Seeding is Believing | Expect a heavy SEC presence

Mens college basketball and Illini beat writer Scott Richey projects his top-four seeds for each region of the NCAA tournament.

This week? Nearly half of them are from the SEC.

MIDWEST 1.

Tennessee (14-1) 2.

Florida (14-1) 3.

Kansas (11-3) 4.

Michigan (12-3) Few teams have as good a trio of guards as the Gators do in Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard.

Those three have combined to average 47 points, 14 rebounds and 8.8 assists, as Florida has notched a half-dozen wins against power-conference teams, including a 30-point drubbing of Tennessee.

WEST 1.

Iowa State (13-1) 2.

Alabama (13-2) 3.

Mississippi State (14-1) 4.

Michigan State (13-2) Continuity is a rarity in this era of college basketball, but its a primary factor in Iowa States nearly unblemished start to the season.

The Cyclones returned four key rotation players from last years Sweet 16 squad and aptly addressed any frontcourt concerns with transfers Joshua Jefferson and Dishon Jackson.

EAST 1.

Duke (13-2) 2.

Texas A&M (13-2) 3.

Illinois (12-3) 4.

Kentucky (12-3) The Illini dont have all that far to climb in the advanced metrics given theyre currently sixth in Bart Torvik and eighth in KenPom.

But a few more Big Ten blowouts like the ones theyve dealt Oregon and Penn State this month could help their computer numbers and, in turn, their NCAA tournament resume.

SOUTH 1.

Auburn (14-1) 2.

Marquette (14-2) 3.

Houston (11-3) 4.

Gonzaga (13-4) A No.

4 seed might be as good as it gets for the Bulldogs this season.

While they did beat the likes of Baylor and San Diego State, those were Gonzagas lone Quad I wins outside of West Coast Conference action.

Four more regular-season Quad I opportunities in league play probably arent enough..

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