Zack Herink

#1 Kansas (27-4)

The Jayhawks this year have won the Big 12 outright edging West Virginia by two games to get the banner. Kansas may not have a superstar or an amazing playmaker but they play well as a team and have overall great talent. I see them as the team to beat this year because no one has knocked them off their pedestal since they reached the top.

#4 Virginia (24-6)

The best defensive team in the country is not going to go down easy in this tournament. At one point the Cavaliers had lost three of four but now they are on a fast track to a number one seed. Malcom Brogdon and Anthony Gill are a duo to be feared with their superstar talent and this being their senior year, they’re playing with nothing to lose.

#5 Xavier (26-4)

Everyone seems to underestimate the Musketeers, not me. They have beaten some of the top teams in the country, at one point beating #1 Villanova. Xavier is also undefeated in out of conference play going 12-0. The guards are fast and exciting and the forwards know how to bang down low. The Musketeers are team to watch out for.

#3 Villanova (27-4)

Villanova will probably be a #1 seed because of their regular season record. In recent memory, unless I have been hit by a blunt object recently, the Wildcats have not had much success in the past few years in the tournament. Then again, they have one of the best records in basketball this year so maybe they’ll turn it around. Although, they had a better record last year going 30-2 so it’s up in the air. This year they have proved themselves, however, the true tests begins in the tournament.

Daniel McHale

#1 Kansas (27-4)

The Jayhawks have managed to overcome a small bump in the road earlier this season and finish the season as numero uno throughout the whole country. They were number one in the Big 12 and took down West Virginia who is number two in the conference which solidified their number one nation-wide standing. Like Zack said, they don’t necessarily have any outstanding players, but they work well together as a team.

#3 Villanova (27-4)

I gave Villanova a lot of trouble earlier this season because I didn’t feel like they should be number one in the country, but I never thought they were a bad team. While they haven’t played many ranked opponents this season, they have played teams that have strong reputations and have come out on top. For that, they deserve a number one seed.

#4 Virginia (24-6)

Virginia is considered to have the best defense in the country, and for good reason. They’re only allowing an average 59.6 points scored on them per game which is incredible. While they may only be 2^nd in the ACC, the Cavaliers deserve the number one seed way more than North Carolina does.

#5 Xavier (26-4)

Everyone doubted Xavier earlier this season but Zack and I were spot on about them; they were able to beat Villanova. They’re averaging 81 points per game which is necessary if they want to be able to beat the teams they face as a number one seed. They were my underdogs earlier this season, and I’m rooting for them until the end.