Welcome back to Sports Illustrated’s Magic Eight! We’ve reached the eve of March, and after an unpredictable regular season that has been marked by tons of upsets to highly ranked teams, we’re on pace for an action-packed March.
For those new to the Magic Eight, it’s a tradition started by the late Grant Wahl in his days covering college hoops for SI. The premise is simple: Separate the pretenders from the contenders and pick the eight teams that can win the national championship. The rules: Only six of the eight can come from the top eight of the current AP poll (a dated institution, we know), and one must come from outside of the top 15. This year’s Magic Eight also fits that same criteria when looking at KenPom’s efficiency rankings.
Related: Men’s Bracket Watch: Washington State Locks in, Wake Forest Breaks Through
