Drake

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The Bulldogs from Iowa have been a fixture in NCAA Tournaments over the years and won a good mid-major conference. I still wouldn’t bet on them to win another game.

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52. Kent State

52. Kent State

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The Golden Flashes won 28 games entering the NCAA Tournament and have a deep, experienced squad ready for a Round of 64 upset.

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51. Vermont

51. Vermont

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The winners of the America East Conference held off UMass Lowell to get to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last six seasons.

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50. Colgate

50. Colgate

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The Raiders have become a mid-major staple in the NCAA Tournament with their third-straight appearance and fourth berth in five seasons.

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49. Furman

49. Furman

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Do you believe in miracles? Well, that phrase was first shouted the last time the Paladins made the NCAA Tournament in 1980. This is a solid mid-major champion.

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48. Iona

48. Iona

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Rick Pitino might not be coaching the MAAC winners much longer, but he has his New Rochelle, New York squad in prime form heading into the NCAA Tournament.

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47. VCU

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The First-Four-to-Final-Four Rams are back in the NCAA Tournament and qualified from a weaker Atlantic 10 Conference than usual.

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46. Pittsburgh

46. Pittsburgh

The Panthers got blasted by Duke in the ACC Tournament and still somehow made it in The Big Dance. Don’t expect this to be the DeJuan Blair team of years past.

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After running the gauntlet of the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions are in The Big Dance for the first time since 2011.

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45. Arizona State

45. Arizona State

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The team from Tempe found its way in despite not getting the most out of the grind of the Pac-12. The Sun Devils do have major upset potential.

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44. Utah State

44. Utah State

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The Mountain West Conference gauntlet placed the Aggies directly on the bubble and they fell to the right side.

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43. Penn State

43. Penn State

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After running the gauntlet of the Big Ten and making it to the league’s tournament championship game, the Nittany Lions are in The Big Dance for the first time since 2011.

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42. Arkansas

42. Arkansas

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The Razorbacks entered this season with national-championship aspirations and fell well short due to some key injuries. You truly can never count out Eric Musselman’s teams though.

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41. Auburn

41. Auburn

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Bruce Pearl’s team has been around the bubble for a long time and that inconsistency gets the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament for a fun time, not a long time.

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40. Boise State

40. Boise State

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The Broncos have been trending up for the latter part of the season and could definitely be a smart upset pick in the first few rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

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39. Providence

39. Providence

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The Friars made the Sweet 16 last season and were one of the last teams to make the NCAA Tournament field this year.

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38. Iowa

38. Iowa

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Fran McCaffery’s team will find a way to lose in the first weekend of March Madness somehow despite how good Kris Murray is.

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37. NC State

37. NC State

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The Wolfpack peaked too early and could win one game in the NCAA Tournament but shouldn’t do much more damage than that.

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36. West Virginia

36. West Virginia

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The Mountaineers are a constant in the NCAA Tournament but haven’t made it to the second weekend since 2018. That trend continues this season.

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35. USC

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The Pac-12’s overall depth is pretty weak compared to most years. USC is the only league team on the right side of the bubble. Maybe the Trojans win one game in The Big Dance.

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34. Illinois

34. Illinois

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This was an up-and-down season for Brad Underwood’s team and the Fighting Illini won’t avoid bigger and better teams in the NCAA Tournament for long.

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33. San Diego State

33. San Diego State

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The best team out of the Mountain West Conference could hang with some of the bigger dogs of March Madness. The Aztecs likely don’t have the firepower for a deep run.

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32. TCU

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The Horned Frogs have been solid throughout this season and have a deep squad capable of getting past the second weekend.

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31. Oral Roberts

31. Oral Roberts

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The Golden Eagles haven’t lost since Jan. 9 and will be a trendy pick to move to the second weekend from a double-digit seed.

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30. College of Charleston

30. College of Charleston

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It would’ve been a massive shame if the Cougars’ fate was left up to anyone else. After 31 wins this season, they absolutely can make a run from a double-digit seed.

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29. Memphis

29. Memphis

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Penny Hardaway’s team will always be exciting and nearly defeated Houston at home. The Tigers can win multiple games in the NCAA Tournament.

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28. Northwestern

28. Northwestern

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After being named the Big Ten’s Coach of the Year, Chris Collins will be in line for a huge contract extension after this season. The Wildcats could do some damage before that this year.

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27. Michigan State

27. Michigan State

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The Spartans always seem to be in the picture when it comes to March Madness, although Tom Izzo’s team hasn’t won a title since 2000.

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26. Kentucky

26. Kentucky

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Count them out or count them in. The Wildcats have looked amazing and terrible this season. That lack of consistency will catch up with them in March.

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25. Maryland

25. Maryland

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In his first season in College Park, Kevin Willard has gotten the Terrapins back in a spot where contending in the Big Ten is possible. They definitely have second-weekend potential.

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24. Saint Mary’s

24. Saint Mary’s

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The regular-season champions of the West Coast Conference lost to Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament Final but still have second-weekend potential.

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23. Iowa State

23. Iowa State

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Here is your classic team that peaked too early in the season. The Cyclones should be favorites in their first NCAA Tournament game and could be one-and-done.

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22. Missouri

22. Missouri

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What a turnaround for Mizzou in Dennis Gates’ first season in Columbia. The Tigers’ 13-year streak without an NCAA Tournament victory has a great chance to end this season.

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21. Florida Atlantic

21. Florida Atlantic

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The most-feared mid-major team will be the Owls. They’re so good that they’ll be a tough matchup for almost anyone else in the field.

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20. Texas A&M

20. Texas A&M

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The Aggies haven’t gotten as much national attention as a few other Southeastern Conference teams and recently defeated one of the tournament favorites in Alabama.

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19. Indiana

19. Indiana

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In a loaded Big Ten, the Hooisers have been one of the best teams this season. They’ve yet to look consistently dominant, but it could happen in the NCAA Tournament.

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18. Miami (FL)

18. Miami (FL)

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The No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament has looked great throughout this season and could find a way to get back to the Elite Eight for the second-straight season.

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17. Kansas State

17. Kansas State

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Has there been a team that’s come out of nowhere to be more dominant this season than the Wildcats? In Jerome Tang’s first season in The Little Apple, KSU could make a deep run.

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16. Xavier

16. Xavier

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Sean Miller is back in Cincinnati and the Musketeers are again in a spot to do damage in the NCAA Tournament.

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15. Virginia

15. Virginia

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The 2019 national champions are always an analytics favorite to lift the crown. And that’s stupid. The Cavaliers are good, but are prone to a first-weekend upset.

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14. Duke

14. Duke

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This will be the Blue Devils’ first trip to the NCAA Tournament without Mike Krzyzewski since 1980. They’ll still be one of the most hated teams in The Big Dance.

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13. Creighton

13. Creighton

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A preseason favorite to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament has looked more like the part in recent weeks and is a dark horse to make the Final Four.

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12. Tennessee

12. Tennessee

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Despite looking strong over the last several years in the regular season, Rick Barnes’ team always seems to lose early in the NCAA Tournament. Don’t trust the Vols.

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11. UConn

11. UConn

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One of the early contenders to win the national championship this season has returned to peak form over the last few weeks. The Huskies could still be in line for a deep run.

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10. Gonzaga

10. Gonzaga

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The Bulldogs won the West Coast Conference again and some will expect Gonzaga to do damage in the NCAA Tournament. Bet they’ll lose before the Final Four.

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9. Baylor

9. Baylor

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After winning the championship two years ago, and losing to last year’s runners-up North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament last year, the Bears have another chance to go deep this season.

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8. Marquette

8. Marquette

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Shaka Smart’s squad has been one of the best teams in the Big East this season. The Golden Eagles won’t fly under the radar much longer.

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7. UCLA

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The injury to starting guard Jaylen Clark bursts a little of the Pac-12 invincibility of the Bruins, who appeared to be hitting their stride at the right time of year.

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6. Arizona

6. Arizona

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It always feels like Arizona is in the discussion for a national championship but falls short. Having a wide-open field may benefit the Wildcats.

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5. Texas

5. Texas

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No matter who is coaching the Longhorns, they’re loaded and are battle-tested through arguably the best conference in America.

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4. Kansas

4. Kansas

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No team has repeated as national champions since Florida in 2006 and 2007. Even though the Jayhawks lost some key players from last year’s team, they’re loaded.

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3. Houston

3. Houston

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Kelvin Sampson’s team lost in the Elite Eight last season and the Cougars are even better this season. If a team not from a high-level conference wins the title, it’ll be UH.

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2. Purdue

2. Purdue

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The longtime No. 1 team in the nation stumbled more down the stretch than most could’ve seen coming. The Big Ten’s stretch without a championship since 2000 has the biggest chance of ending because of the Boilermakers.

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1. Alabama

1. Alabama

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Despite the off-court issues surrounding the Crimson Tide and their star player Brandon Miller, they still have one of the best teams in the nation. Expect nothing less than a trip to the second weekend.

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