Bracketology Update, 2/4/22
We are into February, which means that next month is the greatest month of all, so it’s time to ramp up Bracketology, we’re going to update more often as the season goes on. Without further ado, here’s the Friday, February 4, 2022, PowerSports Bracketology
1 Seeds: Auburn*, Gonzaga*, Baylor*, Arizona*
Tommy Lloyd is the National Coach of the Year
2 Seeds: Kentucky, Purdue*, UCLA, Houston*
Even though Tshiebwe often gets the credit, it’s hard to imagine that this team would be anywhere near this good without TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler in the backcourt.
3 Seeds: Kansas, Texas Tech, Duke*, Michigan State
Mark Adams is doing an incredible job at Texas Tech, they’re making Chris Beard regret jumping ship.
4 Seeds: Illinois, Wisconsin, Providence*, Villanova
Nobody in the nation closes out games like the Providence Friars
5 Seeds: Marquette, UConn, Tennessee, Ohio State
If UConn learns how to close games, this is a National Championship contender
6 Seeds: LSU, Xavier, Texas, St. Mary’s
Randy Bennett might be the single most underrated coach in college basketball
7 Seeds: Indiana, Alabama, USC, TCU
TCU is the best offensive rebounding team in the country, they get themselves extra possessions thanks to Micah Peavy, Eddie Lampkin, and Emanuel Miller.
8 Seeds: Boise State*, Iowa State, Iowa, Arkansas
Watching Boise State’s defense is a religious experience, watching them shoot free throws is a form of torture.
9 Seeds: Murray State*, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Davidson*
Murray State’s only loss since November is against Auburn. 21–2, 11–0 in the Ohio Valley.
10 Seeds: Loyola*, Wyoming, Colorado State, San Diego State
The slow-paced Mountain West has 6 potential tournament teams.
11 Seeds: San Francisco, Seton Hall, Miami (FL), BYU
Miami plays exactly the way that you’d expect a smallball lineup to play, good shooting and ball-handling, poor rebounding and defense.
12 Seeds: Iona*, UAB*, Oregon, Creighton, North Carolina, Notre Dame
The Three Ryan’s, Hawkins, Nembhard, and Kalkbrenner, have led Creighton to wins over BYU, Villanova, Marquette, and UConn.
13 Seeds: Chattanooga*, South Dakota State*, Toledo*, Wagner*
South Dakota State turns games into track meets with their extreme pace and shooting ability.
14 Seeds: Vermont*, Oakland*, Princeton*, Jacksonville State*
Vermont plays it slow, but they play it safe, winners of 11 games in a row and undefeated in the America East
15 Seeds: UNC Wilmington*, Appalachian State*, Hawaii*, Weber State*
Appalachian State’s brutal non-conference slate prepared them very well for Sun Belt play, where they’re 8–3.
16 Seeds: Colgate*, Longwood*, New Orleans*, Seattle*, Southern*, Norfolk State*
Colgate is surging to the top of the Patriot League, having lost just once since early January.
Bubble Watch
Last 4 Byes: San Francisco, Seton Hall, Miami (FL), BYU
Last 4 In: Oregon, Creighton, North Carolina, Notre Dame
First 4 Out: Mississippi State, Florida, Dayton, West Virginia
Next 4 Out: SMU, Belmont, Fresno State, Washington State
Teams to Watch
Houston’s only losses are to Wisconsin and Alabama by a combined three points. Even without Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark, the Cougars are rolling through the AAC. Kyler Edwards and Josh Carlton have stepped up big for Kelvin Sampson’s team.
Since losing by 1 to VCU at home on January 5th, Dayton is 7–1, including an 18 point win over St. Bonaventure and a 30 point drubbing of VCU on the road. The youngest team in the country, the Flyers are surging to the top of the bubble under Head Coach Anthony Grant. Freshman Malachi Smith, Kobe Elvis, and DaRon Holmes, as well as sophomore Toumani Camara provide a core that can compete nationally in the future.
Aside from a brutal stretch in December and early January where they lost 5 of 6 games, Arkansas hasn’t lost all year. Their gauntlet is coming up, can JD Notae deliver the Hogs a marquee win? They still have Auburn, Kentucky, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee (2x), Florida, and Mississippi State, a crucial stretch that will determine their tournament fate.
