In less than three weeks, the Madness is set to kick in. Preparing the masses for the annual attempt at assembling a pot-splashing bracket, The Gaming Juice’s resident basketball junkie, Brad Evans, will attempt to educate casual pool participants on various teams capable of making deep runs. Today’s topic: Potential No. 1 seeds.
UConn Huskies
| Record | 25-3 |
| NET | 10 |
| SOS | 34 |
| Quad 1 | 7-2 |
| Wins Above Bubble | 4 |
No. 1 seed odds (FanDuel): -220
MUSH, Huskies! MUSH!
Similar to New England locals after the most prolific snowstorm since 1978, UConn will need to plow through various barriers if it wants to reach its desired No. 1 seed destination.
PlayoffStatus gives Danny Hurley’s club only a fair shot -- a 27% chance -- to achieve the feat. It, however, controls its own destiny. UConn rest-of-season schedule features a resume building matchup against Saint John’s and has the Big East Conference Tournament ahead. For it to remain on the No. 1 line, finishing off the regular season unblemished and at least making it to the final inside Madison Square Garden seems imperative.
The Huskies’ eyesore loss to Creighton is currently a red-flashing Quad 3 loss. However, with a No. 4 standing in increasingly valuable Wins Above Bubble, the gap between them and projected No. 2s Iowa State, Illinois, Purdue and Houston is sizable.
They may have flaws, but the Big East frontrunner sports the necessary goods to plop on the No. 1 line come Selection Sunday.
Next three games: vs. St. John’s, vs. Seton Hall, at Marquette
Iowa State Cyclones
| Record | 23-4 |
| NET | 8 |
| SOS | 44 |
| Quad 1 | 6-4 |
| Wins Above Bubble | 11 |
No. 1 seed odds (FanDuel): +950
On the Fujita Scale of tornado intensity, the Cyclones are an F3. They pack wind speeds capable of displacing small structures, uprooting trees and lifting cows, but they don’t quite exhibit the atomic gusts on par with the most intense twisters.
Road life hasn’t been the easiest for TJ Otzelberger and company. At 4-4 in true away games, Iowa State has fumbled against unspectacular competition like Cincinnati and TCU. As a result, its chances of securing a coveted No. 1 seed stand at only 16% per PlayoffStatus.
A balanced team with few weaknesses, Iowa State possesses the surface goods to ascend during the homestretch. Over the last month, it slots inside the top-20 nationally in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. With veteran guards, quality role players and Milan Momcilovic’s penchant for draining threes (50.8 3PT%), it sports a stellar profile.
Hilton Magic is palpable. If the sorcery drives Texas Tech and Arizona to losses and the Cyclones blaze a trail deep into the Big 12 Tournament, it could climb a line.
It’s +950 price to earn a No. 1 seed is an outstanding gamble.
Next three games: at Utah, vs. Texas Tech, vs. Arizona
Houston Cougars
| Record | 23-5 |
| NET | 9 |
| SOS | 20 |
| Quad 1 | 7-5 |
| Wins Above Bubble | 6 |
No. 1 seed odds (FanDuel): +1800
For the first time since 2016-2017 -- a time when John Wick kicked the living (expletive) out of everyone on the big screen in “Chapter 2” -- Houston experienced all the problems, absorbing an L for the third straight game.
The team’s identity under Kelvin Sampson largely remains unchanged. Houston bombards the boards, pressures opponents relentlessly and tenaciously guards every shot. It remains one of the game’s best defenses, ranking No. 13 in defensive efficiency since late January.
Crippling offensive outages witnessed in the second half at home versus Arizona and in Lawrence against Kansas, however, poured cold water on the school’s No. 1 seed chances. According to PlayoffStatus, the Coogs have only a 9% chance of landing on the top line. Those odds are roughly equivalent to this pasty white individual NOT burning in the Arizona sun in roughly 2.7 minutes.
With zero Quad 1 games remaining on the regular season schedule, Houston’s Big 12 Tournament performance holds more significant weight than it did a month ago. Even to remain affixed on the No. 2 seed line, it needs to win a game or two.
How quickly the tables can turn.
Next three games: vs. Colorado, vs. Baylor, at Oklahoma State
Florida Gators
| Record | 21-6 |
| NET | 7 |
| SOS | 9 |
| Quad 1 | 8-5 |
| Wins Above Bubble | 15 |
No. 1 seed odds (FanDuel): +600
Looking for a certifiable dark horse to climb to the No. 1 line on Selection Sunday? Chomp down.
The ferocious reptiles of the SEC have a reasonable path to reach the upper echelon. For starters, the SEC is No. 1 in power ratings among all conferences. Secondly, Florida owns more Quad 1 wins than others in top-line contention -- UConn, Iowa State and Houston. Thirdly, it ranks No. 5 or higher across influential sites like KenPom and BartTorvik. Lastly, further resume amplifications remain with key matchups at Texas, versus Arkansas and at Kentucky remaining. Piling on, the SEC Tournament is sure to provide more potential Quad 1 gains.
Yes, the Gators’ Wins Above Bubble is the lowest of the bunch and it’s secured only two Quad 1a wins this season. Still, its consistent demolitions of road teams combined with a rigorous rest-of-season schedule could catapult it up the Big Board.
The reigning national champs are a phenomenal value at 6/1 to do exactly that. Finish the regular season unblemished and make it to the SEC Tourney title game and their No. 1 seed argument will grow.
Next three games: at Texas, vs. Arkansas, vs. Mississippi State