Brad Wachtel

Brad Wachtel

Brad Wachtel, Hoops HQ's lead Bracketologist since 2024, has two decades of experience projecting NCAA Tournament brackets. His NCAA Tournament analysis has appeared on countless outlets, including the Field of 68, SiriusXM College Sports, the Sports Grid, the Asbury Park Press and the Newark Star-Ledger. He is a former men's basketball administrator at Rutgers and director of operations for The Hoop Group.

UConn Loses a Top Seed. Auburn, Indiana, Seton Hall Losing Hope.

Feb. 21: Our Bracketologist breaks down the Tournament landscape

Bubble Watch: UCLA, Ohio State and Seton Hall Are in Trouble

Welcome to Bubble Watch, where our Bracketologist monitors who's on the guest list and who's on the curb ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Today's lineup includes 22 locks, and dozens of teams making their case

Houston Eyes a No. 1 Seed, While Panic Grips Auburn, Ohio State and Seton Hall

Feb. 16: Our Bracketologist breaks down the Tournament landscape

Bubble Watch: Missouri and Virginia Tech are Back In

Welcome to Bubble Watch, where our Bracketologist monitors who's on the guest list and who's on the curb ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Today's lineup includes 18 locks, and dozens of teams making their case — including eight would-be Cinderellas.

Bubble Watch: Miami Makes Its Return To The Field

Welcome to Bubble Watch, where our Bracketologist monitors who's on the guest list and who's on the curb ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Today's lineup includes 18 locks, and dozens of teams making their case — including eight would-be Cinderellas.

Florida Looks Ready to Repeat. Houston, St. John's Rise, BYU Drops.

Feb. 9: Kentucky, NC State and Alabama are climbing fast, while Gonzaga, New Mexico slip

Bubble Watch: UCLA, Texas In; Miami, VCU Out (For Now)

Welcome to Bubble Watch, where our Bracketologist monitors who's on the guest list and who's on the curb ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Today's lineup includes 11 locks, and dozens of teams making their case — including nine would-be Cinderellas.

Cal, Texas and Indiana Enter the Field. Ohio State and Miami (Fl.) Drop Out.

Feb. 2: Illinois and Iowa State are both making a case for No. 1 seeds

Indiana, NC State Are Back On the Bubble. Florida Looks Repeat Ready.

Jan. 30: Meanwhile, Missouri and Seton Hall are trending in the wrong direction

The Big Ten Owns Half of the Top 10 Seeds in the Tournament. But Here Comes the ACC...

Jan 26: Illinois and North Carolina come up with huge road wins, while Stanford and Seton Hall fall out of the field.

Kentucky and St. John's Climb. UNC Stumbles.

Jan 19: Iowa State plummets from a No. 1 after a tough week. NC State, Texas, Missouri are living on the bubble.

Michigan Loses No. 1 Seed, Mizzou + St. John's Climb

Jan 12: Arizona, Iowa State, UConn and Duke are No. 1 Seeds, while Wisconsin, NC State and Missouri enter the latest bracket.