With Selection Sunday just 12 days away, BATSBY Sports offers a new twist to its NCAA Tournament coverage: Predicting the top 36 seeds (1 through 9 per region), along with the corresponding playing venues for opening weekend (first/second round).
It’s worth noting: Our projections aren’t necessarily focused on power rankings with the top-tier schools.
Rather, we’re taking certain educated guesses when presuming this expanded field, factoring in current track record, strength of schedule, expert rankings (analytics sites) and probability of future success within conference tournament play.
(NOTE: TEAM RECORDS THROUGH MARCH 2, 2020)
REGIONALS/FINAL FOUR
EAST — New York City
MIDWEST — Indianapolis
SOUTH — Houston
WEST — Los Angeles
FINAL FOUR — Atlanta
EAST
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: SACRAMENTO
SEED #1 — San Diego State (28-1)
SEED #16 — TBD
SEED #8 — LSU (20-9)
SEED #9 — Oklahoma (18-11)
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: SPOKANE
SEED #4 — Ohio State (20-9)
SEED #13 — TBD
SEED #5 — Oregon (22-7)
SEED #12 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: ALBANY
SEED #3 — Seton Hall (21-7)
SEED #14 — TBD
SEED #6 — Penn State (21-8)
SEED #11 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: GREENSBORO
SEED #7 — Florida (18-11)
SEED #10 — TBD
SEED #2 — Duke (24-6)
SEED #15 — TBD
MIDWEST
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: OMAHA
SEED #1 — Kansas (26-3)
SEED #16 — TBD
SEED #8 — Colorado (21-9)
SEED #9 — Illinois (20-9)
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: ST. LOUIS
SEED #4 — Creighton (22-7)
SEED #13 — TBD
SEED #5 — BYU (24-7)
SEED #12 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: CLEVELAND
SEED #3 — Michigan State (20-9)
SEED #14 — TBD
SEED #6 — Auburn (24-5)
SEED #11 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: CLEVELAND
SEED #7 — Marquette (18-10)
SEED #10 — TBD
SEED #2 — Dayton (27-2)
SEED #15 — TBD
SOUTH
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: OMAHA
SEED #1 — Baylor (26-3)
SEED #16 — TBD
SEED #8 — Saint Mary’s (24-7)
SEED #9 — Stanford (20-9)
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: ST. LOUIS
SEED #4 — Kentucky (24-5)
SEED #13 — TBD
SEED #5 — Iowa (20-9)
SEED #12 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: ALBANY
SEED #3 — Villanova (22-7)
SEED #14 — TBD
SEED #6 — Texas Tech (18-12)
SEED #11 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: TAMPA
SEED #7 — Wisconsin (19-10)
SEED #10 — TBD
SEED #2 — Louisville (24-6)
SEED #15 — TBD
WEST
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: SPOKANE
SEED #1 — Gonzaga (29-2)
SEED #16 — TBD
SEED #8 — Michigan (18-11)
SEED #9 — Northern Iowa (25-5)
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: SACRAMENTO
SEED #4 — Arizona (19-10)
SEED #13 — TBD
SEED #5 — West Virginia (19-10)
SEED #12 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: TAMPA
SEED #3 — Florida State (24-5)
SEED #14 — TBD
SEED #6 — Houston (22-7)
SEED #11 — TBD
SUB-REGIONAL SITE: GREENSBORO
SEED #7 — Butler (20-9)
SEED #10 — TBD
SEED #2 — Maryland (23-6)
SEED #15 — TBD