Is there anything quite like February in college basketball? Listen, I love March. Watching conference tournaments, seeing the bracket unveiled, the NCAA Tournament starting up. You can’t go wrong. But I love the process of February.
Each game, no matter how small, can have a massive impact. A week night in Madison, Wis., can alter the course of the Big Ten. An off quarter in Tucson, Ariz., can rewrite the Big 12 season. Can your favorite SEC program get the job done on a rainy night in Columbia, Mo.?
There’s a beauty in the process as the possibilities dwindle and decline for teams. While the ending chapter is often the most remembered, that’s just a small percentage of the book that’s written, and the true appreciation in that end result for me tends to come from witnessing the entire journey.
February will bring us some special games in the least remarkable places, and I’m eager to soak in every minute. After all, that’s how the bracket is built.
Texas takes a No. 1 seed
After USC’s loss over the weekend to Iowa, Texas edges out the Trojans for the fourth spot on the No. 1 seed line.
Even before that loss, Texas could have made the case that it had a stronger resume because of its tougher schedule and two more Quad 1 wins. One of the general rules of thumb that’s become clear with the selection committee’s seeding is that it’s better to beat a bad team than to lose a game.
Considering that Texas’ two losses were to projected No. 1 seeds, and it has more quality wins than USC, it’s an easy call at the moment.
The first two seed lines still have plenty of room for movement, but with UConn’s loss to Tennessee (more on that later) as well as TCU’s loss on Wednesday (which we’ll also get into), possibilities are being pruned slowly but surely.
The SEC is well-positioned to have two top seeds. We’re going to learn even more about that potential this Sunday, however, as the Longhorns host South Carolina.
Texas was bludgeoned by the Gamecocks in Columbia by 17 points, but it’s won seven straight since then, including four Quad 1 wins after sinking Vanderbilt in Austin. Buckle up for one of the biggest games of the season.
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