The only two remaining undefeated teams in university basketball, Gonzaga and Baylor, have from the pre-season up to this point in the regular season at no. 1 and no. 2 ranked. In the annual Bracket Preview show in which the NCAA Tournament was selected for the tournament, it is no surprise, then, that the two power station programs run from the beginning of the season until February 12th. half of the now revealed number 1 seeds.
It is fitting that Gonzaga, no. 1 – the pre-season no. 1 team that remained at the top of the rankings all season – also earned the best overall position of the selection committee. No.2 Baylor achieves the second number 1 seed. Competing Big Ten enemies Michigan and Ohio State were named as the other top-ranked teams.
“Here’s no mystery. There are two teams that have been incredible all year, and the No. 1 seed at this point is Gonzaga,” said Mitch Barnhart, Kentucky athletic director and NCAA Division I chairman. men’s basketball committee said. Baylor as the second overall team and the second No. 1 seed.
The margin between the last two unbeaten teams in the country? “Sharp,” Barnhart said.
| Seed | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 | Region 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number 1 | (1) Gonzaga | (2) Baylor | (3) Michigan | (4) Ohio State |
| No. 2 | (7) Alabama | (5) Illinois | (8) Houston | (6) Villanova |
| Nr. 3 | (12) Oklahoma | (11) Tennessee | (10) West Virginia | (9) Virginia |
| Number 4 | (13) Iowa | (15) Texas | (16) Missouri | (14) Texas Tech |
The best overall number 2 seed the committee named Saturday was Illinois, who pulled a region 2 task in Baylor’s bracket. Villanova, Alabama and Houston represent the remaining number 2 seeds in descending order. It’s a cruel draw for the Illini in the same podium with a Baylor team reaching the top class, but it’s important to mention here that it’s subject to change, and Selection Sunday is another month away.
Reigning champion Virginia selected the committee’s vote as the best overall number 3, with West Virginia, Tennessee and Oklahoma rounding the seed line. The Cavaliers are tentatively in Region 4 with the Ohio No. 1 seed. Oklahoma has drawn the dreaded Region 1 under Gonzaga, Tennessee is in Region 2 and West Virginia is in Region 3.
To give the Big 12 a fourth and fifth representative in the bracket, comes the No. 4 seed, with Texas Tech and Texas both earning the distinction along with Iowa and Missouri. It also gives the Big Ten a third member in the top-16 with Iowa.
Official early top 16 seeds
- Gonzaga
- Baylor
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Illinois
- Villanova
- Alabama
- Houston
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Iowa
- Texas Tech
- Texas
- Missouri