ESPN (Bracketology)
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/s...ology-projecting-2022-march-madness-men-field
Seattle Times (click for full article)
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...teams-are-locks-while-nine-have-steep-climbs/
Listed in order of NET ranking…
1. Arizona[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 2
Record vs. Quad I and II: 4-1
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 7-0
NCAA projection: No. 2 seed
Comment: The loss at No. 8 (NET) Tennessee will have no material impact on the Wildcats’ trajectory. If anything, it removes the pressure of being undefeated entering conference play.
2. USC[/b]
NET Ranking: No.13
Record vs. Quad I and II: 2-0
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 10-0
NCAA projection: No. 5 seed
Comment: The Trojans are one of five undefeated teams left, along with Baylor, LSU, Iowa State and Colorado State. But their non-conference strength of schedule (No. 247 in the Pomeroy efficiency ratings) leaves much to be desired.
3. UCLA[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 21
Record vs. Quad I and II: 2-1
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 6-0
NCAA projection: No. 3 seed
Comment: The Bruins have played one game since Dec. 1, so expect significant rust once they return to competition. It might take weeks to regain top form.
4. Washington State[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 63
Record vs. Quad I and II: 1-3
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 7-2
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: The Cougars have dropped three of their last four and finished a cupcake-filled non-conference schedule with four defeats. The climb into the NCAAs will be arduous, even from their perch in the 60s.
5. Utah[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 76
Record vs. Quad I and II: 1-3
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 7-1
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: One issue for Utah, and for others in the middle of the pack, is the limited number of opportunities to collect Quad I wins within conference play.
6. Oregon[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 97
Record vs. Quad I and II: 0-5
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 6-1
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: The Ducks don’t have any bad losses. Had they managed to secure one victory in the Quad I realm, their NET would be within NCAA bubble territory.
7. Colorado[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 107
Record vs. Quad I and II: 0-2
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 9-1
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: Eliminate the big three, and the rest of the conference has a 2-18 record in Quad I games. Granted, a few of those are intra-league results. But still.
8. Stanford[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 110
Record vs. Quad I and II: 1-4
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 6-0
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: The Cardinal is ideally suited to play the role of spoiler, except there really isn’t much to spoil. Three teams are set for the NCAAs; the rest are long shots.
9. California[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 121
Record vs. Quad I and II: 1-3
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 7-2
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: Had you told us months ago that the Bears would be closer to No. 100 than No. 200 at the Christmas break, we’d have wondered about your offseason eggnog intake.
10. Arizona State[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 126
Record vs. Quad I and II: 2-5
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 3-2
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: With the same number of Quad I and II wins as Quad III and IV losses, the Sun Devils have been the model of inconsistency.
11. Washington[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 229
Record vs. Quad I and II: 1-2
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 4-3
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: Not just beaten by Utah Valley, which would be acceptable, but blown out at home by Utah Valley, which is not.
12. Oregon State[/b]
NET Ranking: No. 246
Record vs. Quad I and II: 0-5
Record vs. Quad III and IV: 2-5
NCAA projection: no bid
Comment: The five teams just ahead of the Beavers in the NET rankings: UC Santa Barbara, The Citadel, Hawaii, Old Dominion and Portland. None of them were in the Elite Eight nine months ago.