March Madness 2016: Overrated/underrated teams

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Mar 3, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Gabe York (1) signals to the crowd after beating the California Golden Bears at McKale Center. Arizona won 64-61. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Arizona Wildcats (25-8)

Seed: 6

vs. RPI 51-100 teams: 9-1

When you look at the Arizona Wildcats roster, you see one of the most, if not the most, talented rosters in all the Pac-12. Although Arizona stumbled a little toward the end of the season, going 3-3 in the final six games, the Wildcats are still dangerous and look like a No. 4 or No. 3 seed.

The NCAA selection committee saw it completely different as the Wildcats earned a No. 6 seed, somehow, despite putting up a 25-8 overall record and beating most of the teams it was supposed to. A 9-1 record versus teams with RPIs in the 51-100 range is solid and they only had one bad loss — to UCLA on the road early in Pac-12 play.

Playing through injuries is no excuses to rack up losses, but the Wildcats were rarely at full-strength and that’s something the committee is supposed to take into consideration.

Arizona finished the regular season ranked No. 15 in the AP poll, but lost 95-89 in the Pac-12 semifinals to eventual champion Oregon. The Wildcats might not be the best team in the conference, but to dub them a No. 6 seed and Cal a No. 4 is just ridiculous.

Next: Big Ten champ turned underdog

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