The NCAA Tournament is upon us, and low-seeds everywhere have their eyes on upsetting the favorites. How will the top three seed lines fare in March Madness this year?
As evidenced in our extensive region previews and Tournament Index analysis, a team’s path and potential matchups are just as vital to national championship goals as having a high seed in the bracket.
So, how could that play out for the top three seed lines? Let’s dive into the Selection Committee’s top dozen teams and identify the best- and worst-case scenarios in what looks to be a top-heavy tournament.
No. 3 seeds
Wisconsin Badgers (East Region)
Best case: Elite Eight
The Badgers became a surprise early on in the season but never really wavered once they arrived with a win against Arizona. An excellent free-throw shooting team with a great scorer (John Tonje) and competent defense are great components for a run. The Badgers have enough size and defense to take down Alabama should they see them, and they have enough offense to outpace or match Saint Mary’s or Vanderbilt in a Sweet 16 matchup. However, it’s hard to see them taking down this Duke team even under optimal circumstances.
Worst case: Round of 32
A matchup against the winner of BYU and VCU could be difficult for different reasons. Houston snuffed the life out of the Cougars, but they are a dangerous offensive team when they’re right. VCU’s defense excels in forcing isolation and tough shots, entering the tournament with the nation’s best opponent effective field goal percentage. If the Badgers don’t play their ‘A’ game, they could be going home early.
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