Over the last four months, UConn, Purdue, and Houston have set themselves apart in college basketball. They’ve carved clear paths to their conference tournaments, each with a solid plan for reaching the Final Four. UConn was destined to kick off in Brooklyn as the top seed in the East. Purdue had its sights set on Indianapolis, leading the Midwest. Meanwhile, Houston was gearing up to start in Memphis as the number one seed in the South.
The big question that remained was which team would secure the No. 1 overall seed.
This question was answered on Saturday. UConn claimed victory over Marquette in the Big East Tournament. At the same time, Purdue faced defeat against Wisconsin in the Big Ten, and Houston was bested by Iowa State in the Big 12. Following these outcomes, it’s almost certain that Dan Hurley’s Huskies, the defending national champions, will be announced as the No. 1 overall seed by Adam Zucker on CBS during the unveiling of the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket.
Dan Hurley proudly stated, “We’ve been the best team in college basketball.” With March Madness on the horizon, the future is unpredictable, but UConn’s performance this year has undeniably positioned them as the top program in the nation.
Following Saturday’s events, UConn has risen to the top of the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings on Sunday morning. Purdue now holds the second spot, with Houston closely behind at third. Iowa State has climbed to the fourth position, suggesting they deserve to be the fourth No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
This stance was made clear on Saturday night amidst some expected pushback. The debate seems to hinge between Iowa State and North Carolina. However, when comparing their achievements, Iowa State’s record is more impressive, boasting more Q1 wins and fewer losses outside of Q1. Additionally, Iowa State ranks higher than North Carolina in several key metrics, making them a strong contender for a top seed.
Critics often point to Iowa State’s non-league strength of schedule, which ranks in the 300s. However, after all games leading up to Selection Sunday were played, Iowa State ended up with more Q1 games than North Carolina and an equal number of games in the first two quadrants. This makes the focus on non-league strength of schedule seem irrelevant, and I maintain that it’s an unnecessary metric used by the selection committee.
As argued in a recent episode of the Eye On College Basketball podcast, the selection committee should evaluate the total body of work without emphasizing non-league strength of schedule. It’s illogical to penalize a team for something that didn’t hinder their overall performance. The total body of work should be the primary focus, not a partial assessment of the schedule.
In fact, total strength of schedule should hold more weight. To illustrate, Iowa State’s total NET strength of schedule ranks at No. 16, while North Carolina’s is at No. 36.
In the latest Top 25 And 1 rankings, the most significant changes include Connecticut moving up to the top spot and San Diego State dropping four places.
This analysis and ranking reflect the dynamic and competitive nature of college basketball, highlighting the achievements and challenges faced by top teams as they vie for supremacy in the NCAA Tournament.