Bracketology 2023: 5 key games that could impact No. 1 seeds

Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks place their name as national champions on the bracket after their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Bracketology UCLA Bruins guard Tyger Campbell Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 23 Illinois, Nov. 18, 9:30 pm ET, ESPNU

On Friday in Las Vegas No. 8 and Pac-12 favorite UCLA takes on No. 23 Illinois as part of the Continental Tire Main Event. Both teams enter this week unbeaten and will be looking to put the biggest bullet point on their resume to date. Both teams also have their sights set on a season that could see them perched on the top-seed line come selection Sunday.

After a final four in 2021 and a sweet sixteen last year, the Bruins led by All- American candidate Jaime Jaquez and a veteran squad that added some dynamite freshmen, they’re ready to climb the mountain. After two games led by those veterans, Jaquez, Jaylen Clark, and Tyger Campbell, mick Cronin’s Bruins get their first test against a rebuilt Illinois roster. If the Bruins want to earn a no. 1 seed, this is a must-win for their non-conference resume.

From Illinois’ standpoint, this game is equally important. Kofi Cockburn is gone and Brad underwood has a different-looking team thanks to the transfer portal. For Brad Underwood, the portal tooketh away but also gaveth in a big way with the addition of Terrence Shannon from Texas Tech and a pair of guys from Baylor Matthew Mayer and Dain Dainja. Coleman Hawkins has certainly enjoyed an expanded role with the big man notching 29 points in the Illini’s two games thus far and freshman Skyy Clark will improve as the year goes on as he returns from a torn ACL, but so far it has been slow going for the guard.

I’m not sure Illinois has the ceiling of a No. 1 seed yet, but for UCLA this is a game they need to win in order to have a resume that might be considered top-seed worthy by year’s end.

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