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Bracketology 2025: 10 teams that could really use a Quad 1 victory

It may only be mid-January, but these teams need a resume boost for the NCAA tournament.
TCU v Houston
TCU v Houston | Alex Slitz/GettyImages
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LSU (0-4 in Quad 1 Opportunities)

Usually, if you start your season 11-2 before entering conference play, you feel pretty good about your team's season. This season isn't a normal season to be in the SEC; however, the conference is extremely deep with quality teams. Current ESPN projections have an amazing 13 SEC teams getting invites to the Big Dance.

LSU isn't even really in the conversation to receive one of them, as they've started SEC conference play 0-3. The Tigers' best win is over a Florida State team also not projected to get invited to the NCAA tournament; with a NET ranking of 67 and a KenPom ranking of 70, they simply don't have enough on their resume to be in consideration.

The reason I included them on this list is their future schedule. Like most SEC teams, LSU has a huge run of Quad 1 games ahead of them. Twelve Quad 1 matchups await them, including some winnable games against Georgia and Arkansas. They have some strengths to work with, ranking in top 50 at KenPom in two point percentage on offense and two and three point field goal percentage on defense. Winning a Quad 1 game or two would go a long way to getting them into NCAA tournament contention.

Next Quad 1 Opportunity: Away at Texas A&M on 1/18