The selection committee for the NCAA Tournament is set to disclose its ranking of the top 16 teams this season on Sunday, offering a glimpse into the upper echelon of the tournament bracket. Many teams continue to vie for a place in the tournament, seeking to secure their position ahead of Selection Sunday on March 16.
Washington, with a record of 14-10, currently sits in 13th place within the Big Ten. Historically, this standing would typically eliminate their chances for an NCAA Tournament bid. Nonetheless, following the significant changes in conference alignments, particularly the disbandment of the Pac-12, the Huskies find themselves still in contention for a spot in the tournament. They are scheduled to play against Oregon and No. 6 USC this week, which could be pivotal for their aspirations.
In other key matchups, Saint Joseph’s is set to face Richmond on Thursday, with the two squads being among the top contenders in the Atlantic-10. Presently, the Hawks hold an impressive 11-2 record while the Spiders are slightly ahead at 12-1. George Mason also boasts a commendable 11-2 record, making all three teams strong candidates for the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona will have critical games against No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 11 TCU on Wednesday and Sunday, respectively. After a disappointing loss against Colorado last week, the Wildcats have two opportunities this week to secure important victories. Their current NET rating stands at 59, indicating they still have work ahead to bolster their tournament profile.
Looking at key ratings, Stanford remains an intriguing case. Despite their underwhelming record of 11-12, the Cardinal hold a NET rating of 51, positioning them among the top 60, making them the only team without a winning record in this category. To maintain their streak of 36 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, they may need to win most of their remaining games.
UCLA, however, stands out as the top-ranked team, currently sitting at No. 1 with the fifth-best NET rating, having slipped one position since last week. The Bruins remain undefeated and have typically won their games by substantial margins, yet they trail South Carolina, UConn, Texas, and Notre Dame in the rankings. Notably, the NET ratings incorporate various aspects beyond just winning percentages, including game outcomes, strength of schedule, game location, and both offensive and defensive efficiencies. Despite their solid performance, the Bruins possess the weakest non-conference strength of schedule among the top five teams, which may affect their overall ranking as the tournament approaches.
