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Joe LunardiSenior Writer, ESPN.com
If I were revealing the top 16 teams for the NCAA tournament, as of Friday, the list would follow the rankings below. For good measure, I've added my own predictions for the next month.
1. Villanova Wildcats
Current: No. 1 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 1 seed
The Wildcats will win another Big East title and capture their second No. 1 seed in three years.
2. Kansas Jayhawks
Current: No. 1 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 1 seed
The Jayhawks will create a little separation and take yet another Big 12 title, not to mention their nearly annual No. 1 seed.
3. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Current: No. 1 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 1 seed (No. 1 overall)
I expect the Bulldogs to run the table and enter the NCAA tournament at 33-0, good for their first-ever No. 1 overall seed.
4. Baylor Bears
Current: No. 1 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 2 seed
I do not expect the Big 12 to hold on to a pair of No. 1 seeds, so that means a very modest drop for the Bears.
5. North Carolina Tar Heels
Current: No. 2 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 1 seed
The ACC has produced a No. 1 seed in 12 of the past 13 seasons, so look for Carolina to move up and grab one.
6. Arizona Wildcats
Current: No. 2 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 2 seed
I am sticking with the Wildcats to eventually prevail in the Pac-12 and make another serious run at the Final Four.
7. Oregon Ducks
Current: No. 2 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 3 seed
Previous results notwithstanding, I'm going with Arizona in the Pac-12 and that means a seed slip for the Ducks.
8. Louisville Cardinals
Current: No. 2 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 3 seed
It's going to be hard for all of the top ACC teams to hold their position given the number of head-to-head battles remaining.
9. Kentucky Wildcats
Current: No. 3 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 2 seed
If we could combine Kentucky's offense with Louisville's defense, there's no way the national title would escape the Bluegrass State.
10. Florida State Seminoles
Current: No. 3 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 3 seed
The Seminoles continue to fly under the radar despite the best top-50 record in the country.
11. Wisconsin Badgers
Current: No. 3 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 2 seed
The Badgers have won eight straight and should be favored in every game the rest of the way.
12. Virginia Cavaliers
Current: No. 3 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 4 seed
The Cavs are overachieving and have a very difficult schedule coming down the stretch.
13. Florida Gators
Current: No. 4 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 3 seed
The Gators could very well win the SEC, in which case they should be no worse than a No. 3 seed.
14. West Virginia Mountaineers
Current: No. 4 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 5 seed
At some point the Mountaineers are going to pay for their nonconference schedule, allowing someone (Duke?) to move up.
15. UCLA Bruins
Current: No. 4 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 4 seed
The Bruins could go even higher if they can create a three-way race at the top of the Pac-12.
16. Cincinnati Bearcats
Current: No. 4 seed
Selection Sunday: No. 4 seed
An absence of really big wins will likely prevent the deserving Bearcats from climbing any higher.
