There is something about the first NET update in March that feels different. The debates get louder. The resumes get picked apart. Every win suddenly feels heavier.
Through games of March 1, Duke sits at No. 1 in the NET at 27-2. It is not just a number next to their name. It reflects a body of work that checks almost every box the committee values.
The Blue Devils are 12-2 in Quadrant 1 games, second nationally only to Arizona. They are a perfect 15-0 against Quadrants 2 through 4. They just rolled Virginia by 26 points to secure at least a share of the ACC regular season title. Add in the fact that Duke is also No. 1 in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, and at or near the top of every major efficiency metric, and it is clear this is not just hype. The profile is real.
With one week left in the regular season, the race for the No. 1 overall seed feels like a three-team battle.
Duke, Michigan and Arizona have separated
Michigan is No. 2 in the NET at 27-2 and still unbeaten in conference play at 10-0. The Wolverines’ resume is clean, and they rate near the top in predictive metrics. If Duke slips this week and Michigan closes strong, the argument for the top overall seed will get interesting fast.
Arizona sits No. 3 at 27-2 and owns 13 Quadrant 1 wins, the most in the country. That matters. When the committee stacks team sheets side by side, high-end wins carry real weight. Arizona’s combination of schedule strength and big victories keeps them firmly in the No. 1 seed conversation.
At this point, it would be surprising if the No. 1 overall seed did not come from one of those three.
The fight for the fourth No. 1 seed is wide open
After the top trio, there is a clear second tier that will likely fill out the rest of the 1 and 2 lines.
Florida is No. 4 in the NET at 23-6 and continues to look like one of the most balanced teams in the country. Illinois sits at No. 5 and has survived the Big Ten grind with a résumé that holds up in both results and metrics. Gonzaga is No. 6 at 28-3 and once again in protected-seed territory.
Houston, UConn and Purdue are all inside the top nine and firmly in the mix for high seeds. The order is still fluid, and one bad loss or one big win in Champ Week could reshuffle that entire group.
The Big Ten depth jumps off the page
The NET loves depth, and the Big Ten has plenty of it.
Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska and Iowa are all inside the top 30. Nebraska at 25-4 sits No. 12 and has quietly built one of the cleanest profiles in the country. Michigan State is right behind at No. 11 and keeps adding quality wins.
There are not many soft nights in that league, and the numbers reflect it.
Mid-majors are holding their ground
Saint Mary’s is No. 21 in the NET at 26-4 and looks safely in the field. Saint Louis is No. 24 at 25-3 and has forced the committee to take its resume seriously. Utah State at No. 26 is also firmly in the conversation.
And while not inside the top 40, Miami of Ohio remains undefeated at 29-0 and ranked in the Coaches Poll. The RedHawks’ NET profile lags because of limited Quadrant 1 chances, but the record alone makes them one of the most fascinating teams in the country heading into conference tournament week.
Complete NET Top 40
Through games March 1, 2026
- Duke (27-2)
- Michigan (27-2)
- Arizona (27-2)
- Florida (23-6)
- Illinois (22-7)
- Gonzaga (28-3)
- Houston (24-5)
- UConn (27-3)
- Purdue (22-7)
- Iowa State (24-5)
- Michigan State (24-5)
- Nebraska (25-4)
- Texas Tech (22-7)
- Virginia (25-4)
- Kansas (21-8)
- Alabama (22-7)
- Louisville (20-9)
- Vanderbilt (22-7)
- Arkansas (21-8)
- Tennessee (20-9)
- Saint Mary’s (26-4)
- St. John’s (23-6)
- BYU (20-9)
- Saint Louis (25-3)
- North Carolina (23-6)
- Utah State (23-5)
- Kentucky (19-10)
- Iowa (20-9)
- NC State (19-10)
- Georgia (20-9)
- Miami (FL) (23-6)
- Wisconsin (20-9)
- Villanova (22-7)
- Clemson (21-8)
- SMU (19-10)
- Texas (17-11)
- Ohio State (18-11)
- Indiana (17-12)
- Auburn (15-14)
- UCLA (19-10)
With one week left before conference tournaments take over completely, the NET is no longer just sorting teams. It is shaping the bracket in real time. And right now, the clearest path to the No. 1 overall seed runs straight through Durham.