(Editor’s note: This article is part of the Bracket Central series, an inside look at the run-up to the men’s & women’s NCAA Tournaments, along with analysis and picks during the tournaments.)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Friday might have boasted the best collection of games of the men’s basketball season, though too many of them disappointed — in the process, featuring some of the teams that are storming toward the NCAA Tournament.
Florida, for example. Are we sure this isn’t the best team in the country right now? The Gators took another step toward a No. 1 seed by shredding a very good Missouri team here at Bridgestone Arena, 95-81. This team has shooting, size, depth, chemistry, everything.
How about Houston? BYU has been playing excellent basketball and moving rapidly up the seeding list, but the southernmost of the two Cougars rolled by 20 in the Big 12 semis. If there was an inkling of drama about Houston on the top line, it’s gone.
St. John’s throttled Marquette to set up more 1980s flashbacks at the Garden. Maryland and Wisconsin crushed Illinois and UCLA, respectively, reminding us that the Terps and Badgers can look Final Four good (and that Illinois is an extraordinarily erratic, if talented, team).
Back to Nashville, Alabama vs. Kentucky was supposed to be a classic, in front of the usual #BigBlueNation throng — but with a respectable Alabama presence. If not a classic, a banger. A competitive game for 30 minutes would have been fine. Instead, we got Alabama 99, Kentucky 70.
Holy Labaron Philon. What’s a combo Kentucky basketball fan/Alabama football fan to do?
So among a slew of enormous games Saturday, including a dozen that will produce automatic bids and St. John’s possibly grabbing a No. 2 seed, the SEC has chalk and two semifinals involving four possible No. 1 seeds. That’s one guaranteed in Auburn and three chasing one spot in Alabama, Florida and Tennessee — which takes on Auburn.
If Tennessee avenges a loss to the Tigers in the teams’ only meeting this season, a late comeback for Auburn at home, I don’t think it would be too much to ask the committee to make it very simple on Sunday: The SEC tournament champ gets the No. 1 seed in the West Region.
Short of that, maybe let’s see if other conferences can make like the ACC and give us some good games.
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(Photo of Rick Pitino: Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
