Prior to the beginning of the Conference Tournaments, the presumed #1 seeds for the NCAA Tournament was UNC, UConn, Pitt, and the winner of the Big 12 (Oklahoma or Kansas). Well on Thursday the 12th, Pitt, Oklahoma, and Kansas all lost in the first round of their tournaments. UConn lost in 6OTsagainst Syracuse, with Syracuse almost winning it in regulation with an Eric Devendorf 3-point shot that literally was on his finger tips when the light when off. Due to the 6 OTs, this game actually finished on Friday the 13. I watched the last 5 minutes of regulation and all 6 OTs, and felt like I've been watching games all day long.
These upsets possibly opens the door for several other teams to become #1 seeds. The primary candidates are Louisville, Duke, Memphis, and Michigan State. I'll review the candidates.
Louisville has a high chance of getting a #1 seed. They won the Big East regular season title over both UConn and Pitt, however they get downgraded because they only played the top 4 other Big East teams once during the season (UConn, Pitt, Villanova, and Marquette.) The also lost to Western Kentucky, Minnesota, and UNLV in the non-conference schedule. Their road was made much easier with UConn and Pitt both losing in the conference tournament.
Duke at one point during the season was ranked #1 in the nation, however, they haven't been consistent. One game they look like no one can stop them, and other games they don't look into to it. Duke has lost to UNC twice, and finished 3rd in the ACC behind UNC and Wake Forest. I personally don't think that Duke is EVER as good as they are ranked. They are a fraud and will be exposed again in the ACC tournament. The only way they get consideration is if they win theACC tournament. Don't count on it!
Memphis has won 58 straight conference games, but unfortunately that conference is Conference USA. Memphis has no competition playing in that league and many times the games are not competitive, so they don't get opportunities to face adversity. This will hurt them come seeding time, but most importantly in the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan State won the Big Ten regular season title by 4 games. They also beat Kansas earlier this season. However, the biggest negative against Michigan State is their early season lost toUNC by 35 points. Granted MSU wasn't at full strength during that game (or any of their 5 losses for that matter), but if you're an elite team, you don't lose to another elite team by 35 points. Never. Never ever. Only chance they have is if they also win the Big Ten Tournament title.
That being said, I believe that UNC, Pitt, and UConn are locks to get #1 seeds. I think the last #1 seed will ultimately go to Louisville. They should end up winning the conference tournament with both Conn and Pitt out, so you'll have three #1 seeds from the Big East. I really don't think any conference deserves three #1 seeds, but it's the way this is shaping up. The only way I don't see this scenario is if Louisville doesn't win the conference tournament, then Memphis would slide unto that final #1 slot over Michigan State and Oklahoma. Michigan State would probably be better served being a #2 seed in the Midwest versus a #1 seed in the West. They wouldn't have to leave the Midwest to make it to the Final Four in Detroit.
DC is a contributor to The Sports Information Hub and can be contacted atdcthesportsguy@gmail.com
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