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Latest 2023 Bracketology Field of 68: Alabama new No. 1 overall seed

By Jason Burgess

Jan 14, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Brandon Miller (24) and forward Nick Pringle (23) celebrates after defeating the LSU Tigers at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Brandon Miller (24) and forward Nick Pringle (23) celebrates after defeating the LSU Tigers at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bracketology Connecticut Huskies forward Adama Sanogo Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Bracketology Connecticut Huskies forward Adama Sanogo Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Midwest Region (Kansas City)

(1) Kansas vs. (16) Northwestern State
(8) North Carolina State vs. (9) Auburn
(5) Indiana vs. (12) Southern Mississippi
(4) UConn vs. (13) Bradley
(6) Creighton vs. (11) Memphis/Kentucky
(3) Virginia vs. (14) Furman
(7) Iowa vs. (10) Oklahoma State
(2) Arizona vs. (15) Longwood

The Midwest Region is home to the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks who enter the bracket at 20-5, the No. 1 strength of schedule, and more quad 1 wins than anyone in the country with 12. The reason Kansas isn’t in one of the top two spots is those five losses. Such are the perils when you play in the best and deepest league in the country. All five losses are quad 1 losses and they only have five road wins compared to the eight of Alabama and seven that Purdue has at the moment. The predictive metrics also ding Kansas a bit given the league they play in, with an average of nine.

Kansas will have a chance to prove that the Big 12 is the best league in the country as two teams from the Big Ten, No. 5 Indiana, and No. 7 Iowa would relish the chance to take down the Jayhawks. The other top 4 seeds in this region are UConn who looked like a potential No. 1 overall seed in December, Virginia who might be the best team in the ACC with that lockdown pack line defense that always travels, and arguably the best team on the west coast with the best frontcourt in the country, the Arizona Wildcats.

It seems like I point this team out in every edition, but it’s because when playing on all cylinders I think they have a Final Four potential, Greg McDermott’s Creighton Bluejays. They have been steadily climbing in the NET, currently sitting in 13th, and their 4-5 quad 1 record is a bit deceptive as only two of their losses have come since December 16. The predictive metrics love Creighton moving forward with all three having them in the top 10 and if that holds true their results metrics average of 30 will definitely climb. With about four weeks until brackets are revealed, the Bluejays can still show why they had some preseason top-10 hype.

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