With No. 3 Missouri (24-2) undefeated in three games against Big 12 top-10 foes No. 9 Baylor and No. 4 Kansas this season, the Tigers have joined No. 2 Syracuse (26-1) and No. 1 Kentucky (25-1) as solid top seeds for the NCAA tournament. With the remainder of the teams in the top 10 having at least four losses on their resume, those three have separated themselves from the field. But who has the best chance to earn the last top seed?
Kansas (21-5) » The Jayhawks lost 74-71 at Missouri, but they have a chance for revenge at Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 25. Kansas boasts a victory over Ohio State, a team also vying for a top seed. The Buckeyes can argue they were without player of the year candidate Jared Sullinger, however. Kansas also has a loss to Duke in the Maui Invitational.
ACC winner » No. 5 Duke (21-4) and No. 8 North Carolina (22-4) both can make a case for a No. 1 seed. The Blue Devils have the hardest schedule in the country and have wins over AP Top 25 teams Michigan State, Michigan, Kansas, Virginia and North Carolina. The Tar Heels’ four losses all have come against ranked teams, and they have nonconference wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin.
Big Ten winner » No. 7 Michigan State (20-5) has losses to North Carolina and Duke, but a win Saturday at No. 6 Ohio State (22-4) put the Spartans in position to make a case for the top seed. The Buckeyes can avenge the loss in the regular-season finale on March 4. With nonconference wins over Florida and Duke, Ohio State has the better resume despite losing to Michigan State.
– Jeffrey Tomik
