Bracketology: Ranking the Bracket Preview teams

Bracketology: Ranking the Bracket Preview teams – Duke, Gonzaga ahead

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 09: Cam Reddish #2, RJ Barrett #5 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils hug in the second half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – FEBRUARY 09: Kansas Jayhawks fans cheer. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

16. Kansas Jayhawks

Committee Ranking: No. 3 seed (No. 10 overall)

This feels weird. Very weird. Kansas is seemingly always one of the top contenders to win the title and dropping them to the bottom of this list just seems like a mistake. Yet, even though the Jayhawks received a No. 3 seed in the Bracket Preview, I just do not see them staying that high in the seed lists and they could easily fall early in the Big Dance. This is due to the fact that Udoka Azubuike is already out for the year and Lagerald Vick recently elected to leave the team.

Kansas should still finish with a strong record in Big 12 play but they will likely fall in the seed lists over the next month. The Jayhawks are no longer the team they were a month ago and it seems as though their reign atop the Big 12 is about to end. Still, it feels very weird to bet against head coach Bill Self like this and I don’t feel good about it.

15. Louisville Cardinals

Committee Ranking: No. 4 seed (No. 15 overall)

I am not yet a believer in Louisville. The Cardinals have obviously won a bunch of games this year and they have some elite wins but they have also shown a bunch of inconsistencies. Head coach Chris Mack has clearly shown that he is one of the best in the entire nation but he is yet to reach a Final Four. That might change this year but I am not sure that they have the star power necessary to win the title. That could obviously be wrong and they are clearly among the top teams in the nation but that is why I am a little lower on the Cardinals.

On the positive side, Louisville is one of the most balanced teams in the nation and they can win with either their offense or their defense. Additionally, the Cardinals get to the free throw line at an incredibly high rate (40.2%, 30th nationally) and knock those shots down with consistency as well (76.7%, 14th). This is a team that is hard to make a comeback on.

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