Kentucky, Villanova, Duke, and Wisconsin Claim Top Four Seeds in NCAA Tournament

The 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket is out and to the surprise of no one, Kentucky is the top seed overall, and in the Midwest Region. The Wildcats are 34-0 and are trying to be the first undefeated champion since Indiana did it in 1976. Kentucky has favorable matchups and should reach the Final Four. The #2 seed in the Midwest is Kansas, a team Kentucky beat 72-40 back on November 18th. Kansas (26-8) was average down the stretch, going 7-5. The #3 seed, Notre Dame (29-5, winners of the ACC Tournament) and Maryland (27-6 in the Terrapins’ first season in the Big Ten) could pose more of a challenge to Kentucky’s dominance. Some are calling Wichita State (28-4) as the dark horse capable of a big upset. Wichita State was in the Final Four in 2012.

Wisconsin (31-3) is the top seed in the West Region. The Badgers were the regular season champs in the Big Ten and beat Michigan State in overtime to win the conference tournament.

#4 seed North Carolina (24-11), who always does well in the tournament, could upset Wisconsin’s drive to repeat as a Final Four team, but it could come down to a matchup with #2 Arizona 31-3), a team we feel could have, and perhaps should have been, a #1 seed somewhere. Last season, Wisconsin beat Arizona in overtime to advance to the Final Four.

Villanova (32-2) is the #1 seed in the East Region. The Wildcats won’t have an easy time of it, staring with a potential matchup third round matchup with #8 North Carolina State, a difficult draw even with a 20-13 record. A Sweet Sixteen matchup with under the radar #5 Northern Iowa (30-3,) winners of the Missouri Valley Conference, also is possible. Virginia is the #2 seed in the region. The Cavaliers were thought to be an almost automatic one seed before losing two of their last three, but should not be dismissed.

Duke (29-4) is the top seed in the South Region. The Blue Devils have favorable potential matchups until they reach the Elite Eight, when they will probably have to go through either #2 Gonzaga (32-2) or #3 Iowa State (25-8) to get to the Final Four in Indianapolis. Duke has had great success in the tournament, but has also lost games it should easily have won. And that’s the type of thing that makes the NCAA tournament so exciting, and at times, so heartbreaking.