Latest 2023 Bracketology Field of 68: Alabama new No. 1 overall seed
West Region (Las Vegas)
(1) Houston vs. (16) Wagner/Norfolk State
(8) Missouri vs. (9) Maryland
(5) TCU vs. (12) Dayton
(4) Gonzaga vs. (13) Sam Houston
(6) Illinois vs. (11) Clemson/New Mexico
(3) Kansas State vs. (14) UC-Irvine
(7) Arkansas vs. (10) Nevada
(2) UCLA vs. (15) Montana State
The NET’s No. 1 team is the No. 1 seed in the West Region, Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars. The 23-2 Cougars did their quad 1 damage in the non-conference portion of their schedule with three of their four wins coming against Oregon, Virginia, and Saint Mary’s. All of their metrics are symmetrical with KPI and SOR ranking them 4th and BPI, KenPom, and Sagarin ranking them as the nation’s best.
Another thing that has boosted Houston this year unlike in years past and is the strength of the AAC. As a conference, they are 9th in the NET which has kept the Cougars’ overall strength of schedule at a respectable 82. They are also the only team in the country that ranks in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiencies as of Sunday morning, ranking 7th in offense and 8th in defense, Alabama is the next closest ranking 13th on offense.
Elsewhere in this region, there are a couple of teams that have failed to live up to preseason expectations for a variety of reasons but can still be dangerous in this region, No. 7 Arkansas and No. 12 Dayton. There are also a couple of west coast teams with final-four hopes in Gonzaga and UCLA who both have the offensive firepower to keep pace with Houston.
The team I’m watching is the previously mentioned No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks and the main reason is the return of freshman Nick Smith. Smith missed 19 games with back problems but returned on Saturday against Mississippi State, scoring five points in the loss while undoubtedly shaking off some game rust. Smith was one of the big reasons Arkansas had such big expectations, averaging over 19 points in a three-game stretch in December. If Smith can use the next three weeks or so to get reacclimated, the Razorbacks can be a dangerous lurker in the bottom half of a bracket.