ESPN updates Sweet 16 basketball energy ratings
No crew has greater March Madness momentum right now than the ACC, with powerful teams on the top and a 2nd institution that might additionally make waves within the convention match.
But there is much greater to look ahead to this weekend in college basketball than the rematch between Duke and North Carolina. Major seeding battles can be decided in each the SEC and Big Ten while the first team, now not call Kansas, will claim the No. 1 Big 12 seed in 14 years.
What does it mean for Selection Sunday? ESPN’s basketball team ranks its top 16 teams as of Wednesday nighttime’s movement.
Is this your subject for the Sweet sixteen? Upsets continually happen, but ESPN labels these groups as the best of the bunch heading into the convention championships.
Gonzaga may also have the votes in other polls. However, Virginia has been on the top for ESPN ever seeing that Duke took its loss in opposition to Virginia Tech. Nothing about wins over Pittsburgh and Syracuse adjustments that. Senior Day recommendations off Saturday towards Louisville.
ESPN says, “Virginia’s 2nd-half performance in opposition to Syracuse on Monday was one of the excellent 20 mins of basketball we’ve seen from any team this season. The Cavaliers outscored the Orange — within the Carrier Dome — by using 28 factors. They made 10 of eleven 3-recommendations at some stage in one stretch.”
2. GONZAGA (29-2)
Gonzaga ran away with the WCC because the No. 1 seed by a margin of five video games. The Bulldogs watch for their first conference match opponent to tip off Monday night. It is hard to peer Gonzaga as anything apart from the No. 1 team in the West Region come Selection Sunday.
ESPN says, “If Sean Farnham’s comments on Saturday night’s broadcast have been any indication, it sounds as though Gonzaga should get Killian Tillie back at some point this season. Though Tillie hasn’t been a chief factor this season because of injuries, he’s a versatile massive man who can transfer defensively and also step out and make photographs.”
3. DUKE (26-four)
A debatable slot for Duke in ESPN’s scores? The Blue Devils sit at the back of North Carolina in different metrics following a Tar Heels win at Cameron Indoor Stadium (the game Zion Williamson went down). The Blue Devils are formally 3-1 without Williamson, together with the five-factor loss at Virginia Tech. Can they get a few revenge this weekend in North Carolina?
ESPN says, “It took Chaundee Brown missing a contested three-footer on the buzzer for Duke to escape with a one-factor domestic win over Wake Forest, but the Blue Devils had been capable of win, although.”
4. NORTH CAROLINA (25-five)
North Carolina has thirteen wins in its closing 14 games, only losing to Virginia. That includes 4 double-digit wins in opposition to ranked opponents. All eyes fall upon Saturday night’s rematch.
ESPN says, “North Carolina is now one win away from at least a proportion of the ACC regular-season name after going to Boston College and cruising beyond the Eagles in the back of 17 points and 20 rebounds from Luke Maye.”
5. TENNESSEE (27-3)
Tennessee’s home-court docket revenge against Kentucky saw the Vols reassert themselves as a top group in the courtroom of public opinion. At Auburn is not easy to close out the everyday season, but momentum is on Tennessee’s aspect heading into the SEC Tournament.
ESPN says, “We said heading into the week that Tennessee might shield the way it did against Kentucky on Saturday if the Volunteers wanted to make a deep run in March. And after maintaining the Wildcats to their worst offensive overall performance of the season over the weekend, Tennessee did the identical to Mississippi State.”
6. KENTUCKY (25-five)
The Wildcats had a hard week without Reid Travis to be had. The loss at Tennessee began over the weekend, and it becomes a close battle at Ole Miss earlier than in the end, winning 80-76. The Wildcats are a sport at the back of LSU and Tennessee heading into the Florida recreation.
ESPN says, “Kentucky now has an out of doors risk at a cut-up of the SEC normal-season identify. The Wildcats want LSU to lose considered one of its next , and Tennessee to fall at Auburn on Saturday — whilst also beating Florida in Lexington.”
7. MICHIGAN (26-4)
Michigan positioned up an outstanding overall performance at Maryland, beating the Terps 69-sixty two at the back of 21 points from Ignas Brazdeikis and a double-double from Jon Teske. Much of the Big Ten outlook for teams could be determined with the aid of what occurs in the rematch with Michigan State before the conference match returns home to Chicago after years in Washington and New York.
ESPN says, “Michigan nonetheless awaits the go back of Charles Matthews, but the Wolverines have survived two games without him. Isaiah Livers slotted into the starting lineup, and he has been a plus due to his motor and contributions at the glass and his capacity to step outside and make three-hints.”
8. MICHIGAN STATE (24-6)
Michigan State will possibly need to beat Michigan, after which win the convention match to vault itself again into the No. 1 seed conversation. Michigan State is a four-factor favorite on KenPom in terms of the subsequent round against the Wolverines.
ESPN says, “The Spartans hammered Nebraska without Kyle Ahrens or Nick Ward, getting a mixed 46 factors and 10 3-tips from seniors Matt McQuaid and Kenny Goins. Up subsequent is a rematch with Michigan; Michigan State gained the first game in Ann Arbor led by Cassius Winston.”
9. LSU (25-five)
LSU is a home win in opposition to Vanderbilt away from a special ordinary season. The Tigers are the only group with wins over Tennessee and Kentucky this season, and Tremont Waters is again in a massive way with what was displayed in a revenge win towards Florida.
ESPN says, “The Tigers are actually just one win from earning at least a share of the SEC normal-season identify — and Will Wade’s team receives to face ultimate-vicinity Vanderbilt in Baton Rouge on Saturday. If they win — even though Tennessee wins at Auburn — the Tigers will earn the 1-seed in the convention match thanks to their victory over the Volunteers in late February.”
10. TEXAS TECH (25-5)
Texas Tech has a hard one at Iowa State to shut matters out. However, the Red Raiders are in a terrific location heading into the Big 12 Tournament. Jarrett Culver’s warm streak maintains with sixteen.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3 steals consistently with the game in his final three.
ESPN says, “Chris Beard and the Red Raiders are now one win from at the least a percentage of the Big 12 ordinary-season title after notching their eighth win in a row in a rout of Texas. Iowa State beat Texas Tech in Lubbock again in mid-January. However, the Red Raiders are a distinctive offensive crew than they had been a couple of months in the past.”
11. HOUSTON (27-2)
Say what you want approximately the huge letdown against UCF with ESPN’s College GameDay in town. However, Kelvin Sampson nevertheless has a strong argument for the yr’s teaching with simply two losses all season. They host SMU this night and will reassert if they could win at No. 20 Cincinnati to shut out the regular season.
ESPN says, “How a whole lot will Houston’s loss to UCF on Saturday hurt the Cougars’ seeding? It’s hard to peer them getting a 2-seed at this point, given the logjam of teams beforehand of them.”
12. PURDUE (22-eight)
While Purdue regarded poise to outstretch both Michigan groups, the Boilermakers lost an unpleasant one in opposition to Minnesota. The seventy three-69 loss leaves the Big Ten huge open for the taking this weekend, but the Boilermakers themselves must be big favorites at Northwestern.
ESPN says, “On a night time when Minnesota probably punched its price ticket to the NCAA match, Purdue also left the door open for Michigan or Michigan State to forge a proportion of the Big Ten normal-season championship.”
13. KANSAS (22-eight)
Kansas may be out for revenge inside the Big 12 event after the snap of its ancient everyday-season streak. Before that, the Jayhawks near out the ordinary season at home in opposition to Baylor with a one-game lead over the Bears inside the convention standings.
ESPN says, “The Jayhawks are just limited offensively, and once they do not have the magic of Allen Fieldhouse, it is tough for them to conquer NCAA tournament-caliber opponents.”
14. FLORIDA STATE (24-6)
Florida State looks loads more comfortable than the crew that misplaced four out of 5 video games way again at the beginning of ACC play. Beating Virginia Tech in a war of frivolously matched teams has to be huge in terms of seeding.
ESPN says, “Florida State finally breaks into the ratings after beating Virginia Tech on Tuesday, which was the Seminoles’ eleventh win in their past 12 video games. It gives Leonard Hamilton’s crew the edge for the fourth seed and a double-bye within the ACC event.”
15. WISCONSIN (20-9)
Whether or no longer Wisconsin earns a 3/4 seed in the NCAA Tournament depends largely upon what happens in the Big Ten Tournament. As a 9 seed in New York last yr, the Badgers misplaced to Michigan State within the quarterfinals.
ESPN says, “Wisconsin continues to be putting on inside the scores, but the Badgers are truly suffering offensively currently despite prevailing three of 4. They’re just 7th inside the Big Ten in adjusted offensive efficiency.”
16. VIRGINIA TECH (22-7)
Virginia Tech’s win over Duke goes to be massive within the eyes of the choice committee even without Zion Williamson in the courtroom. Before the Hokies appearance to make a run in the ACC Tournament, they host Miami on Senior Day.
ESPN says, “They’ve started to figure out a way to play without Justin Robinson. However, they significantly lack depth, and they’re struggling to shoot from the perimeter lately. Over the beyond four games, Tech is simply 24-for-99 from 3-factor variety (24.2 percent).”
