Wisconsin, Kentucky Nab Top Spots in March Madness

The Kentucky Wildcats ended up where everyone expected them on Selection Sunday: Seeded No. 1 on their quest to become the first undefeated team since 1976. Oh, but there were surprises when the bracket came out, too. Big-conference UCLA and Texas made it. Colorado State and Temple did not. Wisconsin is a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. But the Badgers must play in the West Region, where second-seeded Arizona is certain to draw more fans. As for those play-in games Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton: Well, one of the teams playing is Dayton—a No. 11 seed that will have a distinct home-court advantage against Boise State.

Generally, that's not allowed during the tournament, but there's an exception because the committee said the Flyers were the last team in, and thus, had to play in the opening-round game. "It falls within our policies and procedures," selection committee chairman Scott Barnes said. "It's obviously a home-court advantage but we didn't waver from that decision." The action starts in full on Thursday, when Kentucky headlines the action against the winner of a play-in game between No. 16 seeds Manhattan and Hampton. A '1' has never lost to a '16.' The other No. 1 seeds were Villanova in the East and Duke in the South. Those were pretty easy picks. Click for more on Selection Sunday. (More March Madness stories.)