My 2024 Bracket

My bracket for the 2024 men's basketball tournament. 3/18/2024 dwm photo

This year's tournament field is living up to the NCAA basketball season. None of the top teams made it through undefeated and the #1 ranking was passed around like a hot potato. 

Purdue, Connecticut, Arizona, Houston, and Kansas all spent in the top spot. All of them made the tournament but Kansas, which started the season at the top isn't expected to finish the season with a trophy. 

Most experts picked UConn to win it all.  I could see them repeating as champions but that's not how this bracket came together Monday afternoon.  If past results are indications of future results, I'll be lucky to get two of the last four teams right.

I'd love to see Wisconsin and Drake meet in the championship game but face it, it's not going to happen. 

Here's my bracket starting in the East Region. The higher seed won all the first round games except Duquesne and Drake who advanced in an upset.

In the South, only North Carolina State and Boise State pull upsets. N.C. State wouldn't be in the tourney, if not for their five-game run through the ACC conference tournament. Boise State was more highly regarded during the season, but the committee sent them to the play-in game, which they had to win to play in the first round.

I except most of the upsets to happen in the Midwest. My bracket has Texas Christian, McNeese State, and St. Peter's advancing.

Out west I have Grand Canyon and Nevada making it out of round one. That's nine upsets in round one.

In round two, upsets are less likely because the upstart often doesn't have the element of surprise anymore and the higher-seed is ready for the opposition.

It's all chalk in the east in round two, UConn, San Diego State, Illinois, and Iowa State advance.

In the South, Wisconsin pulls the only upset, avenging their loss to Duke in the 2015 Championship game, joining Houston, Kentucky, and Marquette.

TCU, McNeese State, and Creighton join Texas in the Sweet Sixteen in the Midwest, continuing the three Cinderella stories.

Out West, it's all chalk as Baylor joins North Carolina, Alabama, and Arizona.

The Regional Finals pit #1 UConn against #2 Iowa State in the East and #1 Houston versus #2 Marquette in the South. In the Midwest, #12 seed TCU plays #3 Creighton and in the West, #4 Alabama upsets the top-seed to match Arizona.

The last four teams: Iowa State v Arizona on the left side of the bracket, Houston v Creighton on the right.

I chose Iowa State and Houston to fight for the title and it's the team from Ames, Iowa that wins it all.

It's not likely, but it could happen, enjoy the madness!