Bracketology 2023: 3 takeaways from top 16 seed bracket reveal

Less than a month from Selection Sunday, we have an early preview of what the top of Bracketology looks like. Here’s a look at the top 16 seeds as of today.

For those that have an interest in Bracketology and overall projections into the NCAA Tournament Field of 68, the top 16 seed bracket reveal Saturday afternoon on CBS is fairly important. It’s a look at what the Selection Committee has up to this point in terms of the top resumes and who has the best odds of a one seed, a month before Selection Sunday.

Here’s a look at what they reveal, along with the biggest overall takeaways.

Alabama is the No. 1 overall seed

Despite losing to Tennessee this week, the Crimson Tide got the No. 1 overall seed and placed in the South Region. A 7-4 record against Quad 1 opponents that includes wins over Houston, Michigan State, and Arkansas puts them on top. 0 bad losses anywhere else help their cause.

The other 1 seeds were Houston, Kansas, and Purdue rounding out the group. But after losing 3 of the last 4 games, the Boilermakers are sliding and are very vulnerable to being taken over by one of the other Big 12 contenders, such as Baylor and Texas.

Western placement

Usually, there are only a couple of teams west of the Mississippi River fighting for one of the top 16 overall seeds. This time around, there were four in contention; Arizona and UCLA from the Pac-12 and Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s via the WCC. The reveal showed that the Wildcats are edged over the Bruins, with Arizona staying in the West Region. Gonzaga got a 4 seed out west, thanks to a huge win over Alabama, while Saint Mary’s was left out.

The Big 12 played a big factor, with Kansas State and Iowa State getting 3 seeds, with the Wildcats in the West. But they’ve been sliding as well, could the Bulldogs move up to a 3 and set up a potential matchup with Tommy Lloyd and Arizona?

UConn biggest snub of the field

The Big East got some representation in the reveal, with both Marquette and Xavier getting in. The team that didn’t was UConn, who did have a poor stretch of 6 of 8 losses to go from No. 2 to barely in the polls. But the Huskies still have wins over Oregon, Alabama, Iowa State, Florida, Creighton, and Marquette.

A team with a resume of wins that good, and still good metrics, should’ve been among the top-16 overall. But if either the Golden Eagles or Musketeers struggle, look for UConn to be the beneficiary come Selection Sunday.