2012 NCAA Bracketology Picks – March Madness: Potential No. 1 Seeds in NCAA Tournament

2012 NCAA Tournament Bracketology Picks and Predictions – Forecasting the #1 Seeds for the 2012 NCAA Tournament and March Madness Preview: For many teams, making into the NCAA tournament is an accomplishment in itself. For the country’s powerhouse programs, winning a conference title and securing a No. 1 seed are the top priorities. While there is no such thing as an easy road to a national championship, grabbing a top seed does make the grueling process a little more manageable. When the brackets are unveiled on Selection Sunday, the four teams lucky enough to grab the No. 1 seeds will certainly be breathing a bit easier than the rest of the teams in the field of 68.

The Locks – 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: #1 Seeds

Having long since clinched the SEC title and ranking third in the RPI, the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (28-1) will earn themselves the No. 1 overall seed as long as they don’t collapse down the stretch. The Wildcats have signature wins against Kansas, North Carolina and Florida, and their only loss came on a buzzer beater to the Indiana Hoosiers in Assembly Hall. Kentucky is a young team, but with center Anthony Davis blocking shots at a record rate and plenty of offensive firepower, the Wildcats haven’t had any issues steamrolling their way through the conference schedule. There probably isn’t another team in the country with as much talent and athleticism as Kentucky, and it shows.

Despite playing in the deepest conference in the country, the second-ranked Syracuse Orange (29-1) has maneuvered the Big East portion of its schedule with just a single loss. A big reason why is because of the team’s incredible depth, and on any given night, a different player can carry the load on offense for Syracuse. If the Orange does have a weakness, it is allowing offensive rebounds out of the team’s stifling 2-3 zone. However, the small weakness has been more than masked by all the strengths. After all, Syracuse sits atop the RPI.

Serious Contenders – 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: #1 Seeds

With losses to Temple and Miami, the third-ranked Duke Blue Devils (25-4) have been far from flawless this year. However, their measurable stack up well, and Duke owns the second-best RPI and the third-toughest schedule. The Blue Devils are very dependent on the 3-pointer, but when they are knocking down shots from the perimeter, they are tough to stop. Duke owns signature wins against Kansas, Michigan and North Carolina. With a regular season meeting with the Tar Heels still remaining and another meeting possible in the ACC tournament, the Blue Devils will have an opportunity to lock up a No. 1 seed or let it slip away.

After opening the season with losses to North Carolina and Duke, the fifth-ranked Michigan State Spartans (24-5) weren’t even in the top 25. Now, they have taken control of the Big Ten, picking up wins against Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin along the way. In typical Tom Izzo fashion, the Spartans have been strong on defense and on the boards all year, and they have a legitimate star in forward Draymond Green. With the second-toughest schedule, the fourth-best RPI, and two ranked opponents remaining in the regular season, Michigan State can all but ensure itself a No. 1 seed by running the table.

On the heels of a huge comeback victory against Missouri, the fourth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (24-5) have given themselves a chance at grabbing a No. 1 seed. In addition to knocking off the Tigers, Kansas has signature wins against Ohio State and Baylor. The Jayhawks should look good to the committee as well, ranking sixth in the RPI and having the fifth-toughest schedule. With the Big 12 regular season title secured, Kansas can likely secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament by making a deep run in its conference tournament.

Sleeper – 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: #1 Seeds

Four losses have dropped the North Carolina Tarheels (25-4) to sixth in the country. However, all four losses have come to teams ranked in the top 20, and the Tarheels still look good on paper. North Carolina has the 10th toughest schedule and ranks fifth in the RPI. Roy Williams’ bunch also ranks third in the country in points per game and first in rebounds per game. With a rematch with Duke still looming and the ACC tournament, North Carolina could sneak back up in the final two weeks and grab a No. 1 seed. However, the Tarheels can’t afford a single loss.

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