The NCAA tournament bubble is loaded with blue-blood programs heading into the final week of the regular season.
Ohio State, Indiana, North Carolina and Texas are our last four teams in our latest Field of 68 NCAA Tournament projections at Sporting News. Did we do that on purpose?
Maybe it's just experience. Those would be high-profile First Four matchups if those teams can advance to the tournament in the next few weeks.
Ohio State and Indiana – who have stayed on the Big Ten bubble – play at Assembly Hall on Saturday in what will be Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson's last home game. Indiana won the first meeting 77-76 in overtime on Jan. 17.
Texas and Oklahoma meet in a battle of SEC bubble teams on Saturday. The Longhorns won the first meeting 77-73 on Jan. 15.
Of course, the Tar Heels can make the loudest statement by upsetting rival Duke at the Dean Dome on Saturday. The Blue Devils won the first meeting 87-70.
Duke is a No. 1 seed in Sporting News' latest Field of 68 projections, along with Auburn, Houston and Florida.
Last Four In: Ohio State, North Carolina, Texas, Indiana
First Four Out: Boise State, Xavier, San Diego State, SMU
Out: Marist, Montana, Nebraska, San Diego State, SMU, Jacksonville State
In: Quinnipiac, Northern Colorado, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio State, Liberty
This year's Final Four is April 5-7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Who is our Field of 68? Here is a closer look:
* - Projected automatic bid
** - Last four in
NCAA tournament Field of 68 projections
No. 1 Seeds
*Auburn (27-3, 15-2 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 2, Net 1. The Tigers averaged 100 points in victories against Ole Miss and Kentucky last week, and they have stock-piled an impressive 15-3 record against Quad 1. They are the No. 1 overall seed despite a 83-72 loss to Texas A&M on Tuesday.
*Duke (27-3, 18-1 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 1, Net 2. Cooper Flagg has shown no signs of hitting the freshman wall. He had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 93-60 victory against Wake Forest on Monday.
*Houston (26-4, 18-1 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom: 3, Net: 3. The Cougars have the No. 3 spot in KenPom and the Net Rankings. Will a 9-3 record in Quad 1 be enough for Kelvin Sampson to lead the Cougars to a No. 1 seed for the third straight season?
Florida (26-4, 13-4 SEC)
Resume: KenPom: 4, Net: 4. The Gators moved up to the No. 1 seed after a 99-94 victory against Alabama on Wednesday. Florida closes the regular-season against Ole Miss on Saturday.
No. 2 Seeds
Tennessee (24-6, 11-6 SEC)
Resume: KenPom: 5, Net: 5. Tennessee lost 78-76 to Ole Miss on Wednesday. The Volunteers are 19-6 in Quad 1. It's enough for Rick Barnes to get a No. 2 seed for heading into the regular season finale against South Carolina.
Alabama (23-7, 12-5 SEC)
Resume: KenPom: 6, Net: 6. The Crimson Tide have lost three of five games and close the regular season with Auburn this week. Mark Sears averages 25.6 points per game in Alabama's last five games.
*Michigan State (25-5, 16-3 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom: 9, Net: 11. The Spartans are on a six-game win streak that included four victories against ranked Big Ten teams. Michigan State has not advanced to the Final Four since 2019, which feels like an eternity given the long-term success under Tom Izzo. Will that change this season?
*St. John's (26-4, 17-2 Big East)
Resume: KenPom 17, Net 19. The Red Storm are 3-4 against Quad 1 – and they have not suffered a loss in Quads 2-4 under Rick Pitino. The Red Storm close their season against Marquette on Saturday.
No. 3 Seeds
Texas Tech (23-7, 14-5 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 7, Net 7. The Red Raiders are 7-5 against Quad 1 – the second-best record among Big 12 schools. The Red Raiders close the regular season against Arizona State on Saturday.
Iowa State (22-8, 12-7 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom: 11, Net: 9. An 84-67 victory against Arizona on Saturday helps the Cyclones case here. A 6-5 record against Quad 1 means it's a tenuous hold, however, heading into Wednesday's game against BYU.
Texas A&M (21-9, 10-7 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 20, Net 20. The Aggies broke a four-game losing streak with a 83-72 win against Auburn. That should secure the Aggies' spot on this line.
Wisconsin (23-7, 13-6 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 10, Net 14. The Badgers also could pass as a No. 3 seed. John Tonje averages 21.8 points per game in his last five games and is creeping toward the scoring lead in the Big Ten.
No. 4 seeds
Kentucky (20-10, 9-8 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 16, Net 13. The Wildcats are one seed line lower than St. John's; another juicy March storyline, but Kentucky lost Jaxson Robinson to a season-ending wrist injury. Will Mark Pope's team be healthy enough for a deep tournament run?
Clemson (25-5, 17-2 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 18, Net 22. Should the Tigers be ranked higher? Four seniors – led by Chase Hunter – average double figures from a team that made the Elite Eight last season. This is a case where the analytics don't say enough about the team.
Maryland (23-7, 13-6 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 14, Net 12. The Terps have quietly put together an impressive season, and they beat Michigan 71-65 on Wednesday. That puts Maryland up on the No. 4 line heading into the regular-season finale against Northwestern.
Purdue (21-10, 13-7 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 12, Net 15. Purdue ended a four-game skid with a 76-66 victory against UCLA and still has a strong 8-8 record against Quad 1. That's the second most Quad 1 victories in the Big Ten. Guard Braden Smith ranks second in the nation with 251 assists.
No. 5 seeds
Arizona (20-10, 14-5 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 14, Net 10. The Wildcats have lost four of seven games heading into a regular-season finale at Kansas. Arizona did beat Arizona State 113-100 on Tuesday.
Michigan (22-8, 14-5 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 29, Net 28. The Wolverines have split their last four games, and that includes close victories against Nebraska and Rutgers. How will the Wolverines fare in the rematch against Michigan State?
Missouri (21-9, 10-7 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 15, Net 16. A 97-93 overtime loss at Vanderbilt hurt, but the Tigers are a dangerous team with an offense that is seventh in the nation with 84.6 points per game under coach Dennis Gates.
Ole Miss (21-9, 10-7 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 25, Net 27. The Rebels are 5-9 against Quad 1 and are coming off wins against Oklahoma and Tennessee heading into Saturday's game against Florida.
No. 6 seeds
Mississippi State (20-10, 8-9 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 32, Net 33. The Bulldogs lost to Texas 87-82 in overtime on Tuesday, which drops them a line behind rival Ole Miss.
Marquette (22-8, 13-6 Big East)
Resume: KenPom: 26, Net: 23. Marquette lost 72-66 to UConn on Wednesday. Marquette closes the St. John's before the Big East tournament. There is a chance for significant line movement as a result.
UCLA (21-9, 12-7 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 27, Net 26. The Bruins have hovered between the No. 6 and No.7 line for the last few weeks, and they squeaked by Northwestern 73-69 on Monday.
Louisville (24-6, 17-2 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 24, Net 25. The Cardinals might profile more like a No. 7 seed given a 4-4 record against Quad 1 opponents, but Pat Kelsey is building faster than expected at Louisville.
No. 7 seeds
*Saint Mary's (27-4, 17-1 West Coast)
Resume: KenPom 21, Net 18. The Gaels lead the nation in rebounding margin and continue to march on through a great season in the West Coast Conference. Augustas Marciulionis is coming off a 25-point performance against Oregon State on Saturday.
Illinois (20-11, 11-8 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 19, Net 17. The Illini are back on track after victories against Iowa, Michigan and Purdue – the latter an impressive 93-73 blowout at Crisler Arena.
Oregon (22-8, 11-8 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 31, Net 30. The Ducks might look a tough over-seeded, but that 8-6 record against Quad 1 is going to resonate with the committee. The Ducks are on a six-game winning streak after a 73-64 win against Indiana.
BYU (22-8, 13-6 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 23, Net 24. Is this too low? The Cougars have seven straight wins after a 88-85 win against Iowa State. First-year coach Kevin Young is a Coach of the Year candidate.
No. 8 seeds
*Memphis (26-5, 16-2 American)
Resume: KenPom 49, Net 48. The Tigers have a low ranking combination despite the strong record in the American Athletic Conference. Penny Hardaway still has the Tigers in position for an at-large berth no matter what happens in the conference tournament.
Kansas (19-11, 10-9 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 22, Net 21. The Jayhawks are in a bit of a free-fall under Bill Self, but they still have a 5-9 record against Quad 1 and have not lost outside Quad 2.
UConn (21-9, 13-6 Big East)
Resume: KenPom 36, Net 34. This is where the two-time defending national champions sit heading into the regular-season finale against Seton Hall.
Gonzaga (23-8, 14-4 West Coast)
Resume: KenPom 8, Net 8. The Bulldogs would be dangerous on this line around guard Ryan Nembhard, who leads the nation with 10.0 assists per game. Gonzaga averages 87.6 points per game – which is second in the country.
Rest of the field ...
No. 9 seeds
Creighton (21-9, 14-5 Big East)
Resume: KenPom 35, Net 37.
*New Mexico (25-6, 17-3 MWC)
Resume: KenPom 40, Net 42.
Baylor (18-12, 10-9 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 30, Net 31.
*VCU (26, 16-2 Atlantic-10)
Resume: KenPom: 28, Net: 29.
No. 10 seeds
Georgia (19-11, 7-10 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 33, Net: 32.
Arkansas (18-12, 7-10 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 39, Net 39.
Vanderbilt (20-10, 8-9 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 43, Net 44.
Utah State (24-6, 14-5 Mountain West)
Resume: KenPom 57, Net 41.
No. 11 seeds
West Virginia (18-12, 9-10 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 52, Net 49.
Oklahoma (18-12, 5-12 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 38, Net 44.
**Ohio State (17-13, 9-10 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 34, Net 35.
**North Carolina (20-11, 13-6 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 37, Net 38.
**Texas (17-13, 6-11 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 44, Net 40.
**Indiana (18-12, 9-10 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 46, Net 55.
No. 12 seeds
*UC-San Diego (27-4, 17-2 Big West)
Resume: KenPom: 38, Net: 36.
*McNeese (25-6, 19-1 Southland)
Resume: KenPom 58, Net: 60.
*Drake (27-3, 17-3 OVC)
Resume: KenPom: 61, Net: 59.
*Yale (19-7, 12-1 Ivy)
Resume: KenPom: 73, Net: 73.
No. 13 seeds
*Liberty (24-6, 12-5 C-USA)
Resume: KenPom: 68, Net: 69.
*Lipscomb (24-9, 14-4 Atlantic Sun)
Resume: KenPom: 85, Net: 87.
*High Point (27-5, 14-2 Big South)
Resume: KenPom: 87, Net: 86.
*Akron (25-6, 17-1 MAC)
Resume: KenPom: 101, Net: 95.
No. 14 seeds
*Utah Valley (22-7, 14-1 WAC)
Resume: KenPom: 116, Net: 107.
*Chattanooga (23-8, 15-3 Southern)
Resume: KenPom: 111, Net: 114.
*South Alabama (21-10, 13-5 Sun Belt)
Resume: Net: 115, KenPom: 123.
*Northern Colorado (23-8, 15-3 Big Sky)
Resume: KenPom: 134, Net: 129.
No. 15 seeds
*Towson (21-10, 16-2 CAA)
Resume: KenPom: 150, Net: 143.
*Robert Morris (24-8, 15-5 Horizon)
Resume: KenPom: 148, Net: 146.
*Bryant (20-11, 14-2 America East)
Resume: KenPom: 168, Net: 157.
*Central Connecticut (24-6, 14-2 Northeast)
Resume: KenPom: 168, Net: 157.
No. 16 seeds
*Omaha (20-12, 12-3 Summit)
Resume: KenPom: 177, Net: 179.
*Norfolk State (21-10, 11-3 MEAC)
Resume: KenPom: 175, Net: 179.
**Southeast Missouri State (21-11, 15-5 OVC)
Resume: KenPom 205, Net: 185.
**Quinnipiac (19-11, 15-4 MAAC)
Resume: KenPom: 208, Net: 184.
**Southern (19-11, 14-3 SWAC)
Resume: KenPom: 227, Net: 220.
**American (20-12, 13-5 Patriot)
Resume: KenPom: 251, Net: 237.
Bubble watch
San Diego State (20-8, 13-6 Mountain West)
Resume: KenPom: 48, Net: 51. A costly loss to UNVL on Tuesday drops the Aztecs to the First Four Out.
Xavier (20-10, 12-7 Big East)
Resume: KenPom 42, Net 47. The Musketeers are 1-9 against Quad 1, which won't be settled until the Big East tournament. Xavier beat Butler 91-78 on Wednesday.
SMU (22-8, 13-6 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 39, Net 39. The ACC bubble also includes Wake Forest. The Mustangs are 0-5 against Quad 1 and have lost three of their last five games.
Boise State (22-9, 14-6 Mountain West)
Resume: KenPom 45, Net 43. Colorado State beat Boise State 83-73 on Friday, which puts pressure on the Broncos heading into the Mountain West tournament.