There was a more decipherable method to much of the madness.

Duke, which tied North Carolina for the most ever No. 1 seeds at 10, was the bracket’s top team overall. UConn, the only team other than Duke to be ranked No. 1 this year, is a top seed for the fourth time. Memphis and Villanova both earned their first appearances at the top of the bracket — right where they figured to be.

And, of course, the biggest conferences secured the vast majority of the 34 at-large bids. The Big Ten and Southeastern each had six teams selected, while the ACC, Big 12 and Pac-10 all had four.

Among the new multi-bid leagues were the Missouri Valley (four) and the Colonial Athletic Association (two), although both commissioners were hoping for more.

“I thought it was a good day, but we had hoped for a better day,” said Colonial commissioner Thomas Yeager, who saw Hofstra left out.

Duke (30-3) opens the tournament Thursday in nearby Greensboro, N.C., against Southern University. Texas, the No. 2, plays Pennsylvania in Dallas. The other games in that regional are at Jacksonville, Fla., and Auburn Hills, Mich., where third-seeded Iowa, the Big Ten champion, faces No. 14 Northwestern State.

Memphis (30-3), which lost one game in Conference USA this season, leads the Oakland Regional and plays Oral Roberts, which was last in the tournament in 1984, in Dallas. UCLA was the No. 2 seed and the Pac-10 champions face tournament newcomer Belmont at San Diego. At Salt Lake City, third-seeded Gonzaga goes against Atlantic-10 champion Xavier and at Auburn Hills, fourth-seeded Kansas will play Bradley.

Connecticut is the top seed in the Washington Regional. The Huskies (27-3), who were beaten by Syracuse in the Big East quarterfinals, play Albany, which is making its first appearance, in Philadelphia. The other game has eighth-seeded Kentucky against No. 9 UAB. Illinois, last year’s national runner-up and a fourth seed, faces No. 13 Air Force.

Tennessee, the second seed, plays Winthrop in Greensboro. At Dayton, defending champion North Carolina is the third seed against Murray State.

Villanova (24-4) is the top seed in the Minneapolis Regional. The Wildcats will open in their home city of Philadelphia against the winner of Tuesday night’s opening-round game between Monmouth and Hampton. The other game in that doubleheader has eighth-seeded Arizona against No. 9 Wisconsin.

This will be the 27th tournament for Arizona coach Lute Olson, tying him with Dean Smith and Bob Knight for the most in NCAA history. It is Olson’s 22nd straight appearance with Arizona, moving him within one of Smith’s record set at North Carolina from 1975-97.

Ohio State is the second seed; the Buckeyes play No. 15 Davisdon in Dayton. Third-seeded Florida, which repeated as Southeastern Conference tournament champions on Sunday, plays in Jacksonville against No. 14 South Alabama.

The Final Four is April 1 and 3 in Indianapolis.

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