Duke Claims Top Seed as Underdog Miami (Ohio) Earns Surprise Bid

The much-anticipated March Madness brackets were unveiled on Sunday, and the top overall seed in the men's tournament came as little surprise - Duke was named the #1 overall seed, continuing their dominance as one of the premier programs in college basketball.

Joining the Blue Devils as #1 seeds are Arizona, Michigan, and Florida, each of whom will be looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament after strong regular season campaigns. However, the selection committee did throw a curveball with one of the final at-large bids, as Miami (Ohio) squeaked into the field as a #11 seed, setting up a must-win First Four matchup for the RedHawks.

According to tournament selection chair Keith Gill, the top line of the bracket was the most predictable element, with Michigan's drop to the #3 overall seed being the result of their loss to Purdue just moments before the brackets were unveiled. Despite the Wolverines' late-season stumble, they'll be joined by the other #1 seeds as heavy favorites to make a deep postseason run.

While Duke's inclusion as the tournament's top overall seed was widely expected, the selection of Miami (Ohio) as one of the final at-large bids has generated significant buzz. The RedHawks, who finished the regular season with a 31-1 record, will need to win their First Four game just to advance to the main field of 64 teams.

With the brackets now set, college basketball fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the March Madness frenzy. The opening First Four games will tip off on March 19th, setting the stage for three thrilling weeks of tournament action that will culminate in the Final Four and national championship game.