BY: SOME GUY NAMED STEVE
Folks! With Selection Sunday quickly approaching it’s time for me to give you my version of Bracketology! I will provide my projected seeds, bubble teams, and a few teams to watch out for in the tournament. If the team is in all CAPS that means the school has won or is currently in first place for its respective conference. With a ton of conference games still to play a lot could change by Sunday afternoon! You might as well call me Steve Lunardi for the rest of the week!
Note: None of Saturday’s results have been included
Number 1 Seeds
– GONZAGA: West Coast Champions (26-0, 15-0)
– BAYLOR: Big 12 Leader (22-1, 13-1)
– MICHIGAN: Big Ten Leader (19-3, 14-3)
– Illinois: Big Ten at large (20-6, 16-4)
Not much to say here, all four of these teams are locked in as one seeds and will all make deep runs. Favorite of this group is Gonzaga but I could see any of the four winning the National Championship.
Number 2 Seeds
– ALABAMA: SEC Leader (21-6, 16-2)
– Iowa: Big Ten at large (20-7, 14-6)
– Ohio State: Big Ten at large (19-8, 12-8)
– Houston: American at large (21-3, 14-3)
The two seeds this year will be very dangerous! All four of the projected two seeds have elite offenses that can score and score quickly. Alabama might be the best of the bunch with its 3rd ranked defense carrying an explosive offense that can shoot the three pointer as good as anyone in the country. My favorite of the group is Iowa, purely because its offense is unstoppable. Iowa has one of if not the best big man in the country, Luka Garza, who is surrounded by very efficient and great shooting guards. What holds Iowa back is its 62nd ranked defense but if the Hawkeyes can improve that in the tournament they could be raising the trophy in a few weeks!
Number 3 Seeds
– Kansas: Big 12 at large (20-8, 12-6)
– Oklahoma St: Big 12 at large (19-7, 11-7)
– Arkansas: SEC at large (21-5, 13-4)
– Texas: Big 12 at large (18-7, 11-6)
The 3 seeds are going to be a lot of fun in this tournament starting with Oklahoma State who has top NBA prospect Cade Cunningham. Lead by Cunningham, Oklahoma State has 9 quadrant 1 wins (second most in the country) and have proven that it can beat anybody. Arkansas is another team to keep an eye on as it has won its last eight games by an average margin of 11.3 points per game including wins over Missouri, Florida, Alabama, and LSU (all tournament teams). Texas and Kansas are also not to be slept on despite Kansas having to back out of the Big 12 tournament because of a positive COVID-19 test.
Number 4 Seeds
– West Virginia: Big 12 at large (18-9, 11-6)
– Purdue: Big Ten at large (18-8, 13-6)
– Virginia: ACC at large (18-6, 13-4)
– USC: Pac-12 at large (22-6, 15-5)
The big question mark for the four seeds will be if Virginia can compete in the March Madness tournament or not. The Cavaliers recently had to forfeit their semi-final game vs Georgia Tech tonight but as of now there has not been a ruling on their tournament eligibility. My favorite for this group is West Virginia who gave Gonzaga its toughest test all season long but don’t overlook USC who ranks highly in both offensive and defensive efficiency. That is a recipe for success in March.
Number 5 Seeds
– FLORIDA STATE: ACC Leader (15-5, 11-4)
– Villanova: Big East at large (16-6, 11-4)
– CREIGHTON: Big East Leader (19-7, 14-6)
– OREGON: Pac-12 Leader (20-5, 14-4)
Number 6 Seeds
– Tennessee: SEC at large (17-7, 10-7)
– LSU: SEC at large (16-8, 11-6)
– Texas Tech: Big 12 at large (17-10, 9-8)
– Missouri: SEC at large (16-8, 8-8)
The 5 and 6 seeds feel much stronger this season than in years past, starting with Florida State. Florida State ranks in the top 50 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and can make a serious deep run. The Seminoles have the size, athleticism, and shooting ability to blow anybody out. Another notable is Villanova who would’ve been much more dangerous if it didn’t lose its top player, Collin Gillespie, for the season.
The 6 seeds are filled with four teams that have been up and down all season long. Tennessee has two NBA prospects and can look like a top 5 team in country at times but can also go ice cold shooting. LSU has a top 5 offense in the entire country but one of the worst defenses of all tournament teams. Texas Tech can play any team in the country tough but is just 5-10 against Quadrant 1 and 2 teams this season.
Number 7 Seeds
– Clemson: ACC at large (16-7, 10-6)
– Colorado: Pac-12 at large (21-7, 14-6)
– Connecticut: Big East at large (15-6, 11-6)
– BYU: West Coast at large (20-6, 10-3)
Number 8 Seeds
– Virginia Tech: ACC at large (15-6, 9-4)
– Rutgers: Big Ten at large (15-10, 10-10)
– Florida: SEC at large (14-8, 9-7)
– SAN DIEGO ST: Mountain West Leader (21-4, 14-3)
Number 9 Seeds
– Wisconsin: Big Ten at large (17-11, 10-10)
– LOYOLA CHICAGO: Missouri Valley Champion (24-4, 16-2)
– Oklahoma: Big 12 at large (15-10, 9-8)
– North Carolina: ACC at large (18-9, 10-6)
Number 10 Seeds
– Maryland: Big Ten at large (16-12, 9-11)
– Michigan State: Big Ten at large (15-12, 9-11)
– WICHITA STATE: American Leader (15-4, 11-2)
– VCU: Atlantic 10 at large (19-6, 10-4)
There are a lot potential “upset” teams from the seeds 7-10. My two favorites are the seven seeds Connecticut and Colorado, both of these teams check all the boxes and rank in the top 30 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Not only that, both teams can shoot, rebound, and cause fits for its opponents. If Colorado and Connecticut receive a 7 seed they will be a very dangerous second round match-up for any 2 seed that faces them. Loyola Chicago is another team to keep an eye on. Loyola-Chicago has the number 1 ranked defense in the NCAA and has already proved that it can make a deep run in the tournament.
Number 11 Seeds
– Georgia Tech: ACC at large (16-8, 11-6)
– ST. BONAVENTURE: Atlantic 10 Leader (15-4, 11-4)
– Louisville: ACC at large (13-7, 8-5)
– Saint Louis: Atlantic 10 at large (14-6, 6-4)
Number 12 Seeds
– Utah State: Mountain West at large (Last 4 In) (19-7, 15-4)
– Syracuse: ACC at large (Last 4 In) (16-9, 9-7)
– Drake: Missouri Valley at large (Last 4 In) (25-4, 15-3)
– Seton Hall: Big East at large (Last 4 In) (14-12, 10-9)
– WESTERN KENTUCKY: CUSA Leader (19-6, 11-3)
– WINTHROP: Big South Champion (23-1, 17-1)
Number 13 Seeds
– UC SANTA BARBARA Big West Leader (20-4, 15-3)
– LIBERTY Atlantic Sun Champion (23-5, 11-2)
– UNC GREENSBORO Southern Champion (21-8, 13-5)
– COLGATE Patriot Leader (13-1, 11-1)
Number 14 Seeds
– TOLEDO MAC Leader (21-7, 15-4)
– MOREHEAD STATE Ohio Valley Champion (23-7, 17-3)
– GRAND CANYON WAC Leader (15-6, 9-3)
– SOUTHERN UTAH Big Sky Leader (20-3, 12-2)
Number 15 Seeds
– HARTFORD America East Leader (14-8, 8-6)
– CLEVELAND STATE Horizon Champion (19-7, 16-4)
– PRAIRIE VIEW SWAC Leader (15-4, 13-0)
– DREXEL Colonial Champion (12-7, 4-5)
Number 16 Seeds
– NICHOLLS ST Southland Leader (17-6, 14-2)
– ORAL ROBERTS Summit Champion (16-10, 10-5)
– ST. PETERS MAAC Leader (14-10, 10-8)
– APP STATE Sun Belt Champion (17-11, 7-8)
– COPPIN STATE MEAC Leader (9-12, 8-4)
– MT SAINT MARY’S Northeastern Champion (12-10, 9-7)
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