Seeding is Believing | Illinois just holding on as No. 4 seed

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

This week? A mix of Big Ten and SEC teams at the top.

MIDWEST The advanced metrics love Houston.

The Cougars rank first in Torvik, second in EvanMiya and third in both KenPom and the NET.

Rankings fueled by a No.

1 defense that just held Utah to 36 points to secure an 11th straight win for Kelvin Sampson and Co.

The only knock on Houston? The Cougars dont have a Quad I victory yet this season, but do have 10 such games left on their schedule.

WEST Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams might not get enough credit for what hes accomplished as a head coach.

The only place he hasnt won at a high level was his lone season at New Orleans.

Otherwise, hes had 14 winning seasons in his last 16 (at Marquette, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech).

This years Aggies are primed to make it 15 of 17, as they have hung tough in the SEC with a 4-2 league record.

EAST The obvious question for Purdue heading into the 2024-25 season was how all that Zach Edey did the last four seasons particularly the last two when he was back-to-back national player of the year would be replaced.

Trey Kaufman-Renn has provided most of that answer, averaging 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Consistent production that includes seven 20-point games to date.

SOUTH Auburn managed to hold on to its spot both atop the AP Top 25 and as the No.

1 overall seed despite Johni Broome missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

The Tigers didnt just keep winning.

They knocked off a pair of ranked teams, including a 22-point win against Mississippi State and a road win at Georgia.

Its an all hands on deck situation without Broome, and Auburns delivered..

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