The most exciting time of the year is upon us as March Madness teams have officially been set! Yesterday marked one of the most exciting days in NCAA basketball as the 2024 March Madness teams and rankings were announced following Selection Sunday.
Now that the 68 teams competing for the NCAA title have been declared, fans have until the NCAA tournament’s Round of 64 tournament on March 21 to complete and submit their brackets.
Following the March Madness rankings, let’s look at the four teams that received the No. 1 seed in their respective region and a sleeper team that might have a legitimate title run at this year’s competition.
UConn Huskies:
- UConn’s odds at the Championship title: +450
- Overall ranking: No. 1
- 2023-2024 season overall record: 31-3
- NCAA Championship titles: 5
In this year’s tournament, the defending NCAA champions, UConn, received the No. 1 seed for the East Region.
The Huskies had an impressive title run last season as they reached the 2023 Championship Game and clinched the prestigious title in their 76-59 win over San Diego State University. The reigning champions have a well-rounded offense this season, as five of UConn’s players average double-digit points in each game.
As the first round of March Madness approaches, the Huskies are led by first-round draft pick Donovan Clingan. The 7’2” center is leading the team in rebounds (7.2) and blocks (2.3) while averaging 12.5 points per game.
The defending champions are set to face No. 16 Stetson in the Round of 64 tournament. UConn is entering their first game with the odds in their favor as they sit at -26.5 on the point spread.
The Huskies have amassed five national titles throughout program history, and the team enters March Madness with an excellent start to clinch their sixth title.
Houston Cougars:
- Houston’s odds at the Championship title: +600
- Overall ranking: No. 2
- 2023-2024 season overall record: 30-4
- NCAA Championship titles: 0
Houston received the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year as they will compete in the South Region and may make it to the Final Four for the first time since 2021.
The 1-seed in the South Region… HOUSTON!#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/ZfbjYTPTQU
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
Despite not securing a single NCAA Championship title, the Cougars have made six appearances in the March Madness Final Four tournament, marking the most appearances for a team that has not won a national title.
The Cougars made it to this year’s Big 12 Championship Game as they faced No. 2 Iowa State. While Houston held the No. 1 spot in the conference, they fell to Iowa State 69-41.
Despite the Big 12 Championship loss, the Cougars clinched the No. 2 overall spot behind reigning March Madness champions Uconn. Before falling to Big 12 champions Iowa State, the Cougars were set to capture the No. 1 seed with their record of 30-4 and looked to reach the March Madness Championship Game for the first time since 1984 to secure their first national title.
Houston is set to face No. 16 Longwood in the Round of 64 with -23.5 odds on the point spread, which would advance them to being one step closer to clinching their first national title.
Purdue Boilermakers:
- Purdue’s odds at the Championship title: +600
- Overall ranking: No.3
- 2023-2024 season overall record: 29-4
- NCAA Championship titles: 0
Purdue returns to the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region for the second consecutive year following last year’s upset in the first round of the 2023 March Madness tournament. Last year, the Boilermakers experienced a shocking upset in the NCAA tournament’s Round of 64 when they fell 63-58 to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson.
The 1-seed in the Midwest Region… PURDUE!#MarchMadness @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/SP5YDwifBM
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
Purdue is entering March Madness with key player Zach Edey, who received the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year and the 2023 NCAA Player of the Year award. The 7’4” center leads in NCAA points per game rankings as he averages 24.4 points. The center is also third in the country for rebounds per game, as he has amassed an average of 11.7 rebounds.
Zach Edey is your back-to-back @B1GMBBall Player of the Year.
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 12, 2024
4th player to ever do that. pic.twitter.com/HghpLBzA9w
Could this be the year the Boilermakers redeem themselves and clinch their first NCAA Championship title?
Purdue will face the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between Montana State and Grambling State. As the Boilermakers are set to play a No. 16 team, they seem likely to move on to the Round of 32 if they can bounce back from last year’s shocking upset.
North Carolina Tar Heels:
- UNC’s odds at the Championship title: +1,300
- Overall ranking: No. 4
- 2023-2024 season overall record: 27-7
- NCAA Championship titles: 6
This year might be North Carolina’s redemption year following last year’s March Madness disappointment. In 2023, the Tar Heels did not qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010.
Despite not qualifying for last year’s tournament after an overall record of 20-13, UNC had their comeback season this year, putting everything on the table and securing their No. 1 seed in the West Division.
The 1-Seed in the West Region… NORTH CAROLINA!#MarchMadness @UNC_Basketball pic.twitter.com/YKFs2W1Ewc
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
The Tar Heels secured this feat despite losing their respective conference championship game. No. 1 North Carolina faced No. 10 North Carolina State in what had initially seemed like a definite win for the Tar Heels. NC State had an impressive run at the title as they clinched the ACC title over North Carolina by winning the Championship Game 84-76.
Despite this loss, the Tar Heels secured the No. 1 spot in the South Division and are looking to clinch their first NCAA Championship title since the 2016-2017 season.
The team has one of the nation’s top defenses, holding teams to 40.7% from the field goal and securing an average of 27.7 defensive rebounds this season. With the help of their defense, the Tar Heels defeated their greatest rival, Duke, in their two matches this season.
To kick off March Madness, No. 1 UNC will face off against the winner of tomorrow’s matchup between Howard and Wagner.
Florida Atlantic Owls:
- FAU’s odds at the Championship title: +10,000
- Overall ranking: No. 31
- 2023-2024 season overall record: 25-8
- NCAA Championship titles: 0
Florida Atlantic is a sleeper team that could potentially make a legitimate title run this year. FAU made an impressive run last year, as it was their second appearance in the NCAA tournament, and the Owls made it to the Final Four for the first time in program history.
Before their 2022-2023 season, FAU had not won a single NCAA tournament game, but the team changed their future in last year’s tournament. In the 2023 Elite Eight, Florida Atlantic beat Kansas State 79-76 in a tight match, advancing them to the Final Four.
Unfortunately, the Owls fell short of advancing to the semi-finals, losing 72-71 in an extremely close game against San Diego State.
The Owls secured their spot in the 2024 March Madness tournament for the second consecutive year. Florida Atlantic’s top six scorers this year were part of last year’s Cinderella team and seem to have a chance at a legitimate title run again.
Florida Atlantic is DANCING!#MarchMadness @FAUMBB pic.twitter.com/jyelBXwzP1
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
The Owls will face Northwestern in their first March Madness match. This Round of 64 games can be a tight match as FAU sits at -2.5 on the point spread. It will be interesting to see how the Owls perform this year and if they can make program history again.
