Good morning, sports activities followers. We’re formally 4 weeks away from Choice Sunday. Are you able to odor March within the air?
The NCAA Match choice committee printed its present prime 16 seeds on Saturday, a now-annual custom that provides 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 just a few objections down the record. As you begin getting pumped for bracket season, right here’s what the choice committee acquired proper and unsuitable Saturday:
Proper: Auburn is the very best workforce within the nation
Auburn acquired the nod over rival Alabama and Duke for the No. 1 general 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 towards Quadrant 1 opponents, and the Tigers rank No. 1, 2, or 3 within the seven main metrics on the committee’s workforce sheets. No must overthink this; Bruce Pearl can peacock somewhat. No one needs 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 courtroom after a name towards the Georgia Bulldogs throughout the second half at Exactech Area on the Stephen C. O’Connell Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Photographs Becoming a member of Auburn, Alabama and Duke on the No. 1 strains was Florida, and I feel 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 workforce thought of for a No. 1 seed was Tennessee. And that is the place I’ve to retort.
Improper: Sleeping on Houston
Jan 15, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars ahead J’Wan Roberts (13) dribbles towards West Virginia Mountaineers ahead Amani Hansberry (13) within the first half at Fertitta Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Thomas Shea-Imagn Photographs Tennessee, Texas A&M and Purdue held down the fifth by way of seventh spots general earlier than the committee acquired 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 instances?
Kidding apart, I’d belief Houston greater than a workforce like Tennessee, an apt comparability given each groups are defense-first. All of the Cougars have accomplished is win 17 of their previous 18 video games after a sluggish begin (that includes losses to Auburn and Alabama), and a Saturday rally on the street towards an ascending Arizona workforce was considered one of their finest 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.
Improper: 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 towards the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Area at Central Financial institution Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photographs We have been all consuming the Kentucky blue Kool-Help a bit too shortly after the Wildcats’ scorching begin underneath Mark Pope, and I completely depend myself in that class. The offense may be tremendous enjoyable, however there are too many nights after they simply don’t defend.
The committee awarded Kentucky the tenth general spot Saturday, translating to a strong No. 3 seed within the bracket. The Wildcats repaid their religion by… dropping at Texas and dropping to 6-6 within the SEC. Sure, the SEC is a monster each night time, and so forth., and so forth. However a number of groups should be seeded larger than Kentucky proper now: Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Arizona and presumably 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