NCAA Tournament Bracket Watch: Alabama is the top seed. Northwestern and Clemson

“They can’t imagine it… that someone like me would walk into their house, walk on their land…” – Cassian Andor

When compiling this week’s segment, we were astounded by the inclusion of teams we’d never expected to have considered as recently as a few weeks ago. North-west? Pittsburgh? Clemson? UCF? wait … Is that true?

It also got us thinking about another story focusing on underdogs who took the power structure by surprise: “Andor,” our favorite TV series of 2022. After the train wreck that was “The Book of Boba Fett,” the absurd, the pimped, the weak-willed “Obi Wan Kenobi” shot We were ready to write off any Disney+ “Star Wars” series that isn’t showing Din Djarin and Lil’ Grogu are cute. Then came Endor, which proved that down-to-earth storytelling, flawless writing, and dazzling visuals could be more compelling than Skywalker family cameos and endless Easter eggs. (In fact, we ranked the first season of “Andor” as the best “Star Wars” live-action content since “The Empire Strikes Back.” Yes, we said it.)

Battling with seemingly impossible odds, Tony Gilroy’s personalities are perhaps not unlike some current NCAA Tournament participants. Northwestern, famously, has played in March Madness only once, in 2017. Pitt has been cruising around the desert planet since the departure of Jamie Dixon following a first-round exit in 2016. Clemson was picked to finish 11th in the ACC draft for the season, while UCF started the year KenPom’s 85th and was off most people’s radars.

Are any of them safe in the field? barely. Of that quartet, only UCF (35th) ranked in the network’s top 50 through Thursday night. But revolutions are built on hope.

And while we’re at it, we’ll use some of Andor’s featured quotes to discuss other notable items in this week’s segment, and now 59 Days of Selection Sunday (don’t worry; no real spoilers here for those who haven’t watched the show, or who’ve stopped playing with action figures). decades ago).

“climb over!” Arizona’s loss at home to Washington State and Yukon’s third loss in four games left a power vacuum at the top. We filled it in for Alabama State, on a close call with SEC rival Tennessee. While the Volunteers boast better metrics, the Crimson Tide’s five Quad 1 wins—including real victories on the road in Houston and Arkansas—and the No. 1 powerhouse on every grid’s schedule carries today.

As for other climbers, what about Kansas? The Wildcats were picked to finish last in the Big 12, going 15-1 on the season and 4-1 in Quad 1 games. Fellow Big 12 freshman Iowa has also won four Q1 contests and joins K-State on the No. 3 seed streak this week. NC State also made a big move with its win at Virginia Tech, moving up our #8 pedigree line. The Wolfpack entered Thursday night ranked 28th in the NET, four points ahead of North Carolina State — not that anyone on Tobacco Road is following it.

“No more than 12.” The record for bids sent by a conference to the NCAA Tournament is 11, by a 16-team Big East in 2011. The Big Ten has 11 this week, but that number will be hard to keep as the teams have won each other. The Big 12 is the league’s best from top to bottom, but it’s unlikely to put all 10 of its teams in the bracket with Texas Tech’s lousy resume, West Virginia’s 1-6 mark in Quad 1 and no notable wins by Oklahoma schools. Will we see a league that puts in 12 (or more) teams if the SEC and Big Ten expand? Or if the Empire’s evil plan of inflating heroism works? probably.

“How far we’ve come, how many of us have succeeded, it’s all up to us now.” It forms as an approximate year for average-sized public bids. The Atlantic 10 looks like a one bid league (though Dayton is starting to charge). The Mountain West and the WCC are having strong years, but only put two teams on the field this week. Each team outside of strong conferences will have to win their own league championship. Two unlikely places to look for multiple bids this year: Conference USA, which could get a second team if Florida Atlantic (No. 15 NET) doesn’t earn the automatic bid, and CAA, where Charleston (16-1, No. 45 NET) in general condition.

“I burn my life for the sunrise I know I’ll never see.” Kentucky (0-5 Quad 1) dropped out of serious consideration this week after losing a Quad 4 at home to South Carolina. Don’t lose all hope. In late January of last year, North Carolina was 0-6 in the first quarter and out of the top 50 in the net, and the Tar Heels took their home loss in the fourth quarter, to Pitt, in February. We all know what happened next. However, things are looking pretty bleak for Kentucky, as do recent championships at Villanova and Michigan. (Even this year’s UNC squad, currently 1-6 in Quadrant 1, couldn’t feel overly confident.) Their absence is a potential asset for our power conference rebels.

“The worst thing you can do right now is get bored.” Bring your questions and know-hows to the comments section, and let’s discuss. (The final four pairs for this week are Midwest vs. West and South vs. East, based on our raw list, which you can find below. * denotes autobid conference qualifier).

(Photo by Blake Henson for Pete and Clemson’s Ben Middlebrooks: Charles LeClair/USA Today)