Good morning, sports activities followers. We’re formally 4 weeks away from Choice Sunday. Are you able to scent March within the air?
The NCAA Match choice committee revealed its present prime 16 seeds on Saturday, a now-annual custom that offers followers a way of the place prime groups stack up in committee members’ eyes.
They nailed down crucial objects, just like the 4 No. 1 seeds, however I’ve a couple of objections down the checklist. As you begin getting pumped for bracket season, right here’s what the choice committee obtained proper and improper Saturday:
Proper: Auburn is the perfect crew within the nation
Auburn obtained the nod over rival Alabama and Duke for the No. 1 total seed, and the Tigers proved their worthiness later within the afternoon with a 94-85 street win over the Crimson Tide in a top-two showdown.
That makes Auburn 14-2 in opposition to Quadrant 1 opponents, and the Tigers rank No. 1, 2, or 3 within the seven main metrics on the committee’s crew sheets. No have to overthink this; Bruce Pearl can peacock a bit of. No one desires to see Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara and firm subsequent month.
Proper: Florida deserves a No. 1 seed
Jan 25, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators ahead Alex Condon (21) walks on the court docket after a name in opposition to the Georgia Bulldogs throughout the second half at Exactech Enviornment on the Stephen C. O’Connell Heart. Necessary Credit score: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Photographs Becoming a member of Auburn, Alabama and Duke on the No. 1 strains was Florida, and I believe that’s the correct name. The Gators are one of many two groups to beat Auburn, and none of their three defeats are that regarding—they might have misplaced to Tennessee by 20, however they beat the Vols by 30 a month prior.
Per committee chair Bubba Cunningham, the one different crew thought of for a No. 1 seed was Tennessee. And that is the place I’ve to retort.
Mistaken: Sleeping on Houston
Jan 15, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars ahead J’Wan Roberts (13) dribbles in opposition to West Virginia Mountaineers ahead Amani Hansberry (13) within the first half at Fertitta Heart. Necessary Credit score: Thomas Shea-Imagn Photographs Tennessee, Texas A&M and Purdue held down the fifth by way of seventh spots total earlier than the committee obtained to Houston for the final of the No. 2 seeds. Possibly this can be a contact of Houston fatigue after the Cougars earned No. 1 seeds every of the previous two years and misplaced within the Candy 16 each occasions?
Kidding apart, I’d belief Houston greater than a crew like Tennessee, an apt comparability given each groups are defense-first. All of the Cougars have completed is win 17 of their previous 18 video games after a gradual begin (that includes losses to Auburn and Alabama), and a Saturday rally on the street in opposition to an ascending Arizona crew was one in every of their greatest wins but. Their predictive metrics (i.e., KenPom and BPI) are higher than Tennessee’s, Texas A&M’s and Purdue’s, for the file.
Mistaken: Kentucky is simply too excessive
Jan 18, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats ahead Ansley Almonor (15) celebrates with guard Otega Oweh (00) throughout the second half in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Enviornment at Central Financial institution Heart. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photographs We have been all ingesting the Kentucky blue Kool-Assist a bit too shortly after the Wildcats’ scorching begin below Mark Pope, and I completely rely myself in that class. The offense will be tremendous enjoyable, however there are too many nights once they simply don’t defend.
The committee awarded Kentucky the tenth total spot Saturday, translating to a strong No. 3 seed within the bracket. The Wildcats repaid their religion by… shedding at Texas and dropping to 6-6 within the SEC. Sure, the SEC is a monster each evening, and so on., and so on. However a number of groups need to be seeded larger than Kentucky proper now: Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Arizona and probably even St. John’s.
For reference, the committee’s prime 16 as of Feb. 15:
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Duke
4. Florida
5. Tennessee
6. Texas A&M
7. Purdue
8. Houston
9. Iowa State
10. Kentucky
11. Wisconsin
12. Arizona
13. Texas Tech
14. Michigan
15. Kansas
16. St. John’s