No. 1-seeds, conference tournament stakes, more men’s Champ Week stories
Mar 10, 2025, 07:45 AM ET Duke and Auburn have contended all season, so it’s not unexpected that the 2 groups are front and center entering Champ Week. Following heaven Devils’ win over the Tigers at Cameron Indoor Arena, both groups positioned themselves to protect the leading overall seed in the NCAA tournament. However today’s matchups might impact the fight for that spot, in addition to the Wooden Award competitors between Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome.But there’s
intrigue across the board as we go into the 2nd week of Champ Week. North Carolina requires a run in the ACC tournament to make an at-large invite to the dance on Selection Sunday– and assist the league avoid its most affordable variety of NCAA competition berths in a quarter century. On the other hand, the SEC has three teams (Florida, Tennessee and Alabama) that could also collect a No. 1 seed based on the outcomes today. The league has likewise had a historic season that might lead to a record-breaking number of quotes called on Selection Sunday. Kansas will require a rally in the Huge 12 tournament to avoid a troublesome matchup in the first round. Indiana is wanting to secure an area while on its head coach’s goodbye tour.That’s just the
big leagues. Throughout Champ Week, we’ll learn more about the group’s that can survive March and possibly win the championship game. We’ll also recognize the teams that might ruin all of those strategies, too. ESPN’s Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello and Joe Lunardi address all of it. Is Auburn still the No. 1 total seed?Jeff Borzello: I state yes, although
the Tigers ‘margin for error has gotten smaller after losing 2 in a row to end the regular season. That said, their résumé is still historically strong. They have 15 Quadrant 1 wins, by far the most in the country, and 21 wins in Quadrants 1 and 2, also the most in the nation. They rank No. 1 in all three résumé-based metrics and being in the leading 3 in each of the other 4 teamsheet metrics. Auburn won the best league in the nation and likewise managed a difficult nonconference schedule. Could Duke surpass it with an ACC tournament champion and an early Auburn exit in the SEC tourney– considering the Blue Devils’ head-to-head recover in December? It’s possible, but I think the committee still provides it to Bruce Pearl’s team.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Myron Medcalf: I concur, that the concept of Auburn as
the No. 1 general
seed feels
less specific than it did a week back. However, the selection committee has actually been public about promoting that it is likewise including other metrics to consider its picks. If that holds true, Auburn’s edge remains. The Tigers are first in KPI. They’re first in Strength of Record, which considers a group’s record versus the quality of challengers it faced. They’re first in Wins Above Bubble, which measures a team’s success compared to how a bubble team would have fared versus the exact same competitors. Plus, Auburn’s sheer advantage in the variety of Quad I matchups (20) on its schedule this season compared to Duke (10 )matters.Joe Lunardi: Could Auburn lose its SEC quarterfinal and quit the leading spot to a rising Duke or Houston(or a different champ from its own conference)? I suppose. It would be 3 losses in a row for the Tigers at that point. At the end of the day, though, nobody’s coming close to Auburn’s Quad 1 wins or its equally outstanding 16-4 Quad 1 record. Unless the committee has an unforeseen change of heart with respect to how it values a team’s general body of work, the Tigers will be the first to hear their name on Choice Sunday.A variety of teams have actually flirted with a 1-seed this season. Who is most likely to join Auburn and Duke on the top line?Borzello: Going into Champ Week, I believe Houston and Florida are in a strong position to earn the final 1-seeds. Houston’s numbers are elite, ranking in the leading 3
in five of the seven metrics used by the selection committee, and it has 11 Quad 1 wins– just Auburn and Michigan State have more. The Cougars have likewise only lost when considering that November. Florida aims to have the edge amongst the SEC alternatives after beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa last week. Do the Gators need to go to the title game to keep that spot? They would likely need to beat Alabama once again in the SEC semifinal.Men’s Competition Challenge Register now to play the # 1 Male’s bracket game for FREE!$135,000 in rewards.