Bracketology: Houston's Monday night showdown at Kansas is critical for Cougars' No. 1 seed aspirations
CBS Sports
by
David Cobb
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Houston’s upcoming matchup against Kansas in a pivotal Big 12 showdown on Monday night holds significant implications for both teams’ NCAA Tournament hopes. With Selection Sunday less than three weeks away, the game could shape their seeding positions and regional placements. Houston is aiming to secure a spot as a No. 1 seed in the South Region, which would allow them to host potential Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games at their home venue, the Toyota Center. Meanwhile, Kansas faces the risk of dropping from a No. 3 seed to a No. 4 if they continue their recent struggles, including a 84-68 loss to Cincinnati.
For Houston, landing as a No. 1 seed in the South Region is crucial, especially since the bracket is expected to include Duke (East), Michigan (Midwest), and Arizona (West) as top seeds. If Houston secures the fourth No. 1 spot or if another Big 12 team like Iowa State doesn’t claim it, they could avoid being shuffled into a different region due to conference separation principles. A fallback option for Houston would be securing a No. 2 seed, but this depends on UConn’s positioning.
Kansas’ recent losses have raised concerns about their seeding stability. With an 84-68 defeat to Cincinnati and a previous loss to Texas, the Jayhawks are at risk of falling from a No. 3 seed to a No. 4 if they lose to Houston. This would cap their seeding potential unless they rebound strongly in their final regular-season games.
Elsewhere, Louisville’s performance against North Carolina on Monday night could also influence their bracket positioning. Currently, the Cardinals have a solid Quad 1 record but lack high-profile wins. A victory over UNC could boost their standing and push them closer to a No. 5 or
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/23/2026