The race to be one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA men’s tournament is on.
As the majority of the teams are trying to do all they can to boost their resume just make the tournament field, there are a select few that are not only virtual locks to be part of March Madness, but also get selected one of the four top seeds in the field of 68.
Having the No. 1 designation next to your name doesn’t ensure a forthcoming national championship, but it does offer a great possibility. Not only does it offer a favorable path to the Final Four, but history is on its side; six of the past seven champions were No. 1 seeds.
Selection Sunday is still about seven weeks away − plenty of time for teams to strengthen or fall apart − but the picture of who will be the top seeds in each region is starting to become clear. Here’s a look at the current No. 1 seeds in the latest edition of USA TODAY Sports Bracketology, why they are there, what’s next for them and who else is in contention for the coveted spots.
Auburn
Record: 18-1. Quad 1 record: 11-1. NET Ranking: 1.
Why Auburn is here: When it comes to resumes, no one has as good of one as the Tigers. The 11 Quad 1 wins are the most in Division I, and they are the only team with fewer than two losses − and it was a quality defeat, against strong Duke team in Cameron Indoor Stadium. For as dominant as Auburn has been most of the season, it’s coming off a nail-biting week. It just avoided a last-second shot against Georgia and in one of the biggest matchups of the season, took down Tennessee in a hard-fought contest. While battered and bruised against the Volunteers, it got star center Johni Broome back to help nab another win against a top 10 team.
What’s next: Auburn will be on the road against teams in the bottom half of the SEC, with a trip to LSU on Wednesday and No. 23 Mississippi on Saturday.
Duke
Record: 17-2. Quad 1 record: 5-2. NET Ranking: 3.
Why Duke is here: Led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils have been practically unstoppable for two months. Duke is on a 14-game win streak that includes a victory against Auburn in what is by far the best win any team has this season. It has been on an absolute tear in the ACC while a perfect conference record and has won its nine league games by an average of 21.2 points. The Blue Devils are coming off one of their closest wins in recent weeks, a 10-point victory over North Carolina State.
What’s next: A visit from the team down Tobacco Road with Duke renewing its rivalry with North Carolina on Saturday.
Iowa State
Record: 17-3. Quad 1 record: 6-3. NET Ranking: 6.
Why Iowa State is here: One of the most experienced teams in the country, Iowa State continues to build off the 29 wins it achieved last season and is gunning for the school’s first ever No. 1 seed. After narrowly losing to Auburn in a thriller at the Maui Invitational, the Cyclones rattled off 12 consecutive wins, five of which were Quad 1 games. However, T.J. Otzelberger’s club has been rattled in recent weeks and the No. 1 spot is a bit shakier than before. Iowa State fell at West Virginia earlier this month and lost Monday after Arizona forced overtime on a Caleb Love’s buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt.
What’s next: The Cyclones return home to face Kansas State on Saturday before playing at No. 11 Kansas on Monday in the second meeting between the top 15 teams.
Alabama
Record: 17-3 Quad 1 record: 5-3. NET Ranking: 7.
Why Alabama is here: The second SEC team currently projected to be a No. 1 seed, Alabama is the only other team in the league besides Auburn with fewer than two conference losses. Nate Oats loves his fast-paced offense and the Crimson Tide are the highest-scoring team in the country. They’ve scored at least 90 points in four of the first seven SEC games. After a bad performance against Mississippi, Alabama has responded with a three-game win streak that includes a tough road win at Kentucky. Most recently, Alabama held off LSU at home.
What’s next: In the ‘easy’ part of its SEC schedule, Alabama will visit No. 13 Mississippi State on Wednesday and returns home to host Georgia on Saturday.
Just on the outside
Tennessee
Record: 17-4. Quad 1 record: 5-4. NET Ranking: 4
Why Tennessee is here: A team that didn’t have much trouble to start the season with a 14-0 record is starting to feel the effects of the tough SEC. The Volunteers have dropped back-to-back games at the hands of Auburn and Kentucky, and it has lost four of their last six. Still, Tennessee remains a contender for a top seed. It has an elite backcourt with Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler − one of the top passers in the country. The defense is also among the elite, allowing only a third-best 59.3 points per game. Aside from the loss to Florida, the Volunteers have also come close in its defeats to Vanderbilt, Auburn and Kentucky.
What’s next: The Volunteers will attempt to get revenge on Florida when they host the Gators on Saturday in the fourth game against a top 15 team in a row.
Florida
Record: 18-2. Quad 1 record: 4-2. NET Ranking: 5.
Why Florida is here: Another SEC team that had an impressive win streak to start the season, Florida boasts an elite scoring offense that is aided by its ability to crash the boards for second-chance opportunities. After suffering its first loss of the season in a shootout against Kentucky to start January, the Gators bounced back by stomping over Tennessee to hand the Volunteers their first loss of the season. The Gators could very well be undefeated with their two losses by a combined seven points.
What’s next: Florida will go for the season sweep against Tennessee in a visit to Knoxville on Saturday.
Michigan State
Record: 18-2. Quad 1 record: 4-2. NET Ranking: 17.
Why Michigan State is here: Tom Izzo is having a resurgence in East Lansing with Michigan State off to one of its best starts in years; the Spartans are on a 13-game win streak, its longest since the 2018-19 season. It’s been a collection of players getting it done for Michigan State, with seven players averaging at least seven points, and they are among the top free-throw shooting teams. Michigan State went into Madison Square Garden to beat Rutgers on Saturday and Tuesday returned home to beat Minnesota.
What’s next: A trip to the Golden State with games against Southern California (Saturday) and UCLA (Tuesday).
Also contenders
Marquette, Houston and Purdue.