The win clinched the Tar Heels’ first outright ACC regular-season title since 2017 — the 12 months they, coincidentally, final gained the nationwide title — and proves that, even when the 2 meet within the ACC Match title recreation in Washington, D.C., this Saturday, there’s a clear high canine within the convention this 12 months.
Houston is the present the No. 1 total seed
Is it attainable that the Cougars are flying beneath the radar? That may be slight hyperbole, however provided that the opposite nationwide title contenders function Purdue (and the soon-to-be two-time Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Zach Edey), defending champion UConn, Tennessee (and its personal famous person, SEC Participant of the Yr Dalton Knecht) and perennial powers in North Carolina, Arizona, Kentucky and Duke, Houston might not be the attractive decide with lower than every week to go earlier than Choice Sunday, with after a dominant dwelling win over Kansas on Saturday, a 28-3 season (15-3 within the Large 12) in the most effective convention within the nation have to be rewarded.
How so? Properly, the metrics don’t lie; Houston is first in KenPom, Bart Torvik and the NET Rating, whereas sitting second (to Purdue) in KPI. Issues might change primarily based on what the Cougars, Boilermakers and Huskies do within the Large 12, Large Ten and Large East Tournaments, respectively.
Proper now, although, it’s pretty clear that the highest No. 1 seed hails from the Lone Star State.
Kentucky has put it collectively
Properly, effectively, effectively, if it isn’t John Calipari and the Wildcats peaking on the proper time. With its 85-81 street win over the SEC regular-season champion Volunteers on Saturday, Kentucky heads into the convention event in Nashville on a roll — Calipari and firm have gained seven of eight, with the lone loss coming on the buzzer to LSU on the street.
The Wildcats offense (sixth nationally in adjusted effectivity, per KenPom) has remained stellar; with perimeter scorers like Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, it is arduous to not.
