Bracketology AMA: Give our expert your men’s March Madness questions

Feb 25, 2026 - 15:45
Bracketology AMA: Give our expert your men’s March Madness questions
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - FEBRUARY 21: Alex Condon #21 and Alex Lloyd #4 of the Florida Gators react after winning the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at The Pavilion at Ole Miss on February 21, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wes Hale/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy almost March, y’all! I’m Chris Dobbertean, and I’ve been doing men’s college basketball bracketology since 2006 overall and since 2009 at Blogging The Bracket for SB Nation. I’ve seen it all over the last two decades!

With Selection Sunday less than three weeks away and the first conference tournament games of the season set for Monday and Tuesday night, the SB Nation team thought it would be a good idea for me to answer your bracket and bubble-related questions. Since this is an AMA, we can be pretty expansive about what that means (within reason of course). Maybe you want to know about …

  • Your favorite team’s selection or seeding hopes
  • What conference tournaments deserve your attention
  • The selection and seeding process, particularly after Saturday’s rather enlightening Bracket Preview show
  • What multi-bid conference is going to end up doing the best when the Tournament gets here …

For reference, here’s my latest bracket projection:

(1) East (Washington, D.C., Fri./Sun.)

Greenville (Thurs./Sat.)

(1) Duke (ACC)
(16) Southeast Missouri (OVC)/Bethune-Cookman (SWAC)

(8) Kentucky
(9) UCF

Portland (Thurs./Sat.)

▲(5) St. John’s (Big East)
▲(12) High Point (Big South)

(4) Vanderbilt
▲(13) North Dakota State (Summit)

San Diego (Fri./Sun.)

▲(6) Saint Louis (A 10)
▼(11) Texas

(3) Texas Tech
(14) ETSU (SoCon)

St. Louis (Fri./Sun.)

(7) Villanova
▲(10) UCLA

(2) Purdue
★(15) Utah Tech (WAC)

(4) South (Houston, Thurs./Sat.)

Philadelphia (Fri./Sun.)

▲(1) UConn
(16) UMBC (AE)/Howard (MEAC)

(8) Miami (Fla.)
▲(9) Georgia

Greenville (Thurs./Sat.)

(5) Alabama
(12) South Florida (AC)

▼(4) Kansas
(13) Liberty (CUSA)

Oklahoma City (Thurs./Sat.)

▼(6) Louisville
(11) Santa Clara/Missouri

(3) Nebraska
▲(14) Navy (Patriot)

Oklahoma City (Thurs./Sat.)

▼(7) Utah State (MW)
(10) Indiana

(2) Houston
(15) Portland State (Big Sky)

(2) Midwest (Chicago, Fri./Sun.)

Buffalo (Thurs./Sat.)

(1) Michigan (Big Ten)
(16) LIU (NEC)

▲(8) Saint Mary’s
▼(9) Clemson

Tampa (Fri./Sun.)

(5) Arkansas
(12) Belmont (MVC)

(4) Virginia
(13) Stephen F. Austin (Southland)

Tampa (Fri./Sun.)

▲(6) North Carolina
★/★(11) TCU/California

(3) Florida
(14) Austin Peay (OVC)

St. Louis (Fri./Sun.)

▲(7) Wisconsin
(10) Texas A&M

(2) Iowa State
(15) Wright State (Horizon)

(3) West (San José, Thurs./Sat.)

San Diego (Fri./Sun.)

(1) Arizona (Big 12)
★(16) App State (Sun Belt)

▲(8) SMU
▼(9) Iowa

Buffalo (Thurs./Sat.)

(5) Tennessee
(12) Yale (Ivy)

(4) Michigan State
(13) UNCW (CAA)

Portland (Thurs./Sat.)

(6) BYU
(11) Miami (Ohio) (MAC)

(3) Gonzaga (WCC)
(14) UC Irvine (Big West)

Philadelphia (Fri./Sun.)

▼(7) NC State
(10) Auburn

(2) Illinois
▲(15) Merrimack (MAAC)


Rundown

Last Four Byes: Indiana, Auburn, UCLA, Texas
Last Four IN: Santa Clara, Missouri, TCU, California
First Four OUT: New Mexico, USC, Virginia Tech, Ohio State
Next Four Out: Cincinnati, West Virginia, San Diego State, VCU
On Deck: Seton Hall, Akron, Boise State, Nevada

ARRIVALS (4): App State (Sun Belt), California, TCU Utah Tech (WAC)

DEPARTURES: Cal Baptist (WAC), Ohio State, Troy (Sun Belt), USC

Ask me questions in the comments about the bracket

I’ll pop into the comments at 3 p.m. ET to give you some answers. I’m very much looking forward to helping you get ready for the madness!

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