A Jersey Guy: Top of NCAA Bracket Taking Shape
We had the usual assortment of upsets on the final weekend of the regular season and anticipate some more surprises this week as we move into the post season phase of the 2021 college basketball season.
But most of the changes will be for position not placement in the NCAA tournament bracket which will be released on Sunday, containing 68 teams and four "alternates'' in case COVID issues pop up.
We will post our first full bracket on Friday and update it right until the final conference tournament game is decided on Sunday afternoon.
For now, however, let's look at what feel will be the first four lines of the bracket.
No. 1 seeds--Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan and Illinois
No. 2 seeds--Houston, Iowa, Alabama and Virginia
No. 3 seeds-Ohio State. Kansas, West Virginia, Arkansas
No. 4 seeds-LSU, Villanova, Texas, Purdue
The biggest change here involves Ohio State and Villanova, both of whom were No. 1 seed contenders a few weeks ago.
Nova has been hit with major injuries in its backcourt. Starting guard Collin Gillespie went down with a knee injury last week and then on Saturday in what turned into a 2 point loss to Providence, Justin Moore, Gillespie's replacement as a point guard for the Wildcats, suffered a sprained left ankle.
Needless to say, the Wildcats would probably best served not playing at all in the Big East tournament this week, but that will not happen.
Nova's uncertain medical status, plus a continuation of a slide, will no doubt be noticed by the NCAA tournament selection committee when they seed the field.
Ohio State simply has hit a slump. The Buckeyes have now lost four straight games against Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa and Illinoi.
The Buckeyes can afford to coast during the Big Ten tournament this week in Indianapolis, but their stay in Indy, which is hosting the entire NCAA tournament, might be a short one unless they can figure things out.
One Cinderella guaranteed will be the America East tournament winner which will be decided on Saturday when No. 6 seed UMass-Lowell visits No. 4 seed Hartford.
The winner is almost guaranteed a No. 16 slot play in slot against another No. 16 seed for the honor of playing either Gonzaga or Baylor.
There's good balance--look at Big Ten and Big 12, which has a plethora of quality teams at the top and then there is bad balance--look at the Pac-12 and ACC, which on any given day might have a different leader among teams that are only marginally qualified for Top 2 seed lines consideration.
Take Virginia for example, which could wind up as a No. 2 see if it wins the ACC tournament. The Cavs faced Gonzaga in December and were pounded, 98-75.
The Big East isn't far behind. After Villanova and Creighton, No. 3 seed UConn jumps out, but then it is a jump ball for a No. 4 spot, which might not even happen.
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What we are not likely to see is Duke or Kentucky in the NCAA field without a pass as a conference tournament champion.
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Because of COVID issues, this has been an unusual season in terms of scheduling with almost everyone in the scramble mode.
Case in point is Saint Louis, which was eliminated from the Atlantic 10 tournament over the weekend, which would normally mean a wait and see mode in terms of what happens in post season.
With an NCAA at large berth unlikely and a reduced NIT field, St. Louis coach Travis Ford is search of an opponent this week in hopes of elevating his team's at-large status.
Here's a suggestion. Call Belmont, which was upset in the finals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament to Moorehead State and schedule what could be a play in game to the NCAA tournament field.
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No white smoke from Boston College on its coaching search. The way it looks now, the only way BC can announce a new head coach is if they choose an assistant coach whose team is likely to be in the NCAA tournament.
Perhaps someone like Michigan's Howard Eisley, who could be introduced this week, and continue a duel role as long as the Wolverines are playing. Any head coach who makes the NCAA tournament field would be foolish to announce it until his season is over.
The other possibilities are coaches from schools finish their seasons this week.
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And finally this note.
Congratulations to UConn football coach who received a contract extension through Dec 31. 2023.
One key question is whether UConn, which is dealing as a CFB independent, will still be playing football at the end of that pact or whether Edsall will be able two tolerate three more seasons of life in the almost unsurvivable waters as a CFB independent not named Notre Dame.