Building the Field

Building the Field highlights teams currently projected to be In the Field, teams who are currently In the Mix (under consideration), and teams with Work To Do at the time of the update. Noted data credited to Warren Nolan and/or ESPN.

UPDATED: March 11  |  7:00 a.m. ET

Total Spots (68): Number of teams in the Field.

Automatic Bids (32): AQ’s are awarded as conferences hand-out their official NCAA bids to tournament champion

• NCAA Locks (33): Teams who should be locked into bids at the time of publication.
• NCAA Teams (7): Teams projected to earn an at-large bid, if necessary.
• In the Mix (12): Teams that would currently project to be under consideration.
• Work to Do: (0): Teams on the at-large board, but who have work to do to be In The Mix.

Atlantic 10
What started as a promising season has dissolved into a likely one-bid scenario. VCU, Saint Louis and Dayton remain capable of winning the A10 tournament. NCAA Locks: None NCAA Teams: None In the Mix: None Work to Do: VCU
Notes: VCU has a non-conference win over Pittsburgh.  Metrics are not favorable for at-large selection.
ACC
Virginia, Miami and Duke have locked up bids.  After that, it’s a host of teams hoping it works out.  Clemson, UNC, NC State and Pittsburgh all stumbled at various points and figure to be somewhere along the cutline. NCAA Locks: Virginia, Duke, Miami NCAA Teams: None In the Mix: Clemson, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, NC State Work to Do: None
Clemson – Despite some quality wins, a non-conference SOS well above 300 is concerning, especially when combined with three sub-200 NET losses (and two particularly bad losses to Loyola-Chicago and Louisville).  It could end up being a close call.  Falling well short of Virginia on Friday was the Tigers’ final statement. North Carolina – The Tar Heels are likely going to miss the NCAA tournament after falling at home to Duke and then losing to Virginia in the ACC tourney.  They needed a couple of more wins. NC State – While there’s nothing bad on the Wolfpack’s resume, quality wins are lacking.  It’s also worth mentioning that NCSU lost to Clemson three times.  It’s a very dicey situation that could break either way. Pittsburgh – Would it be interesting if Pitt’s NC win over Northwestern ended up being the difference?  Panthers are hoping it works out.  They have some decent wins away from home, but nothing truly stands out.
AMERICAN
Houston will likely be a No. 1 seed.  Memphis should have a bid in hand. NCAA Locks: Houston NCAA Teams: Memphis In the Mix: None Work to Do: None
BIG EAST
Four solid to strong candidates have earned bids.  Providence’s late stumbles have raised some concerns. NCAA Locks: Connecticut, Creighton, Marquette, Xavier NCAA Teams: None In the Mix: Providence Work to Do: None
Providence – Once a top-half-of-the-bracket team, the Friars’ profile is now lacking in overall quality wins.  They may have done enough, but if the bubble gets squeezed this weekend, they are not safe enough to relax.
BIG 10
Despite some recent stumbles, Purdue has produced a strong resume and is a top-of-the-bracket contender.  Penn State has likely played its way into the Field of 68.  Rutgers and Wisconsin are bigger question marks. NCAA Locks: Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern NCAA Teams: Penn State In the Mix: Michigan, Rutgers, Wisconsin Work to Do: None
Michigan – The Wolverines had three chances at the end of the season and missed all three.  Time has likely run out. Rutgers – The Scarlet Knights stumbled to the finish, but Friday’s win over Michigan might be enough to keep them in the field when combined with earlier wins in the league – especially at Purdue. Wisconsin – The Badgers’ late rally against suddenly hot Ohio State fell short in Chicago.  At 17-14 overall, and with a NET rating around 80, it’s a tough ask.  Sometimes, weird things happen.  Wisconsin hopes that’s the case in 2023.
BIG 12
By consensus, the Big 12 has been the nation’s deepest and strongest conference. NCAA Locks: Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas, TCU NCAA Teams: West Virginia In the Mix: Oklahoma State Work to Do: None
Oklahoma State – It’s rare for 15-loss teams to earn at-large bid. It’s equally rare for teams that finish just three games above .500 overall.  It’s also rare that a league is as deep and strong as this year’s Big 12.  It all adds up to a result that could be teetering on the edge.
CONFERENCE USA
Florida Atlantic has positioned itself for an at-large bid.  Can they finish off a title run and eliminate a final bid thief? NCAA Locks: Florida Atlantic NCAA Teams: None In the Mix: None Work to Do: None
MOUNTAIN WEST
A late charge as has likely firmed up a bid for Utah State.  Boise is in a similar position. NCAA Locks: San Diego State NCAA Teams: Boise State, Utah State In the Mix: Nevada Work to Do: None
Nevada – An otherwise solid season tumbled down the stretch, with the Wolf Pack losing their final three games.  Those results might well end up costing Nevada a bid.  It’s going to be a long wait until Sunday night.
PAC 12
It’s a top-heavy league with Arizona and UCLA in contention for high seeds.  USC has probably done enough.  We’ll see if Arizona State can hold on. NCAA Locks: Arizona, UCLA NCAA Teams: USC In the Mix: Arizona State, Oregon Work to Do: None
Arizona State – ASU needed a victory over USC in the Pac-12 tournament and got it.  Will that help their profile hold up? A win (albeit on a last second shot) at Arizona could well be a deciding factor. Oregon – The Ducks likely needed to beat UCLA Friday night to give themselves a chance.  Instead, it was a resounding loss that figures to leave OU a bit short.
SEC
Alabama and Tennessee remain the leaders. Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri and Texas AM should be locked in.  Auburn is probably fine after beating Tennessee last weekend.  That leaves Mississippi State as the final holdover. NCAA Locks: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas AM NCAA Teams: Auburn In the Mix: Mississippi State Work to Do: None
Mississippi State – MSU got a huge win down the stretch against Texas AM and held on against Florida in the opening round of the SEC tournament.  Given a couple of non-conference tally’s, including Marquette, MSU have done enough to get the job done.
WEST COAST
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are the premier players. Both are locks. NCAA Locks: Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s NCAA Teams: None In the Mix: None Work to Do: None
BEST OF THE REST
No remaining candidates with Charleston and Oral Roberts winning automatic bids. NCAA Locks: None NCAA Teams: None In the Mix: None Work to Do: None