Duke and UConn Lead Top Seeds as March Madness Selection Sunday Approaches

As college basketball's regular season winds down and conference tournaments begin across the country, the race for March Madness seeding has intensified with Duke and defending champion UConn establishing themselves as the clear frontrunners for No. 1 seeds when Selection Sunday arrives on March 8th.

Duke (26-3, 16-2 ACC) has been the season's most consistent powerhouse under head coach Jon Scheyer, riding the stellar play of sophomore guard Cooper Flagg to the top of most bracketology projections. Flagg, averaging 22.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, has emerged as the leading candidate for National Player of the Year honors while guiding the Blue Devils to their first regular season ACC championship since 2022.

"Our guys have stayed locked in all season long," Scheyer said following Duke's 81-69 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. "Cooper's leadership has been phenomenal, but this is a complete team effort. We know the real season starts now with the ACC Tournament, and we're ready for that challenge."

Meanwhile, defending national champion UConn (25-4, 15-3 Big East) has lived up to preseason expectations despite early season questions about replacing key contributors from last year's title team. Junior forward Alex Karaban has stepped into a larger role, averaging 16.8 points per game while providing the veteran leadership coach Dan Hurley's squad needed during challenging stretches.

The Huskies clinched the Big East regular season title with Thursday's 78-65 win over Villanova, setting up what promises to be a competitive conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. UConn's experience on college basketball's biggest stages gives them a significant advantage as March approaches, with several players returning from championship runs.

North Carolina (24-5, 14-4 ACC) and Purdue (24-5, 13-5 Big Ten) currently occupy the other two projected No. 1 seed lines, though their positions could shift dramatically based on conference tournament results. The Tar Heels have been led by senior guard RJ Davis, who has elevated his game in crucial moments throughout ACC play, while Purdue center Zach Edey continues to dominate opposing frontcourts with his imposing 7-foot-4 frame.

Several bubble teams face crucial decisions about their tournament hopes over the next two weeks. Programs like Michigan State, Florida, and Oklahoma sit squarely on the bubble and will need strong conference tournament showings to secure at-large berths. The selection committee has emphasized the importance of quality wins and strength of schedule in recent years, making these final games even more critical for teams fighting for their March Madness lives.

Bracket experts project this year's tournament field will be particularly competitive in the middle seeds, with numerous teams capable of making deep runs. The combination of experienced programs and talented mid-major schools could produce the type of upsets and Cinderella stories that make March Madness college basketball's most captivating event.

Selection Sunday is set for March 8th at 6 PM ET on CBS, with the First Four games beginning March 17th in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament proper tips off March 19th with first-round games across multiple sites, culminating with the Final Four in Phoenix on April 4th and 6th.