College basketball media reacts to 2022 NCAA Tournament bracket reveal
By Scott Rogust
The official 2022 NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday night. Here is how the college basketball media reacted.
On Sunday, the NCAA men’s basketball conference tournaments wrapped up. Now, it is officially time for March Madness, and there was little time wasted to find out the bracket for the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
The Selection Show revealed the 68-team field, including which teams will end up in which region. Now is the fun part, where the college basketball media world breaks down each region and gives their opinions.
More. Blank printable March Madness bracket. light
NCAA Tournament bracket: West Region
The West Region was the first to be revealed, and the team that holds the top-seed is, unsurprisingly, the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Even though they hold the No. 1 position in the West, their opponent pool is going to be tough, as evidenced by Duke, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Arkansas.
Additionally, Rutgers and Notre Dame will compete in a First Four matchup to receive the No. 11 seed and the right to face No. 6 Alabama in the first round.
Below is the bracket for the West Region, along with some reaction from media members.
Gonzaga takes the No. 1 seed in the West Region. pic.twitter.com/NOkxAdXzo7
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 13, 2022
THE NO. 1 OVERALL SEED FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR‼️ @ZagMBB pic.twitter.com/evgyet3g2i
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 13, 2022
Just a friendly reminder: The committee settled on the teams yesterday. Today (this morning), was mainly scrubbing seeds and making sure bracket rules were followed.
— /r/CollegeBasketball (@redditCBB) March 13, 2022
In other words, CCGs today did not matter unless you were a bid stealer.
First blush West Region: the overall No. 1 Zags have a TOUGH road. Arkansas, Texas Tech, Duke ... and don't overlook the Boise/Memphis winner.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 13, 2022
MSU against Davidson is far from any guarantee, but the potential for Izzo to end Krzyzewski’s career in the 2nd round could be spicy.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 13, 2022
Notre Dame-Rutgers is the battle between the school B1G fans wanted and the school B1G fans got.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) March 13, 2022
Notre Dame makes the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed and will play in the First Four against Rutgers in Dayton.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) March 13, 2022
NCAA Tournament bracket: South Region
Onto the South Region, where the 31-3 Arizona Wildcats sit atop their competition.
Among the reaction is the fact that the Tennessee Volunteers, who defeated the Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC Tournament Finals, received the No. 3 seed instead of the second-spot, which ultimately went to the Villanova Wildcats.
Wright State and Bryant will face off in the First Four to face off against Arizona in the opening round.
The South Region is ready to roll. pic.twitter.com/oUQO9TGF7x
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 13, 2022
Arizona vs. Bryant.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 13, 2022
KERR KRIISA VS. PETER KISS POSSIBLE???
SWAG GALORE.
The No. 1 seed of the South region: @ArizonaMBB pic.twitter.com/Pknt3eYaVp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 13, 2022
Michigan is in. And not in Dayton
— /r/CollegeBasketball (@redditCBB) March 13, 2022
Tennessee on the 3 line.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 13, 2022
BAFFLING.
Villanova on the 2 line over Tennessee is a really, really tough sell. Rough look for the committee.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 13, 2022
NCAA Tournament bracket: Midwest Region
The Midwest Region will run through the Kansas Jayhawks, who clinched the No. 1 seed with a 28-6 record and a Big 12 Tournament title after defeating Texas Tech.
There are some intriguing first round matchups such as No. 4 Providence (25-5) vs. No. 13 South Dakota State (30-4) and No. 7 USC (26-7) and No. 10 Miami (23-10).
The First Four battle between Texas Southern and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will earn the No. 16 seed and the right to face Kansas in the first round.
The Midwest Region is set for madness. pic.twitter.com/KMYD1hdEay
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 13, 2022
.@KUHoops locks up the No. 1 seed in the Midwest! pic.twitter.com/Hcf7JXkp1W
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 13, 2022
Providence vs. … South Dakota State.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 13, 2022
WHAT A MATCHUP.
Making Providence play South Dakota State feels pretty mean. Friars might lose by double digits.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) March 13, 2022
Iowa with the No. 5 seed, playing in Buffalo on Thursday against Richmond. The No. 4 seed is Providence, who plays South Dakota State.
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 13, 2022
Not bad.
Once again, winning the conference tournament (unless you need it to get in) means ZERO. Games have been awesome. Lotta fun to watch - seems the committee didn’t see them.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) March 13, 2022
USC-Miami, a beautiful first round matchup for fans of the attitude era.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) March 13, 2022
Like Kansas' path in the Midwest. Wisconsin/Iowa could be the biggest roadblocks.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 13, 2022
NCAA Tournament bracket: East Region
The defending National Champion Baylor Bears hold the top seed in the East Region after going 26-6 this season.
In the East alongside the Bears are No. 2 Kentucky, No. 3 Purdue and No. 4 UCLA.
The final First Four matchup will be between Wyoming and Indiana for the No. 11 seed and the opportunity to face No. 5 Saint Mary’s in the opening round.
And at last, the East Region. pic.twitter.com/RaDOaDI0aB
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 13, 2022
The No. 1 seed of the East region: @BaylorMBB pic.twitter.com/1hf4j6ceNu
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 13, 2022
An 8 (!) for Carolina.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 13, 2022
Wyoming-Indiana in Dayton! Two very bubblicious teams make it.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) March 13, 2022
Indiana. First Four.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2022
Ratings.
Wyoming is in. Indiana is in. I figured IU would not be in Dayton. That will be a good game.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 13, 2022
Indiana beats Michigan (and then Illinois) and Indiana gets a play-in while Michigan gets an 11 seed.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) March 13, 2022
Murray State vs. San Francisco.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 13, 2022
Be still my heart. And that’s kind of cruel.
OUT: Xavier, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Texas A&M, SMU
So there you have it, the official bracket for the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Now go forth and fill it one (or a few) of your own to earn bragging rights and pool money against your friends and co-workers.
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