Arizona remained No. 1 in the CBS Sports Bracketology model after its second straight loss on Saturday, but fell in the overall hierarchy. The Wildcats (23-2, 10-2 Big 12) are now the third No. 1 seed behind Michigan and Duke after a 78-75 overtime loss to Texas Tech.
From a stats-based standpoint, the Blue Devils (23-2, 12-1) have second place behind Michigan firmly in the triangle after beating Clemson 67-54. They are No. 2 in WAB, which is an important resume metric, and they are also No. 2 at KenPom, a predictive stat on NCAA team sheets.
There was also activity on the 2-seed line after a busy day of action. Iowa State’s 74-56 win over Kansas sent the Cyclones back to No. 2 seed territory in CBS Sports Bracketology. The rise of Iowa State (22-3, 9-3 Big 12) temporarily ousted Illinois, dropping the Illini to a third-place finish ahead of their game against Indiana on Sunday.
The Cyclones get another huge home opportunity Monday night against Houston in a Big 12 showdown. The Cougars remain the fourth No. 1 seed in the CBS Sports Bracketology model as of Sunday after their 78-64 win over Kansas State.
Heading into Sunday’s action, here’s a look at where the top lines stand on CBS Sports Bracketology.
Bracketology top seeds
See the full field of 68 on the CBS Sports Bracketology hub.
Texas Tech is moving up
Our model’s pregame prediction suggested that Texas Tech would rise within the No. 4 seed but might not reach the No. 3 seed with a upset victory in Arizona. However, when all of the day’s results and metric changes were factored in, Texas Tech emerged as the final No. 3 seed. Considering the Red Raiders now have wins over three of the four teams currently considered No. 1, it’s no surprise they’re being rewarded. Crucially, Texas Tech rose four spots from No. 15 to No. 11 in WAB, which is a vital resume stat that recognized the Red Raiders for beating a highly ranked opponent on the road. Additionally, the Red Raiders enjoyed a six-spot jump at KenPom, rising to No. 16 in that predictive metric.
Florida charges
Florida again made gains in WAB, moving from 14th to 13th after WAB 92-83 win over Kentucky. The Gators are still a No. 3 seed for now, but they are knocking on the door of a No. 2 seed. Alone at the top of the SEC standings, Florida (19-6, 10-2) is neck-and-neck with Houston in barttorvik.com’s measurement of who has been the most efficient team in the country over the past six weeks. While four early-season losses have diminished Florida’s reputation in resume metrics, this team passes the eye test and looks like a juggernaut in predictive analytics that appear on team sheets. As a result, their position in the NCAA’s early top 16 will make for an interesting case study next Saturday.
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