March Madness Bracket Projections, Week 16: No. 1 Seeds
March Madness bracket projections for Week 16 of the 2015-16 season. There's been a small shakeups in the No. 1 seeds this week.
March Madness bracket projections for Week 16 of the 2015-16 season.
The NCAA Tournament is about matchups as much as anything else.
Sure, every team wants to win its conference championship, but for the elite clubs in the country, every win takes a program one step closer to a coveted No. 1 seed in one of the four regions of the NCAA Tournament.
Which four will it be? We’ll see in less than a month, but here’s March Madness bracket projections for the four teams who deserve it the most right now.
East
Villanova Wildcats
Villanova keeps rolling along, and that’s really all the Wildcats have to do to hold onto a No. 1 seed close to home. The top-ranked team in the country turned in a convincing win over Butler, and Josh Hart’s 22 point, 12-rebound effort made come ‘Nova fans breathe a bit of a sigh of relief as he broke out of a slump. Villanova’s balance was on display, too, with Ryan Archidiacono handing out nine assists and forward Kris Jenkins put up 20 points and six boards. Villanova faces a huge one this coming week at Xavier Feb. 24, and that could be the last challenge before the Big East Tourney.
Midwest
Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas is back on track, and the Jayhawks’ confidence just keeps building. Ripping Oklahoma State 94-67 showed that the team isn’t going to take anyone lightly just because they aren’t ranked, and the dominance at Kansas State showed KU’s focus. Heading to Baylor and playing a dangerous Texas Tech team will keep Bill Self’s team sharp. Forward Perry Ellis and guard Wayne Seldon Jr. continue to push the Jayhawks to new heights, and they seem to have their rough patch clearly in the rearview mirror.
South
Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners were upset at Texas Tech last week, which only bolstered the argument that Lon Kruger’s team has peaked too early. But OU then headed on the road to West Virginia and turned in a convincing 76-62 win that showcased everything that is right with Oklahoma. Buddy Hield boosted his Player of the Year credentials, and the fact that forward Khadeem Lattin blew up for nine points, 13 boards, six blocks and a trio of steals showed what the kid is capable of when he puts his mind to it. Oklahoma also holds onto a top seed thanks to the other candidates having hiccups themselves.
West
North Carolina Tar Heels
Yes, the loss to Duke was tough. But teams lose close games vs. quality opponents, and it’s important to remember that Duke is still a talented, dangerous club. Bouncing back against an excellent Miami (Fla.) team showed what the Tar Heels are made of, and the loss to Duke could have focused this team. Yes, guard Marcus Paige has to start playing better. No, UNC can’t simply rely on Brice Johnson every game the rest of the way and expect to win a title. This week’s road trips to North Carolina State and Virginia won’t be easy, and the fact the ACC race continues to be close will make sure UNC’s mind won’t wander.
