2013 NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions: Contenders for the Four No. 1 Seeds

2013 NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions: Contenders for the Four No. 1 Seeds in 2013 March Madness: The 2012-13 college basketball regular season is in the books, and while many of the conference tournaments have yet to be played, the list of contenders for the No. 1 seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament has already been narrowed. Even in a season that has been highlighted by upsets and unpredictability, there are only a handful of teams that can make a legitimate claim for a top seed in the Big Dance. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the teams that will battle it out for No. 1 seeds.

2013 NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions: Contenders for the Four No. 1 Seeds

The Locks

Even if they get upset early in the ACC Tournament, the Duke Blue Devils are in great shape to land a No. 1 seed. They currently rank first in the RPI and own the toughest schedule in the country thanks in large part to an aggressive out-of-conference schedule. Not to mention the fact that the Blue Devils have a 7-1 record against teams ranked in the top 25 of the RPI. Duke is 27-4 overall, and they haven’t lost a game this year when the starting lineup has been 100 percent intact. Their resume speaks for itself.

While their strength of schedule ranks just 92nd in the country, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have basically wrapped up a No.1 seed already. They currently rank eighth in the RPI and are already in the clubhouse so to speak with a 31-2 overall record and the West Conference regular season and tournament titles under their belts. More importantly, Gonzaga is the current top-ranked team in the country, and even though the Bulldogs come from a mid-major conference, they have compiled a resume that is more than deserving of a No. 1 seed.

Other Frontrunners                                                                                                 

They have spent a lot of time as the No. 1 team in the country this year, and the Indiana Hoosiers have amassed an impressive resume. In addition to ranking fifth in the RPI and owning the 10th toughest schedule in the country, the Hoosiers have an 8-3 record against teams in the top 25 of the RPI. Indiana’s eight wins are the most of any team in the country, leaving no doubt that they can take on and take down the best in the nation. The Hoosiers are really close to wrapping up a No. 1 seed, and an early loss in the Big Ten Tournament is the only thing that could throw a wrench in the equation.

The Big East Tournament is always exciting, and this year, the Louisville Cardinals and the Georgetown Hoyas are likely playing for a No. 1 seed along with a conference tournament crown. The Cardinals have the seventh-toughest schedule and rank third in the RPI. They also have a 6-1 record against teams in the top 50 of the RPI. Georgetown on the other hand ranks 10th in the RPI, and while their strength of schedule is only 22nd in the country, the Hoyas do have a 4-2 record against teams in the top 25 of the RPI. They are also surging right now, winning 11 of their last 12 games. If either team runs the table and wins the Big East Tournament, a No. 1 seed will likely be among the rewards.

Some bad loses have them facing an uphill battle, but the Miami Hurricanes still have a fighting chance at a No. 1 seed. After all, the Hurricanes rank fourth in the RPI and have the fourth-toughest strength of schedule. A 4-2 record against teams in the top 25 of the RPI also helps, and if the Hurricanes can win the ACC Tournament and defeat a team like Duke in the process, they could snag one of the top seed in the NCAA Tournament depending on what the other teams in the mix do in their conference tournaments.

The Sleeper

Granted, they need a lot of help from the other teams in the mix for the top seeds, but if the New Mexico Lobos win the Mountain West Conference Tournament and the contenders from the major conferences falter early, they can make a strong case. After all, the Lobos own the third-toughest schedule in the country and actually rank second in the RPI. New Mexico also has a 3-1 record against opponents ranked in the top 25 of the RPI. The Lobos’ measurable speak for themselves, and New Mexico will be waiting to steal a No. 1 seed if enough upsets occur in the other conference tournaments.

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