As this is written, we are less than four hours away from the unveiling of the bracket for the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. It’s always an exciting day, full of suspense, arguments, celebration and disappointment.
The conversation this week has focused on the four No. 1 seeds. Just about an hour ago, CBS Sports interviewed Ron Wellman, chair of the men’s basketball committee. The committee has the field in place and is focused on seeding the brackets in the final hours.
Wellman said three of the top seeds are locked in and the committee is still discussing the fourth. That wasn’t a surprise. Wichita State, Florida and Arizona have been comfortable in those positions for quite some time and Arizona’s loss to UCLA in the Pac-12 championship game won’t change that. At this point, I think Michigan should be comfortable as the No. 1 seed in the East. The Wolverines are the Big Ten regular season champions and play Michigan State in the tournament title game later today.
I can accept Michigan as the fourth No. 1 – win or lose today.
Wellman said three teams are being considered for that fourth No. 1. He did not, of course, name those teams. We are going to assume Michigan is one. Duke, playing Virginia in the ACC championship game, seems a possibility. Virginia could be in the running but I think the committee might be discussing Louisville, the American champion.
If Michigan and Duke both lose, I could see Louisville sneaking into that final spot because few teams are playing as well right now and the Cardinals pass the eye test.
So, with the clock ticking, here are my predictions across the top four lines.
SOUTH: 1. Florida, 2. Kansas, 3. Creighton, 4. Syracuse
EAST: 1. Michigan, 2. Louisville, 3. Virginia, 4. UCLA
MIDWEST: 1. Wichita State, 2. Villanova, 3. Duke, 4. Michigan State
WEST: 1. Arizona, 2. Wisconsin, 3. Iowa State, 4. San Diego State
For my readers who are Connecticut fans, I think the Huskies are a solid No. 5 seed, perhaps in the West. There’s where I’m placing them, although the temptation was strong to make them the No. 4, over San Diego State. That could happen.
It’s all speculation right now. The committee speaks at 6 p.m.
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