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The brackets for the NCAA men's tournament were announced Sunday, with UConn announced as the No. 1 overall seed coming from the East.
Houston was the No. 1 seed in the South Region, and Purdue earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest. North Carolina State was named the No. 1 seed in the West after defeating likely final top-seeded candidates Iowa State, Tennessee, and Arizona State.
Iowa State, Arizona State, Marquette University and Tennessee earned the No. 2 seeds.
How the Huskies got there
The reigning champion Huskies overtook former favorite Purdue by defeating Marquette for the Big East Tournament championship on Saturday, just after Purdue lost to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. UW entered tournament play as the favorite for the second straight season with a dominant showing heading into the program's fifth national championship in 2023.
These Huskies lost three starters to the NBA, but they have an even stronger addition as Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer joins backcourt mate Tristen Newton on the All-Big East first team along with honorable mention center Donovan Clingan. He returned for the regular season. Stephon Castle, who was named the Big East's Freshman of the Year, earned his 31-3 record, including 13-3 in Quad 1 against his team, which was revamped. Rounded out his UConn roster. UW swept the Big East regular season and tournament championships with nonconference wins over Gonzaga, Texas, and North Carolina.
eastern region
No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 Stetson
No. 8 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 9 Northwestern
5th place San Diego State University vs. 12th place UAB
No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 13 Yale
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Duquesne
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Morehead State
No. 7 Washington State University vs. No. 10 Drake
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 South Dakota State
southern region
No.1 Houston vs. No.16 Longwood
No. 8 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Texas A&M
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 James Madison
No. 4 Duke vs. No. 13 Vermont
No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 North Carolina State University
3rd place Kentucky vs. 14th place Oakland
No. 7 Florida State vs. No. 10 Boise State/Colorado State winner
No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Western Kentucky
Midwest region
Winner of No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Montana/Grumbling State.
No. 8 Utah State vs. No. 9 TCU
No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 McNeese State University
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Sanford
No. 6 South Carolina vs. No. 11 Oregon
No.3 Creighton vs. No.14 Alcon
Winner of No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Virginia/Colorado State.
2nd place Tennessee vs. 15th place St. Peter's
western region
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Howard/Wagner winner
No. 8 Mississippi State University vs. No. 9 Michigan State University
No. 5 St. Mary's vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Charleston
No. 6 Clemson vs. No. 11 New Mexico
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 Colgate
No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada
2nd place Arizona vs. 15th place Long Beach State
Conference with multiple bids
big 12:8
seconds: 8
Big Ten: 6
Yamanishi: 6
ACC: 5
Pack 12:4
Big East: 3
AAC:2
atlantic 10:2
WCC: 2
