en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en el en en en en en en en en
Last year's No. 1 seed race was quite boring, with four essential locks for top seeds squared away before the NCAA committee revealed the bracket to the country on Selection Sunday.
This year was much different, with a closer battle between North Carolina, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Kentucky and Michigan State for the final two No. 1 seeds. Duke and Virginia were locks for top No. 1 seeds, with the Blue Devils' two wins over the Cavaliers the deciding factor in being the NCAA tournament's top overall seed.
Here's a look at the four No. 1s, as announced by the committee on Sunday, and their NCAA tourney credentials:
1a) Duke: The Blue Devils (29-5) were in jeopardy of falling to the No. 2 line for a brief period when Zion Williamson was recovering from a minor knee injury. Duke went 3-3 during that span, but Williamson's return in the ACC tournament fortified Duke's standing as the best team in college basketball. This season, they won two huge games over fellow top seed Virginia, with credentials punctuated by a No. 3 NET score and the country's second-best strength of schedule.
BRACKETOLOGY:Final prediction on Selection Sunday
BUBBLE:10 teams sweating on Selection Sunday
2a) Virginia: Had the Cavaliers (29-3) not lost to Duke twice, their profile likely would've given them the top overall seed for the second year in a row. Virginia's got the best NET score, a top-25 strength of schedule and 12 Quadrant 1 (top-30 home, top-30 neutral, top-75 away) wins. Plus, its three losses (the other one vs. Florida State in the ACC tourney semifinal) were all to Quad 1 opponents.
3a) North Carolina: The Tar Heels (27-6) have the most losses and worst NET score of the No. 1 seeds but their 10 Quadrant 1 wins included two victories over Duke when Zion Williamson was hurt and a one-point loss in the ACC tourney semifinal with Williamson in the lineup. UNC's résumé is helped by a Dec. 15 win over Gonzaga coupled with the third-best strength of schedule.
4a) Gonzaga: A close call for the committee, the Bulldogs (30-3) beat out Tennessee after the Volunteers unexpectedly lost to Auburn in the SEC tournament final. Gonzaga had the second best NET score and only lost to Quadrant 1 opponents. The team's lack of Quad 1 wins (they had just four) made it tough on the committee, though, as Tennessee had nine, Kentucky had 10 and Michigan State had 13. Had the 'Zags not lost in the West Coast Conference tournament final to Saint Mary's, they might've been able to beat out Duke to secure the tournament's top overall seed.
Follow college basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
Title IX aimed to get women into grad schools. Over 50 years, it shaped their role in sports. Bark at the Park: Fun photos of dogs at MLB games Newsletter: The biggest sports news straight to your inbox
Careers Staff Directory Accessibility Site Map Legals Our Ethical Principles Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy PolicyDo Not Sell My Info / Cookie Policy
Contact Us Support Local Business Advertise Your Business Advertising Terms and Conditions Licensing & Reprints Help Center Subscriber Guide My Account Give Feedback