The selection committee faced challenges in the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket, dealing with multiple bid stealers including New Mexico from the Mountain West. Teams from the Mountain West were surprised with low seeds, with San Diego State as the highest at No. 5. The committee emphasized the importance of strong nonconference schedules, as seen with Iowa State's low seeding despite a solid overall strength of schedule.

The Big Picture

The story highlights the impact of bid stealers on the NCAA Tournament bracket and the committee's emphasis on nonconference schedules for seeding decisions.

By the Numbers
  • New Mexico ranked 22nd in the NET rankings before and after the Mountain West title game.
  • Iowa State had a Nonconference SOS ranking of No. 324, affecting their seeding despite a strong overall SOS of 16.
State of Play
  • Teams from the Mountain West received surprisingly low seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
  • The selection committee emphasized the importance of strong nonconference schedules for seeding decisions.
  • UConn is in a region with all conference tournament champions, making them a strong favorite despite their No. 2 seed.
What's Next

Future tournaments may see continued emphasis on the balance between nonconference schedules and overall strength of schedule in seeding decisions.

Bottom Line

The 2024 NCAA Tournament seeding decisions reflect the committee's focus on the impact of bid stealers and the significance of nonconference schedules in team evaluations.