The NCAA men’s tournament committee has revealed its provisional seedings for the 2024 edition of the prestigious March Madness basketball competition.
Each of the four top seeds were as predicted with Purdue, Connecticut, Houston and Arizona leading the standings in their respective regions.
Those four teams top the latest betting markets at Betway and the winner of the tournament is expected to come from that quartet.
The final seedings will be revealed on Selection Sunday on March 17, with the tournament scheduled to start with the First Four round two days later.
NCAA March Madness Top 16 Seeds
The provisional top 16 seeds for 2024 March Madness are as follows:
Midwest (Detroit)
- Purdue (1)
- Tennessee (6)
- Baylor (10)
- San Diego State (14)
East (Boston)
- Connecticut (2)
- North Carolina (5)
- Iowa State (11)
- Wisconsin (16)
South (Dallas)
- Houston (3)
- Marquette (7)
- Alabama (9)
- Illinois (15)
West (Los Angeles)
- Arizona (4)
- Kansas (8)
- Duke (12)
- Auburn (13)
NCAA March Madness Schedule
Here is the scheduled for the 2024 March Madness tournament:
- Selection Sunday: March 17.
- First Four: March 19-20.
- First Round: March 21-22.
- Second Round: March 23-24.
- Sweet 16: March 28-29.
- Elite Eight: March 30-31.
- Final Four: April 6.
- National Championship: April 8.
The Final Four and championship decider will be staged at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
NCAA March Madness Preview
There is just under a month remaining before Selection Sunday is staged, which leaves time for the seedings to change if a team ends the regular season well.
Purdue look a good bet to retain the number one seed having recorded victories over six teams in the committee's top 16. Five of those wins were on the road.
However, it is worth noting that Purdue have never previously been crowned NCAA champions and no team from the Big Ten Conference has claimed the title since 2000.
Reigning champions Connecticut (UConn) will fancy their chances of retaining the title to extend the Big East Conference’s excellent recent record at March Madness.
Big East sides have clinched the title seven times since the turn of the century, with UConn responsible for four of those successes (2004, 2011, 2014 & 2023).
Teams from the Big 12 Conference are also worthy of respect having lifted the title three times during the 21st century (2008, 2021 & 2022).
Provisional number three seeds Houston are the team most likely to get the job done from that section, while Iowa State, Baylor and Kansas also warrant respect.
Looking a little further down the list, North Carolina will likely attract plenty of interest from basketball bettors as they chase their seventh NCAA title.
Although their recent form has been a little mixed, their previous pedigree in this tournament means it would be unwise to underestimate their chances.
Atlantic Coast Conference teams have won the title on 15 previous occasions, with eight of those successes coming this century, further boosting North Carolina’s hopes.
Arizona could be another team worth monitoring during March Madness, particularly with the Final Four tournament scheduled to be staged in Glendale.
The provisional number four seeds are priced at odds of 11/4 to reach the Final Four and should give punters a good run for their money.
