A fresh projected bracket is now available on the Bracketology platform, where the top two lines remain unchanged. However, expect potential adjustments in the upcoming update on Monday.

Alabama continues to hold the No. 2 overall seed, despite a recent setback against Missouri. The Crimson Tide will be facing Kentucky this Saturday, and a defeat against the Wildcats would likely relegate Alabama to a No. 2 seed.

The team most poised to take Alabama’s place would likely be the victor of the No. 2 seed showdown happening on Saturday. Currently, the No. 5 overall seed, Tennessee, will travel to face No. 6 seeded Texas A&M, with the loser remaining on the No. 2 line.

Dribble Handoff: Big Ten title forecasts as Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, and Wisconsin compete for dominance

David Cobb

Another intriguing matchup in that section of the bracket includes No. 3 seed Iowa State visiting No. 2 seed Houston. Should the Cyclones emerge victorious, they would rise in the seed rankings; however, the Cougars may not necessarily drop unless other teams perform favorably. No. 2 seed Wisconsin will also compete against Oregon on Saturday.

The top seed, Duke, will take on Illinois in a nonconference game this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The Blue Devils, ranked No. 3 overall, typically schedule a game at Madison Square Garden each year when possible, but this year it didn’t align with the typical nonconference schedule. Fortunately, they secured a matchup with the Illini.

Duke might be facing Illinois at an opportune moment, as the Fighting Illini have recently lost two consecutive games, placing them in seventh within the Big Ten standings. Nonetheless, this matchup represents a Quad 1 opportunity for Duke, which is significant since they have only faced three such games within their last fifteen outings, all associated with the ACC.

Bracketology Top Seeds

For a full overview of Palm’s bracket and the complete field of 68, visit the Bracketology hub.

Kansas Falls One Seed Line

Kansas’ recent loss to BYU on Tuesday concluded a disappointing visit to Utah, causing the Jayhawks to drop only one line to a No. 6 seed. They were previously positioned as a No. 4 seed less than a week ago following the NCAA’s announcement of the top 16 seeds.

This marks the second consecutive year that Kansas has faced late-season challenges. Last year, the Jayhawks stumbled, losing three of their final four regular-season games—including a setback against unranked BYU. This was preceded by a significant 29-point defeat against unranked Texas Tech and a 20-point loss to No. 11 seed Cincinnati during the Big 12 Tournament. Following these losses, they managed a narrow four-point victory over No. 13 seed Samford in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, only to face a 21-point defeat to Gonzaga.

Other Teams on the Move

• The only team to drop more than one seed line in Friday’s bracket adjustments was Texas Tech. Following a loss to TCU this week, the Red Raiders plummeted five positions on the S-curve—from a low No. 3 seed to a high No. 5.
• Ohio State completely exited the bracket after suffering a hefty 70-49 defeat at home against Northwestern. With a current record of 15-12 and a lackluster 9-12 performance against the top three quadrants, their prospects are dim. The Buckeyes will be playing three of their last four regular-season matchups away, commencing with their trip to Los Angeles on Sunday and Wednesday.
• The weekend kicks off with Michigan State visiting Michigan, where the top spot in the Big Ten is at stake. Currently, the Wolverines boast a half-game advantage over the Spartans, with Wisconsin trailing by another game. Michigan State has a home battle left against the Badgers and will also host the showdown against the Wolverines in their regular-season finale.