2020 NCAA tournament bracketology: How Big East can put its stamp on March Madness

Gonzaga Basketball
Gonzaga Basketball

The Big East has three co-champions in the normal season this year in Villanova, Creighton and Seton Hall.

All are in the blend to make sure about a No. 2 seed on Selection Sunday, with Villanova’s list of qualifications holding the slight edge over the other two. Contingent upon what occurs during conference tournaments this week, these Big East groups could see a positive draw and even jump ACC customary season champ Florida State at the No. 2 line.

While the Big 12 is everything except bolted to indent two No. 1 seeds with Kansas and Baylor, the Big East could be a definitive champ of Selection Sunday. The association drove the nation in the NET score by a mile and will probably have seven of its 10 groups to the NCAA tournament. That is made the conference’s three champions fight tried and prepared to propel profound into sections as the groups possess a combined 28 Quadrant 1 wins.

Creighton Bluejays guard Mitch Ballock (24), guard Denzel Mahoney (34) and forward Damien Jefferson (23) celebrate after defeating the Seton Hall Pirates at CHI Health Center Omaha. Creighton beat Seton Hall 77-60.

In non-conference play, the Wildcats (every minute of every day, 13 NET) gave Kansas one of its two misfortunes, the Bluejays (day in and day out, 11 NET) beat competition groups Arizona State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, and the Pirates (21-9, 15 NET) bested Maryland. Factor in that the Big East’s center of-the-pack groups in Providence, Butler, Xavier, and Marquette are generally protected enough to dodge the air pocket on Selection Sunday.

So search for the Big East to be a victor on both Selection Sunday and the NCAA tournament’s first end of the week. Furthermore, don’t be astounded if a large portion of the Elite Eight groups hails from the Big East.

► No. 1 seeds (in order): Kansas, Baylor, Gonzaga, Dayton.

► Last four in Texas Tech, Richmond, Stanford, North Carolina State.

First Four out Cincinnati, UCLA, Northern Iowa, Texas.

NCAA tourney explainer:

  • Quadrant 1 wins: Home games vs. 1-30 NET teams; Neutral-site games vs. 1-50 NET; Away games vs. 1-75 NET
  • Quadrant 2 wins: Home games vs. 31-75 NET; Neutral-site games vs. 51-100 NET; Away games vs. 76-135 NET
  • Quadrant 3 wins, losses: Home games vs. 76-160 NET; Neutral-site games vs. 101-200 NET; Away games vs. 136-240 NET
  • Quadrant 4 wins, losses: Home games vs. 161-plus NET; Neutral-site games vs. 201-plus NET; Away games vs. 241-plus NET

Others considered for an at-large bid (in order):  Memphis, Arkansas, Saint Louis, Rhode Island, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Purdue.

On life support (in no particular order): Tulsa, Notre Dame, Syracuse.

Multi-bid conferences: Big Ten (10), Big East (7), Pac-12 (6), Big 12 (5), ACC (5), SEC (4), West Coast (3), Atlantic 10 (2), American Athletic (2), Mountain West (2).

Leaders or highest RPI from projected one-bid conferences — (22 total): America East – Vermont, Atlantic Sun – Liberty, Big Sky – Eastern Washington, Big South – Winthrop, Big West – UC Irvine, Colonial – Hofstra, Conference USA – North Texas, Horizon – Wright State, Ivy – Yale, MAAC – Siena, MAC – Akron, MEAC – North Carolina Central, Missouri Valley – Bradley, Northeast – Saint Francis (Pa.), Ohio Valley – Belmont, Patriot – Colgate, Southern – East Tennessee State, Southland – Stephen F. Austin, SWAC – Prairie View A&M, Summit – North Dakota State, Sun Belt – Little Rock, WAC – New Mexico State

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