The college basketball season has just entered the month of March. The Madness is here and the conference tournaments are almost about to start for the bigger schools. Where does the race for number one seeds stand at this point? One very notable change has occurred, setting the scene for the final weekends before the announcement of the brackets on Sunday evening, March 12.
Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks avoided upsets in recent days and are well on their way to becoming the overall number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. They would probably have to lose at Oklahoma State and then before the final of the Big 12 Tournament in order to put that spot in jeopardy. Villanova would also have to win the Big East Tournament (in conjunction with two Kansas losses as outlined above) in order for the Jayhawks to not become the top seed in the field of 68 teams. The Jayhawks haven’t always played great this season, but they have won one close game after another and have managed to step around many landmines.
Villanova Wildcats
The Wildcats might not be the top overall seed, but they are comfortably in position to get the top seed in the East Region, a place they’ve held virtually the entire season dating back to the middle of November. Ever since they beat Purdue on the road, they have held a top seed line and never relinquished it. If the Wildcats hadn’t blown a big (double-digit) lead at Marquette, Butler would be the only team to defeat Villanova this season. Coach Jay Wright continues to do a masterful job of getting the most out of the talent on hand.
North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels did lose to Virginia on Monday, so why have they moved up? Gonzaga lost at home to BYU, a team which will not get an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and must win the WCC Tournament in order to make the field. Gonzaga is now in a fight for its top seed. If Gonzaga had beaten BYU, it would sit in third, its place as a top seed unquestioned. That’s no longer the case.
North Carolina can win the outright ACC regular season title if it beats Duke or if Louisville beats Notre Dame at home this Saturday. It would be highly unlikely if both UNC and Louisville lost at home. North Carolina, should it win the ACC and then make the final of the ACC Tournament, should be set for a number one seed in the South Region. North Carolina might want to beat Duke to make sure of its top seed – then it could lose in the ACC semifinals and still probably be okay. A loss to Duke and then a loss in the ACC semifinals might keep the top seed in the South in play for another team, possibly Kentucky if the Wildcats win all their remaining games.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Zags blew it against BYU. They lost their perfect record, they lost their 17-0 record in the conference, and while they still are a number one seed in the West, they can’t be sure they’ll retain that spot. First, they must win the upcoming WCC Tournament, but then they need Oregon to lose in the Pac-12 Tournament and preferably UCLA to lose as well. Gonzaga beat Arizona during the regular season, so if Arizona wins the Pac-12 Tournament, Gonzaga probably would hold onto its top seed in the West. If Oregon and UCLA play in the Pac-12 final, though, Gonzaga could be bumped off. It’s a wait-and-see situation.
Oregon Ducks
The Ducks, should they win the Pac-12 Tournament, have the best chance of any team to displace Gonzaga from the top seed line in the West. That’s Oregon’s situation, very plainly. If the Ducks don’t win the Pac-12 tourney, they will not be a number one seed. UCLA could climb over Oregon if it wins the Pac-12 Tournament.
The Ducks finish up the regular season with a gimme as they visit their rivals, Oregon State. However, the Beavers are just 5-25 this season and 1-16 in Pac-12 play.
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