Auburn is the No. 1 seed in the southern region; Tigers are looking for a reparation for the fall in the first round last year

Associated Press

Auburn is the overall victory of the NCAA for the NCAA tournament and drives to the south region, where coach Bruce Pearl and the Tigers will try to look for a little retaliation after a fall in the first season.

Under the direction of the SEC player of the year Johni Broome, the Tigers (28-5) spent eight weeks in 1st place in the top 25 of the AP Top 25 before entering March Madness late in the season after deleting three of their last four games on tournament teams. This includes a defeat against Tennessee in the semi -finals of the conference tournament over the weekend.

The Tigers, who have not survived the opening week of the NCAA tournament since the final in 2019, will begin their journey against Alabama State or St. Francis (PA.) On Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky. The regional final is in Atlanta.

“We lost to Alabama, Tennessee and in Texas A&M. Yes, we are panicked, ”said Pearl sarcastic when he was asked about the last few weeks. “I can hardly wait until next weekend to play again.”

Auburn was in the south of Michigan State, State No. 3, Iowa State, and some familiar faces in Texas A&M, who recently defeated the Tigers, and the opponent of the first round of the Aggies.

The state of Michigan will take its 27th NCAA tournament trip, the longest active series of every team in the country. The Spartans will open against America East Champion Bryant.

“The lost changing room was not good, but it was not bad,” said Spartan's coach Tom Izzo after the loss of big ten on Saturday against Wisconsin.

Now the Spartans can correct these mistakes if they are looking for their first national championship 25 years after their last.

The biggest surprise in the south was perhaps the No. 5 seed, which was given to the rival Michigan in the state, who defeated the Badgers for the Big Ten title on Sunday. Instead, the Wolverines will be exposed to a potential NCAA favorite in the first round in UC San Diego, which is possible for the first time after a four-year period from the II level division.

Subsides are important

North Carolina will play in San Diego State in a first four game after surviving the NCAA bubble. The Tar Heels were 1-12 against quad 1 opponent, but of their hard strength of the schedule and a close defeat against Duke in the Acc-tournament.

The sports director of Tar Heels, Bubba Cunningham, acts as chairman of the selection committee and asks questions from the conflicts of interest. According to the rules of the committee, Cunningham withdrew from all talks about his school and said: “All guidelines and procedures were followed.” Vice President and Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill led these discussions.

The winner of the state of North Carolina-San Diego will play the sixth seed Ole Miss in the first round.

Outlook

TJ Otzelberger, coach of the State Iowa State, said on Sunday that the start -up guard Keshon Gilbert will miss the NCAA tournament because of a continuing muscle pollution, which he also held out of the BIG 12 against BIG 12 from the BYU from the BYU from the BIG 12 of the cyclone. Otzelberger was more optimistic about the status of Tamin Lipsey, who missed the game against the Cougars with a stranded.

“We expect that he will be ready for our game on Friday,” said Otzelberger.

Turnaround time

Louisville switched from 8 victories under Kenny Payne to 27-7 and ACC tournament overall players last year in the first season of the cardinals under Pat Kelsey. They earned the seed no. 8 and will open against Creighton, which has lost in the Big East final against St. Johns.

Yale lost only once in the Ivy League and won 16 of his last 17 games when it tried to reproduce his surprise from Auburn last year by defeating Texas A&M. Then there are the other Bulldogs in the south – Bryant, trained by Phil Martelli Jr. -, who would really bring in a surprise if you can spoil Michigan's journey to the tournament.

What is a triton?

UC San Diego prepared to play in the tournament of Division II when it was canceled by pandemic in 2020. The descendants of Poseidon in Greek mythology beginnings in Division I the following year, but they were no longer allowed for the Big Dance than they went 30-4, and won the titles and tournaments of Big West and Tournaments.

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AP March Madness Bracket: And reporting:

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