A week before Alabama and Auburn continue the SEC’s newest burgeoning hoops rivalry caps off the 2024-25 regular season for men’s college basketball, a small but important amount of dust could be settled.

With a victory over Kentucky and or a loss by Alabama, Auburn basketball will clinch the SEC’s regular season championship for the first time since 2022. A win also locks up a double bye for the Tigers entering the SEC tournament in two weeks.

The Tigers aren’t the only program who are on the cusp of the all-important extra rest. Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee are all in position to grab double byes. For those schools grabbing some extra rest, other schools will be putting extra work just to make the big dance.

The SEC log jam to enter the NCAA tournament

There are 68 spots to enter the NCAA tournament. However, when you slice the field up after the teams who win automatic bids, the at-large teams who are locks in the field, there’s about 7-10 spots that remain.

That’s where Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Texas, Oklahoma, and Georgia come in.

All five are either near, or on the tournament bubble. The bad news is that the regular season is almost ending, so things probably won’t entering the SEC tournament. The good news is that there’s a chance that a combination of these five will play each other at some point in the SEC tournament.

The first, and possibly second day of the SEC tournament will see what I like to call, “bubble eliminators” so a team like Georgia, who beat Florida this past week has a chance to strengthen their resume by beating a team such as Vanderbilt or Arkansas in the conference tournament. A loss, and you’re sweating on Selection Sunday.

Not your father’s, or brother’s ACC

Remember the Atlantic Coast Conference? The basketball league that seemed to be the gatekeepers for anybody’s path to a Final Four?

Those days are long gone.

Much like Roy Williams and Coach K, the ACC’s March Madness presence will be missing. Yes, Duke will be there as a likely No. 1 seed, but after that? Not much. Clemson will be there as well, sitting in the five-to-six seed range.

Then, you have North Carolina, a team who may have 20 wins by regular season’s end, but just 1-10 in Quad I victories. It’s safe to say that the ACC has gone from gatekeepers to steppingstones for March Madness.

Games to Watch

Auburn vs. Kentucky (Mar. 1)

On the line for the Tigers? Wrapping up the SEC regular season title, and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Oklahoma at Ole Miss (Mar. 1)

Following a missed opportunity to grab a resume win vs. Kentucky on Wednesday night, Oklahoma gets another shot going on the road vs. Ole Miss.

Alabama at Tennessee (Mar. 1)

Both are still in line to grab a No. 1 seed, but the winner of this one? Gets one foot in front of the loser in Saturday’s showdown in that race.

Georgia at Texas (Mar. 1)

Winner sleeps a little easier, and maybe on the right side of the bubble?

Memphis at UAB (Mar. 2)

Hello UAB, would you like to make the NCAA tournament? Beating Memphis at home would go a long way in helping that.

AL.com projected “field of 68″

This will be updated each Friday and the days leading up to Selection Sunday. Below are the regions, along with a brief regional breakdown.

South Region (Atlanta, GA)

• 1. Auburn vs. 16. Quinnipiac
• 8. UConn vs. 9. Baylor
• 5. Clemson vs. 12. San Diego
• 4. Arizona vs. 13. Jacksonville State
• 6. St. Mary’s vs. 11. Texas/Oklahoma (play-in)
• 3. Iowa State vs. 14. Towson
• 7. Louisville vs. 10. Nebraska
• 2. Texas A&M vs. Robert Morris

They’re both on the bubble, it’s 40 minutes and change for a spot in the field of 68. The NCAA tournament is a TV show, give me Oklahoma vs. Texas as a play-in game.

East Region (Newark, NJ)

• 1. Duke vs. 16. Southern/American (play-in)
• 8. Illinois vs. 9. New Mexico
• 5. Maryland vs. 12. McNeese State
• 4. Texas Tech vs. 13. Akron
• 6. Kansas vs. 11. VCU
• 3. St. John’s vs. 14. James Madison
• 7. UCLA vs. 10. San Diego State
• 2. Tennessee vs. 15. Montana

Out of all my previous projections, this may have been the easiest path that I have given out of the trio of Duke, Auburn, and Alabama. What’s that mean? Duke probably will get the toughest bracket on Selection Sunday.

Midwest Region (Indianapolis, IN)

• 1. Alabama vs. 16. Bryant
• 8. Creighton vs. 9. BYU
• 5. Missouri vs. 12. Drake
• 4. Purdue vs. 13. Lipscomb
• 6. Oregon vs. 11. Arkansas
• 3. Kentucky vs. 14. Utah Valley
• 7. Ole Miss vs. 10. West Virginia
• 2. Michigan State vs. Central Connecticut State

The game of the first round might be the 5-12 showdown with Missouri taking on Drake. I expect a ton of three-pointers in this game. Set the over/under somewhere near 175 points.

West Region (San Francisco, CA)

• 1. Houston vs. Southeast Missouri State/Omaha (play-in)
• 8. Gonzaga vs. 9. Utah State
• 5. Marquette vs. 12. Yale
• 4. Michigan vs. 13. High Point
• 6. Mississippi State vs. 11. Georgia/Indiana (play-in)
• 3. Wisconsin vs. 14. Chattanooga
• 7. Memphis vs. 10. Vanderbilt
• 2. Florida vs. 15. Norfolk State

Of the vulnerable No. 1 locations, it always seems like the West region is the wildcard. As the seedings unfold over the next few weeks, it’s possible that this region may be the most influx. Right now, Houston is the top seed here, but if Auburn and Duke continue on their path, it may come down to the Midwest or West region for the final No. 1 seed to be locked up.