The loss to Creighton on Wednesday may not have been as devastating to the UConn men’s basketball team’s NCAA Tournament outlook as it seemed.
The Huskies were slotted as the No. 5 overall seed in the first top 16 reveal from the selection committee on Saturday, ahead of a consequential road game at Villanova and a loaded slate of games across the board. UConn is 24-3 overall entering Saturday’s game and 14-2 for second place in the Big East standings.
Ironically, the loss to Creighton bumped the Bluejays up enough in the NET rankings for UConn’s road win to be converted to its seventh Quad 1 victory of the season. One of nine teams with at least seven Quad 1 victories (7-2), UConn is No. 10 in the NET rankings ahead of the game at Villanova, which is No. 29.
UConn was the only Big East team in the top 16 on Saturday.
The No. 5 overall seed would pit the Huskies as the No. 2 seed in the South Region, which would include No. 1 seed Iowa State (No. 4 overall), No. 3 seed Nebraska (No. 11 overall) and No. 4 seed Texas Tech (No. 13 overall).
The South Regional (Sweet 16 and Elite Eight stages) will be played in Houston.
UConn has been a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament six times, including its 2004 national championship run. The Huskies also lost in the Elite Eight three times as a No. 2 seed, in the Sweet 16 once and in the second round once.
Michigan was announced as the current No. 1 overall seed ahead of a mammoth matchup with Duke, the No. 2 overall seed, on Saturday night. Arizona was third No. 1 seed with its own big-time matchup against Houston, the No. 6 overall seed, on Saturday. Illinois was the No. 7 overall seed and Purdue came in at No. 8.
Florida, Kansas and Gonzaga were also on the No. 3 seed line, and Michigan State, Vanderbilt and Virginia were on the No. 4 seed line.
UConn has a 3-1 records against teams included in Saturday’s top 16 reveal, having beaten Florida, Illinois and Kansas. Its only loss against the top teams came to Arizona, while center Tarris Reed Jr. and star freshman Braylon Mullins were each sidelined.
NCAA Tournament Top 16 reveal
- Michigan
- Duke
- Arizona
- Iowa State
- UConn
- Houston
- Illinois
- Purdue
- Florida
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Gonzaga
- Texas Tech
- Michigan State
- Vanderbilt
- Virginia