#1 Teams This Year

[blueballs]

#1 Teams have lost 5 times this year after their #1 ranking.

Which of these 5 teams will be 1 seeds in the tourney?
Who will end up #1 at the end of the regular season?
_____________
<table>
<tr><td>Week</td><td>AP</td><td>ESPN/USA</td><td>Result After Poll</td></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>UNC</td><td>UNC</td><td>W2</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>UNC</td><td>UNC</td> <td>W4</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>UNC</td><td>UNC</td><td>W1</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>UNC</td><td>UNC</td><td>W1</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>UNC</td><td>UNC</td><td>W2</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>UNC</td><td>UNC</td><td>W1</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>UNC</td><td>UNC</td><td>L1</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>Pitt</td><td>Pitt</td><td>W1</td></tr>
<tr><td>9</td><td>Pitt</td><td>Pitt</td><td>L1</td></tr>
<tr><td>10</td><td>WFU</td><td>WFU</td><td>L1</td></tr>
<tr><td>11</td><td>Duke</td><td>Duke</td><td>L1</td></tr>
<tr><td>12</td><td>UConn</td><td>UConn</td><td>W2</td></tr>
<tr><td>13</td><td>UConn</td><td>UConn</td><td>W2</td></tr>
<tr><td>14</td><td>UConn</td><td>UConn</td><td>L</td></tr>
<tr><td>15</td><td>OU?</td><td>OU?</td><td></td></tr>
</table>

[golfitup]

As of right now it's very clear cut who the number 1 seeds are. Oklahoma, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Connecticut.

[Frank D.]

As of right now it's very clear cut who the number 1 seeds are. Oklahoma, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Connecticut.

I know there is a lot of season left, but barring a collapse by one or more of these teams down the stretch, I don't see how any other team moves up into that first line. Michigan State, if they run the table and win the Big 10 tourney, could probably make a case. I suppose Duke could also make a claim if they run the table and the tournament (beating UNC twice). But I don't see either of these things happening.

Oklahoma will be number 1 next week, assuming they win at Texas on Saturday.

[BlueGuy]

Michigan State, if they run the table and win the Big 10 tourney, could probably make a case.

I haven't watched a minute of Big 10 basketball this season, but I see the scores on a daily basis. Is that conference that good at defense, or do they all just suck offensively? It seems every other score I see is in the 40s. I'm glad I'm not a fan of that league, I couldn't imagine having to watch my team put up 40-50 points of offense on a nightly basis.

[TheDanimal]

Looking at OU, UCONN, PITT, and UNC, it looks like North Carolina could end up as the overall #1 at the end of the season. Oklahoma will probably be #1 after this week, but could continue the trend of losses by the top team. Oklahoma still has to play Kansas at home and Missouri on the road (two solid sqauds in a contested conference), and either one of those games could end up in a loss. UCONN and PITT have very winnable schedules remaining, except for a final game rematch against each other. I happen to think UCONN is a good enough team to go out inspired and win the rematch, leaving each of those teams with one more loss. The only difficult game remaining for UNC is a rematch with Duke, whom they beat handily on the road, and I do not believe Duke (unlike UCONN) will be able to split the series on the road. This scenario would make UNC the only top four team without a loss before the end of the season, and probably the overall #1 ranking.

[Dante'sInferno]

I would love to see Oklahoma stumble down the stretch (for some reason I hate Blake Griffin and that entire team) and Memphis slip in as a one seed. But Memphis doesn't have the strength of schedule to that. Michigan State won't make it due to the brutal nature of the Big 10 (I predict at least 2 more losses for them). Duke and Wake Forest have had too many tough losses to still get the one seed, barring winning the ACC Tournament and possibly even that wouldn't be enough.
So my prediction is for the four obvious teams to get it in this order: UNC, Pitt, Oklahoma, UConn (I'll be impressed if they can keep up their high level of play without Dyson).