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Michigan, Duke, Arizona, Iowa State Top NCAA Tournament Preliminary Seeds
The NCAA selection committee revealed its early rankings for the 68-team men's field.
Feb. 21, 2026 at 6:42pm
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The NCAA selection committee has revealed its preliminary rankings for the 68-team men's field for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Michigan was named the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State as the other 1-seeds. The Wolverines, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll, headline the top seeds based on their strong performance so far this season.
Why it matters
The NCAA Tournament is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year, with millions of fans closely following the action. The preliminary seeding announcements provide an early look at which teams are positioned to make deep runs in the tournament and potentially compete for the national championship.
The details
According to the selection committee's early rankings, Michigan, Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State will be the 1-seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. These four teams have all had impressive seasons so far and are expected to be among the favorites to win the national title.
- The NCAA selection committee revealed the preliminary seedings on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The players
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is currently ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll and was named the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament preliminary rankings.
Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team was named a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament preliminary rankings.
Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team was named a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament preliminary rankings.
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team was named a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament preliminary rankings.
The takeaway
The preliminary seeding announcements provide an early look at the top contenders for the NCAA Tournament championship. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the final tournament bracket to see how these top teams are positioned and which Cinderella stories may emerge.
