2024 March Madness Rankings: Power Ranking All 68 Teams In The NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament field is set for March Madness. Jason Radowitz breaks down the rankings of each team in the field, and explains who has a shot to go deep. Let's check out the March Madness Power Rankings for 2024.
Jason Radowitz - March 17, 2024, 6:58 PM EDT
5 min2024 March Madness Rankings: Power Ranking All 68 Teams In The NCAA Tournament
In last year's March Madness rankings, we had Fairleigh Dickinson as the last-rated team in last year's March Madness rankings. Of course, the rest is history. FDU knocked off Purdue in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and stunned the nation.
After watching all the conference tournaments, we'll likely see many upsets this year, too. Many teams have been inconsistent this year. Let's rank all 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament below.
2024 March Madness Power Rankings
1. Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies are back in the NCAA Tournament, looking for another NCAA Championship. With the nation's best offense, the Huskies can make another massive run after winning the Big East.
2. Houston Cougars
The Cougars had been KenPom's best-rated team all season until the Big 12 Championship. They have the nation's No. 1 defense and lost just three games during the regular season. However, that Big 12 loss to Iowa State pushed them to the No. 2 spot.
3. Purdue Boilermakers
It's Zach Edey's final year with Purdue. Maybe they will pull off a Virginia-type run after losing the first round of the tournament last year to FDU. Virginia lost to UMBC as a No. 1 seed and won the entire thing the following year.
4. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona has two senior leaders, including Caleb Love, who has already been in the NCAA Tournament Finals with North Carolina. Arizona might be one of the most balanced teams in the country this year.
5. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels finished the regular season on a six-game run, including a massive road win over Duke. North Carolina has one of the nation's best defenses and has a good enough offense to compete against anyone, despite the ACC loss to North Carolina State.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee didn't win the SEC Tournament. But that allows them to sit back and get right for the opening game of the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee still has one of the best defenses in the country. However, the offense can be slowed down at times.
7. Marquette Golden Eagles
Marquette should have Tyler Kolek back in the starting lineup to begin the NCAA Tournament. That's crucial. He was dominant in a pretty entertaining Big East this season.
8. Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones shoot about 70% from the foul line. They also foul at a very high rate defensively. But that's because the defense can force turnovers like no tomorrow. That'll be helpful come Tournament time. They're a top-ten team after winning the Big 12 this year.
9. Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini have no weaknesses on the offensive end. It would be better if the team defended the three and earned more turnovers. But that's why they're not No. 1.
10. Baylor Bears
Baylor can really shoot it from downtown. If they get hot for a couple of weeks, watch out.
11. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky's offense is better than it's ever been. However, the defense rarely does well on the defensive glass and doesn't force many turnovers. If Kentucky shoots poorly in one game, that could be the end. Conversely, if Kentucky is consistent from the field, the Wildcats can go all the way.
12. Creighton Bluejays
Every year, it feels like Creighton is a sleeper to win it all. And then they don't.
But this year, again, the Bluejays have the analytics and personnel to make a run at it.
13. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama is another team with amazing offense but lackluster defense. That's probably not the recipe to win the NCAA Tournament.
14. Duke Blue Devils
Despite Duke's recent struggles, the Blue Devils rank in the top 25 in offensive and defensive efficiency. That's critical.
15. Kansas Jayhawks
Once Kansas is healthy, the tide will turn. Bill Self won't let Kansas get embarrassed in the NCAA Tournament.
16. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Maybe Gonzaga isn't what it used to be. But the Bulldogs still added 25 wins this year. They've still got a top-ten offense that can't be ignored.
17. Auburn Tigers
Auburn might've had five losses in SEC play this season, but they're still one of the top ten in offensive and defensive efficiency this year. Auburn can win the entire thing with those stats. They proved it throughout the SEC Tournament.
18. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina doesn't have what it takes to win the National Title. But depending on matchups, we could see the Gamecocks inside the Sweet 16.
The Aggies are a balanced team that can do damage this year. I'm just not sure that they're a national championship contender.
19. Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin fell flat on their butt in the Big Ten Conference. They only finished 11-9 after beginning the season 16-4.
20. St. Mary's Gaels
I know St. Mary's is below Gonzaga in this power rankings. Analytically, Gonzaga will still match up against teams better than St. Mary's.
21. Florida Gators
The Gators made it out of the first round of the SEC Tournament for the first time in a while and then didn't stop there.
That will only give them confidence heading into the NCAA Tournament. The offense is ranked inside the top 20 and rebounds on the offensive glass at a very high rate.
22. Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders are balanced enough to go on a run in the NCAA Tournament. They've been playing really good basketball heading into this week.
23. San Diego Aztecs
The Aztecs are good enough defensively to make another ridiculous run at the NCAA Tournament.
24. Washington State Cougars
Kyle Smith won the PAC-12 Coach of the Year after Washington State won 23 games in the regular season. The Cougars dominated the PAC-12, but the Pac-12 was pretty weak this season outside of Arizona and Colorado.
25. BYU Cougars
BYU can flat-out shoot it. This team nailed nearly 35% from three and 58% from inside the arc. The Cougars just don't get to the foul line much.
26. Utah State Aggies
This year, the Mountain West should get some more love. Utah State is super efficient on offense and never really takes awful shots. That's helped them shoot at a top-20 rate inside the arc this year.
27. New Mexico Lobos
The Lobos didn't have the best finish to the regular season, but the NCAA Tournament success made up for it.
28. Nevada Wolfpack
Nevada can get to the foul line at a very high rate. But while the offense is in the top 40, the defense is also in the top 40. Nevada has plenty of time to relax before the NCAA Tournament. They could regroup and make a run.
29. Florida Atlantic Owls
We can't have another NCAA Tournament without last year's Cinderella!
30. Boise State Broncos
The Broncos still did enough to make the NCAA Tournament after winning 22 games this year. The Broncos finished 13-5 in Mountain West play, and the Mountain West was really difficult and good this year.
31. Michigan State Spartans
Kentucky's got another coaching legend. John Calipari has some fans worried that the Kentucky Wildcats' era of being elite is over. But I'm sure the talented team will respond in the NCAA Tournament.
32. Clemson Tigers
Clemson finished with 21 years on the season. The year didn't end how the Tigers wanted, but the regular season was still enough to get into the NCAA Tournament.
33. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska caught fire to finish out the regular season. The Cornhuskers went 12-8 in conference play and only lost once from February 10 to March 10. That was ultimately enough to help Nebraska get into the Tournament.
34. Colorado State Rams
It takes teams 18.9 seconds per possession against the Colorado State Rams. If Colorado State can continue to limit possessions, they'll stick around in any game, especially with a really good and consistent offense.
35. Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern was rewarded with an NCAA Tournament slot after adding wins against Dayton, Purdue, and Michigan State. That loss to Chicago State was haunting, though.
36. TCU Horned Frogs
TCU does some good things. But nine losses in the Big 12 regular season won't help their stance heading into the NCAA Tournament.
37. Dayton Flyers
Dayton's early wins against LSU, St. John's, and Cincinnati will be enough to get Dayton into the NCAA Tournament after going 14-4 in the regular season of the A-10.
38. Mississippi State Bulldogs
After a massive win against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament, Miss State got invited into the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs have held teams to 29.4% from downtown this season and typically dominate on the offensive glass.
39. Texas Longhorns
A 9-9 record in the Big 12 isn't very appealing. Texas's non-conference slate was alson't great. The Big 12 Tournament loss to Kansas State was ugly, too. But they'll be in the tournament anyway!
40. Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia has one of the best defenses in the nation, but the Cavaliers can't shoot free throws. That's going to hurt them eventually.
41. Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies have one of the worst offensive efficiencies in the nation. However, they found some success in the SEC Tournament offensively. So there's that.
42. Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks got an automatic bid after winning the Pac-12. They knocked off UCLA, Arizona, and Colorado on consecutive nights.
43. North Carolina State Wolfpack
After five wins in five nights, North Carolina State is dancing after being an 11-seed in the ACC Tournament.
44. Colorado Buffaloes
The Buffaloes shot over 39% from downtown, hitting 77.8% from the foul line. If they keep that up, they can stick around against anyone.
45. Drake Bulldogs
Drake shot 36.5% from three and 55.1% from inside the arc this season. On the other hand, the team allowed just 22.1% of offensive rebounds per game.
Drake could seriously do damage in this tournament. No team wants to play them.
46. James Madison Dukes
James Madison has won 13 games heading into the NCAA Tournament. After defeating Michigan State to begin the season, many people have been eying them throughout the year.
They didn't disappoint.
47. Grand Canyon Antelopes
Grand Canyon finished the year with a 29-4 record and a WAC Championship.
48. McNeese State Cowboys
Will Wade did it. He got McNeese into the NCAA Tournament and has won 11 consecutive games coming into the Tournament.
49. Duquesne Dukes
The Dukes are built on defense. They've also won eight straight games coming into the NCAA Tournament. Duquesne's hot right now!
50. Samford Bulldogs
Samford has one of the best offenses in the nation. On the other hand, the defense has earned almost 22% of turnovers. Samford could really surprise in the Tournament.
51. Yale Bulldogs
Yale needed a buzzer-beater to beat Brown in the Ivy League Tournament Finals.
52. UAB Blazers
The Blazers won three consecutive AAC Tournament games by 10+ points to get an automatic bid.
53. Vermont Catamounts
What's a Tournament without Vermont?
54. Charleston Cougars
The Charleston Cougars finished the year with 12 consecutive wins. This team can fight with the best of them and never quits, despite trailing late in some of those matchups.
55. Akron Zips
Akron Zips got a little lucky after Kent State made a blunder. Who knows if Akron would be slotted into this spot if it weren't for Kent State's mental mistake?
56. Oakland Grizzlies
Oakland earned an automatic bid in the Horizon League. Nothing truly stands out with this team except its major win percentage. The team can shoot from the foul line at a high rate.
57. Morehead State Eagles
Don't sleep on the Eagles. Morehead allowed teams to shoot just 31.1% from three and 45.4% from inside the arc this season.
58. Colgate Raiders
Colgate held teams to under 30% from downtown this season and lost only nine games throughout the entire year. They'll be a tough out despite the lack of offensive rebounds.
59. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
After losing four straight games to finish the regular season, the Hilltoppers won four consecutive games to win the C-USA. Because of course.
60. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
South Dakota State dominated the Summit League. But the stats and analytics prove that the Jackrabbits probably won't earn an upset in the NCAA Tournament.
61. Long Beach State Beach
Long Beach State parted ways with its head coach, let him coach in the Big West Tournament, and then won the Conference Tournament.
They're going dancing...
62. Longwood Lancers
Analytically, Longwood wasn't the most efficient.
63. Stetson Hatters
For what it's worth, The Hatters earned an automatic bid after three straight wins in the ASUN Tournament. Stetson earned a win over UCF earlier in the year and kept things close against Cincinnati.
64. Wagner Seahawks
Wagner was barely above .500 this year. But after earning the NEC automatic bid, the Seahawks are going dancing with one of the worst offenses in the nation.
65. Saint Peter's Peacocks
The Peacocks have one of the worst offenses in college basketball. But they got hot at the right time!
66. Montana State Bobcats
Montana State has a lot of trouble rebounding and defending inside. However, they can shoot it, and sometimes, that's all a team needs.
67. Howard Bison
Howard will be heading to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in two years. This team was worse than last year's team analytically.
68. Grambling Tigers
Grambling had a stretch earlier in the year when they lost eight consecutive games. But they finished the season 9-1 in their last ten, including three straight wins in the SWAC as the No. 1 seed.
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