Houston has secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, setting the stage for an exciting journey through the South Region. The Cougars, boasting a 30-4 record, clinched the top seed after claiming the Big 12 regular-season title and making it to the conference tournament final, where they were bested by Iowa State. Their quest for a Final Four appearance, last achieved in 2021, will kick off against Longwood, the Big South champion, in Memphis, Tennessee.
This marks Houston's third time as a No. 1 seed in school history, following their 1983 team that advanced to the national championship game and last year's squad that was eliminated in the Sweet 16 by Miami. If the Cougars progress past the initial rounds, a potential matchup with either Nebraska or Texas A&M awaits, with the regional games conveniently located in Dallas.
The South Region also features strong contenders like Marquette, seeded second and welcoming back Tyler Kolek after his absence in the Big East Tournament due to an oblique injury. Marquette, with a 25-9 record, reached the Big East title game before succumbing to UConn. Kentucky, the No. 3 seed at 23-9, will face off against No. 14 seed Oakland, while Duke, seeded fourth with a 24-8 record, is set to play No. 13 seed Vermont in the opening round in Brooklyn, New York on Friday.
Excitement is building as the NCAA Tournament approaches, with fans eagerly anticipating the matchups and potential upsets that March Madness is known for. For the latest updates and to fill out your bracket, visit the official AP March Madness bracket at https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and stay tuned for comprehensive coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness.
