#10 PURDUE
I would not be the least bit surprised to see a Big Ten team make a deep run and while teams like Michigan and Minnesota are playing really well and Wisconsin has been deep into the tournament frequently in the past. I think Purdue is the most talented team. I know, they just lost to Michigan in the Big 10 tournament, but like I said Michigan is playing really well and Purdue has the best player in the Big Ten in Caleb Swanigan. They also have really well complimentary pieces in Isaac Haas and Vince Edwards. The major problem for Purdue is that they haven't been able to get out of the first weekend since 2010. Bracketology has them listed as the 4 seed in the Midwest. Which would mean a Sweet Sixteen matchup against Kansas and a potential Elite Eight match-up against either Arizona or Louisville
#9 Arizona
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-Midwest #3 Seed
The majority of the Pac 12 is garbage, but the top three of this conference is as good as any other. Arizona has been close to making the Final Four but have came up short. This is one of the Wildcats better teams with all four of their losses coming to teams who are ranked in the Top 25 (Butler, Oregon, UCLA, Gonzaga). Alonzo Trier and Lauri Markannen are both averaging over 15 ppg. However, Bracketology has the Wildcats suffering a tough draw, potentially getting Iowa State in the Round of 32, Louisville in the Sweet Sixteen and either Kansas or Purdue in the Elite Eight.
#8 Oregon
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-West #2 Seed
Another Pac 12 team. Oregon was the Pac 12 champion. While the Ducks do have two pretty bad losses on their resume (Colorado & Georgetown), they have something that neither of the other powerhouses in the Pac 12 have. A star with experience. The Ducks will rely heavily on junior Dillon Brooks (16 ppg) but they also need good guard play from Tyler Dorsey. They currently have the luck of potentially getting Gonzaga as the 1 seed in their region, the caveat however is that Duke is the 3 seed in their region. That bracket could be fun.
#7 Gonzaga
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-West #1 Seed
I wanted to put them higher, but due to their recent history, I just couldn't pull the trigger on it. The Bulldogs took some pressure off of them by losing their first game of the season to BYU in the regular season finale. Many people will dispute whether or not they should be a top seed, that is just silly talk. They are 32-1 and have wins over Arizona, and Iowa State. Nigel Williams-Goss and Przemek Karnowski are playing really well, The fear here is that the 'Zags may do what Gonzaga always does and collapse. Mark Few has been the coach 18 seasons, they've made the tournament each year, but have failed to make the Final Four. Maybe this is the year.
#6 Duke
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-West #3 Seed
No way in hell would I have put Duke on this list two weeks ago, but they are playing like you would expect Duke to play come tournament time. They have one of the greatest coaches of all time and when Grayson Allen has his head screwed on right, he's one of the five or ten best players in the nation. Luke Kennard and Jayson Tatum are also playing really well (Kennard is averaging over 20 PPG) and that's is bad news for their opponents. The team that wins it all is usually the team that gets hot at the right time and Duke has done just that. They are currently projected to have Gonzaga and Oregon in their region. Both of those would be rematches from the last two years, having lost to Oregon in the Sweet Sixteen last year and beating Gonzaga in the Elite Eight on their way to a title in 2015.
#5 UCLA
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-South #3 Seed
The Bruins have probably the second best player in the nation with Lonzo Ball. That is dangerous, as we saw with Anthony Davis a few years ago, If you have one out of the world player, he can put you on his back and take the team to the promise land. UCLA also has had solid production from Bryce Alford and fun fact, Ball isn't even UCLA's leading scorer. That right belongs to T.J Leaf and Alford (16.2 PPG). This is a team that score a lot of points, the major question with them is can they play enough defense to get it done? They are currently slated as a 3 seed, however if they win the Pac 12 they should supplant Baylor as a 2 seed.
#4 Kentucky
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-Midwest #2 Seed.
I think Kentucky is the second most talented team in the nation. The major knock on them however is that they are a young team. Kentucky has looked lethargic at times this year. I think part of that is because it's tough to get those kids so motivated to play night in and night out in a crappy conference like the SEC. They have a great coach, and I think their won't be any question about their motivation in March. Malik Monk is arguably the third best player in the country and they have other pieces around him (De'Aaron Fox, Isiah Briscoe, Bam Adebayo) that could turn the switch on at anytime and make a run. They are currently projected as a 2 seed in the same region as North Carolina, oh what I would give to see that as an Elite Eight matchup.
#3 Kansas
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-Midwest #1 Seed.
I think that Jayhawks have the most talented team in the nation and the best player in the nation in Frank Mason III. Yes, I know they lost to TCU in the Big 12 tournament, but TCU was playing for their tournament life, Kansas was without Josh Jackson and KU wasn't really playing for anything. I think they overlooked the Big 12 tournament. They will still be a 1 seed and get to play a regional in Kansas City assuming they get that far. This seems like a Kansas team that is different from the recent Jayhawk teams and could go all the way. Is it time for the senior leadership of Frank Mason III to come into play or is it time for another KU choke?
#2 North Carolina
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-South #1 Seed.
Not sure why, but I've kind of looked at the Tar Heels as an afterthought all year long, but there is a reason I have them ranked number two. While I think Kentucky and Kansas are the more talented overall teams, I think North Carolina is a more solid team than either one. They are a more experienced team as well, Justin Jackson, Joel Barry II and Kennedy Meeks have all been there before. I would probably pick UNC if I had to fill out my bracket right now. However, there is a chance the 'Heels never make it there. Their projected bracket consists of Kentucky, UCLA and West Virginia. Oh how I love March.
#1 Villanova
Current Joe Lunardi Bracketology Position-East #1 Seed
The defending Champions no longer have Ryan Arcidiacono or Daniel Ochefu. But they do have four returners from that team who are averaging over double digits (Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Kris Jenkins and Mikal Bridges). I think the guard combination of Hart & Brunson could be potent for opponents in March. This team has played really well all year with their three losses coming by a combined 18 points at the hands of a sweep by Butler and a two point loss at Marquette in a wildly competitive Big East. The one reason I also like Villanova is I think the top half of their projected bracket is the weakest of any (#2 Baylor, #3 Florida State, #4 Florida). I think their biggest threat may come in the Sweet Sixteen if the projected #5 seed Notre Dame gets there as well.
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