(Reuters) - Duke's quest to repeat as college basketball national champions will begin in the West region as the Blue Devils were named one of four top seeds on Sunday for this year's NCAA tournament.
Ohio State, Kansas and Pittsburgh were selected as the other top seeds for the annual event that is known for shocking upsets and dramatic conclusions.
This year's tournament has expanded to 68 teams from 65 and begins Tuesday with play-in games that lead up to a 64-team field and culminates with the Final Four beginning April 2 in Houston, Texas.
Duke will open their quest for another title against No. 16 seed Hampton in the West region, which also features second seed San Diego State, third seed Connecticut, fourth seed Texas and fifth seed Arizona.
Ohio State, ranked No. 1 in the country prior to the post-season, is joined in a stacked East bracket by second seed North Carolina, third seed Syracuse, fourth seed Kentucky and fifth seed West Virginia.
Kansas, who were awarded their fourth top seed in five
years, will be joined in the Southwest by Notre Dame, Purdue, Louisville and Vanderbilt.
Pittsburgh will be a top seed for the second time in three years when they head a Southeast region that includes Florida as number two, followed by Brigham Young, Wisconsin and Kansas State.
Despite defeating Kansas State three times this season, Colorado was one of the noticeable absences from the field, a group that also includes Virginia Tech and Alabama.
Georgia was somewhat of a surprise entry as a 10th seed in the East despite losing twice during the year to Alabama.
"There are some great teams out there, some that didn't get in; some that were fortunate enough to get in," NCAA Tournament Selection Chairman Gene Smith told reporters.
"There were a lot of things to take into account and a lot of good ball clubs to consider. It was a lot of hard work."
Ohio State, Kansas and Pittsburgh were selected as the other top seeds for the annual event that is known for shocking upsets and dramatic conclusions.
This year's tournament has expanded to 68 teams from 65 and begins Tuesday with play-in games that lead up to a 64-team field and culminates with the Final Four beginning April 2 in Houston, Texas.
Duke will open their quest for another title against No. 16 seed Hampton in the West region, which also features second seed San Diego State, third seed Connecticut, fourth seed Texas and fifth seed Arizona.
Ohio State, ranked No. 1 in the country prior to the post-season, is joined in a stacked East bracket by second seed North Carolina, third seed Syracuse, fourth seed Kentucky and fifth seed West Virginia.
Kansas, who were awarded their fourth top seed in five
years, will be joined in the Southwest by Notre Dame, Purdue, Louisville and Vanderbilt.
Pittsburgh will be a top seed for the second time in three years when they head a Southeast region that includes Florida as number two, followed by Brigham Young, Wisconsin and Kansas State.
Despite defeating Kansas State three times this season, Colorado was one of the noticeable absences from the field, a group that also includes Virginia Tech and Alabama.
Georgia was somewhat of a surprise entry as a 10th seed in the East despite losing twice during the year to Alabama.
"There are some great teams out there, some that didn't get in; some that were fortunate enough to get in," NCAA Tournament Selection Chairman Gene Smith told reporters.
"There were a lot of things to take into account and a lot of good ball clubs to consider. It was a lot of hard work."
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