Top Four Seeds in This Year's NCAA Tournament

The top four seeds in this year's Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament are obvious.

Plenty of teams have played head to head, and it's because of those matchups that I have no problem in naming the four teams that have earned #1 spots in the NCAA Tournament, without questions.

So I am going to give you the four teams right now. I'm not waiting on the end of the conference seasons, conference tournaments, or anything of the like. I need no further evidence prior to the tournament to make my case.

Now, things are subject to change. If one of these teams should fall to the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the coming weeks, than they naturally they'll be bumped down. But barring any losses of that enormous nature, these four teams have already made their case for the four #1 seeds in the tournament.

Tennessee

There is no question they have earned a #1 seed in this year's tournament. Even after having lost to #18 ranked Vanderbilt, they still have the #1 RPI in the entire nation. They also have the #5 non-conference strength of schedule in the nation, with wins over Memphis, Xavier, and Gonzaga. They also have conference wins over then ranked #22 Florida, Xavier, Mississippi, and the aforementioned Vanderbilt. They are 3-2 vs. the RIP Top 25, and they are 19-3 versus the RPI Top 150. There is not a better case for a team in this nation to be deserving of #1 seed.

Memphis

This is the team that many of you saw lose to Tennessee. Prior to that game, they were undefeated with 26 wins. Right now, they have the 2^nd highest RPI in the nation, and they are 17-1 versus the RPI Top 150. They have non-conference wins over Georgetown, USC, Arizona, and Gonzaga, which gives them the 2^nd highest non-conference RPI in the nation. And for as much slack as they take for having a weak conference, their conference RPI ranks 5^th in the nation, which of the teams not included on this list is only trumped by Duke. Look, let's forget about all the stats though. You saw Memphis and Tennessee play down to the wire, and you saw their talent. They deserve the #1 seed, and they have proved it with their record.

North Carolina

Even without Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansborough has been able to lead his team to a #1 seed. North Carolina has the 6^th highest strength of schedule in the nation, and they have the 3^rd best RPI. As you would expect, their resume is impressive. They have beaten Kentucky, Clemson, Miami, and Georgia Tech. As of now, they sit atop the ACC, and if they beat Duke, they will probably win one of the tougher conferences in Basketball. North Carolina has earned their #1 seed, and I think the committee will hand it to them on Selection Sunday.

Texas

I haven't heard many people give Texas a nod for the #1 seed. Usually, it's the above three teams and UCLA. But Texas has beaten both Tennessee and UCLA. They have also beaten ranked teams that include St. Mary's, Kansas, Kansas State, and Texas A&M. Texas is 16-4 against the RPI Top 150, and as a result, their RPI is fourth in the nation. So I don't see how Texas can't be put in contention for a #1 seed, and frankly, I think there is no question that they have earned one.