Convention bragging rights have change into an enormous a part of the NCAA match. Individuals get surprisingly hooked up to how a most popular convention, or a hated convention, performs every March.
Seeing how every of the multi-bid leagues performs makes for attention-grabbing debates concerning the prime convention within the sport after a protracted common season and loads of non-conference matchups.
By the primary spherical of the 2024 males’s NCAA match, a number of main conferences are nonetheless unbeaten whereas one eight-bid league took a significant beating over the primary few days.
Right here’s a take a look at the ten multi-bid leagues and the way they’re performing to this point. First 4 video games are additionally counted within the general file of every yr.
American
Bids: 2
2024 File: 0-2
2023 File: 2-2
The American went winless in 2024 with each groups getting bounced on Friday. After a Remaining 4 run final season, No. 8 seed Florida Atlantic fell in time beyond regulation towards Northwestern. UAB, a scrappy No. 12 seed, additionally fell to San Diego State.
The lack of Houston to the Large 12 positively damage the American’s NCAA match stature.
ACC
Bids: 5
2024 File: 4-1
2023 File: 7-5
Nonetheless Dancing: North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, N.C. State
The ACC made a optimistic impression with a powerful opening spherical. North Carolina made fast work of No. 16 seed Wagner to advance. N.C. State proved to be a harmful No. 11 seed with a convincing upset win over No. 6 seed Texas Tech. Friday noticed two extra wins from the league with No. 6 seed Clemson knocking out New Mexico and No. 4 seed Duke pulling away for a win over Vermont.
The league’s solely blemish noticed No. 10 seed Virginia endure an embarrassing defeat within the First 4 to Colorado State.
Within the Spherical of 32, the ACC would be the stronger seed in three out of 4 matchups, an sudden growth because of No. 14 seed Oakland knocking out Kentucky to arrange a matchup with N.C. State.
Atlantic 10
Bids: 2
2024 File: 2-0
2023 File: 0-1
Nonetheless Dancing: Dayton, Duquesne
The Atlantic Ten was one of many main winners of the primary spherical. Dayton rallied from a double-digit, second-half deficit to carry off No. 10 seed Nevada. In the meantime, No. 11 seed Duquesne continued its ridiculous March run with an early upset over BYU.
Getting a crack at some heavy hitters within the Spherical of 32 with Dayton taking up No. 2 seed Arizona and Duquesne battling No. 3 seed Illinois is simply a optimistic for the A-10 a yr after going winless within the Large Dance.
Large 12
Bids: 8
2024 File: 5-3
2023 File: 9-7
Nonetheless Dancing: Houston, Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, Texas
The Large 12 put collectively a strong first-round effort. A busy opening day noticed No. 2 Iowa State cruise previous South Dakota State, suffocating protection assist No. 7 seed Texas run previous Colorado State and No. 4 seed Kansas sneak previous Samford. Houston and Baylor added wins for the Large 12 as top-3 seeds with blowout wins to present the Large 12 4 top-4 seeds that superior to the Spherical of 32.
Second-tier Large 12 groups suffered some setbacks. A pair of No. 6 seeds misplaced to underdogs as BYU misplaced to Duquesne and Texas Tech fell to N.C. State. TCU additionally obtained outplayed within the 8/9 matchup towards Utah State.
The six seeds shedding early is disappointing for the Large 12. Having 4 top-4 seeds left within the Spherical of 32 continues to be a storyline to maintain monitor of.
Large East
Bids: 3
2024 File: 3-0
2023 File: 12-4
Nonetheless Dancing: UConn, Marquette, Creighton
All three Large East groups received by double figures. Creighton superior to the Spherical of 32 by pulling away within the second half towards Akron on the primary day. Marquette was sluggish within the opening half towards No. 15 seed Western Kentucky earlier than rounding into kind. UConn made fast work of No. 16 seed Stetson.
Large Ten
Bids: 6
2024 File: 4-2
2023 File: 6-8
Nonetheless Dancing: Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan State
Following final season’s catastrophe the Large Ten is off to a a lot better begin. Purdue performed like a correct No. 1 seed by operating over Grambling. After one other sluggish begin, Illinois turned on the jets and cruised previous Morehead State. Michigan State opened the match with a convincing win over Mississippi State in an 8/9 matchup. And Northwestern chipped in with an time beyond regulation win over Florida Atlantic.
As a No. 5 seed, Wisconsin was outplayed by No. 12 seed James Madison in a loss whereas No. 8 seed Nebraska couldn’t cling with Texas A&M.
The Large Ten’s in an attention-grabbing spot coming into the Spherical of 32. Purdue and Illinois will each be closely favored whereas Northwestern and Michigan State battle No. 1 seeds.
Mountain West
Bids: 6
2024 File: 3-4
2023 File: 5-4
Nonetheless Dancing: San Diego State, Utah State
The Mountain West was underwhelming as soon as once more within the NCAA match. The league’s six groups solely noticed two make it previous the Spherical of 64. San Diego State, a No. 5 seed, survived the stress of residing as much as final season’s Remaining 4 bid with an in depth win over UAB. Utah State additionally deserves credit score for a clear-cut takedown of No. 9 seed TCU. Technically talking, Colorado State additionally earned a First 4 win by embarrassing Virginia earlier than falling to Texas within the Spherical of 64.
The remainder of the league obtained ugly.
Nevada had a monster second-half collapse to fall to Dayton and New Mexico may’t cling with No. 6 seed Clemson. Earlier than the Spherical of 64, Boise State was pushed out by Colorado in a First 4 matchup.
With six bids, the Mountain West was trying to make a press release throughout this match that the league was nonetheless deep regardless of all of the convention shakeups. However outdoors of San Diego State persevering with to win, a lot of the league’s groups stay inconsistent in March.
Pac-12
Bids: 4
2024 File: 5-0
2023 File: 3-4
Nonetheless Dancing: Arizona, Washington State, Colorado, Oregon
The primary spherical was massively profitable for the Pac-12. Total, the Pac-12 went unbeaten and earned extra wins within the first spherical in 2024 than the league had through the 2023 match. All 4 groups are nonetheless alive.
Arizona had all 5 starters in double-figures in a 20-point win over Lengthy Seashore State. Jermaine Couisnard dropped 40 factors to energy No. 11 seed Oregon previous South Carolina. Colorado superior previous Boise State within the First 4 after which survived a high-scoring affair with No. 7 seed Florida. Washington State made a push to get previous No. 10 seed Drake to maintain the unbeaten streak alive.
It’s a significant uphill battle for the Pac-12 to proceed to make a deep match push outdoors of Arizona. However having all 4 groups make the Spherical of 32 is a enjoyable ultimate chapter.
SEC
Bids: 8
2024 File: 3-5
2023 File: 9-8
Nonetheless Dancing: Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M
Full catastrophe within the first spherical for the SEC. Increased seeds in No. 3 seed Kentucky (Oakland), No. 4 seed Auburn (Yale), No. 6 seed South Carolina (Oregon), No. 7 seed Florida (Colorado) and No. 8 seed Mississippi State (Michigan State) all misplaced within the first spherical.
At the least No. 2 seed Tennessee, No. 4 seed Alabama and No. 9 seed Texas A&M seemed spectacular in wins over Saint Peter’s, Charleston and Nebraska, respectively.
Having 5 increased seeds lose within the first spherical is a horrible effort from the SEC. Even when Tennessee and Alabama earn a Candy 16 look and past, the league’s upsets will overshadow the eight bids getting in.
WCC
Bids: 2
2024 File: 1-1
2023 File: 4-2
Nonetheless Dancing: Gonzaga
Gonzaga has superior to the Spherical of 32 each season since 2008, a outstanding stretch that continued with a notable win over No. 12 seed McNeese State. The WCC’s different No. 5 see, Saint Mary’s, couldn’t maintain up its finish with a loss to Grand Canyon to shut out the primary spherical.
Whereas the Saint Mary’s loss is disappointing after such a strong season, the general consistency of Gonzaga within the Spherical of 64 is unimaginable. Mark Few has not solely constructed a program that makes the NCAA match each season, however they’ve additionally change into as near automated as a crew can to avoiding a first-round upset. It’s simple to be vital of a few of Gonzaga’s exits in later rounds to decrease seeds, however the first-round monitor file is stellar.
