March Madness Seed Projections: Three No. 1 Seeds have been locked up

MADISON, WI - FEBRUARY 25: Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (2) puts his fingers up in the air as Michigan State Spartans guard/forward Miles Bridges (22) makes a free throw to seal the win and a outright Big Ten championship during a college basketball game between Michigan State Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers on February 25th, 2018 at the Kohl Center in Madison, WI. Michigan State defeats Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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MADISON, WI – FEBRUARY 25: Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (2) puts his fingers up in the air as Michigan State Spartans guard/forward Miles Bridges (22) makes a free throw to seal the win and an outright Big Ten championship during a college basketball game between Michigan State Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers on February 25th, 2018 at the Kohl Center in Madison, WI. Michigan State defeats Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 2 Seeds

5. Michigan State (West-Los Angeles) (28-3)

6. Purdue (South-Atlanta) (26-5)

7. North Carolina (East-Boston) (22-7)

8. Duke (Midwest-Omaha) (24-5)

No changes with the two seeds this week, the issue for Michigan State and Purdue is that the Big Ten has let them down. The Big Ten sits in 6th when it comes to conference RPI rankings and when you look at the road wins, which matter this year you see that Purdue has one good one in the eyes of the committee (at Michigan) while Michigan State’s best win is at Maryland and that is their lone good win.

This week’s Big Ten tournament is paramount for both Michigan State and Purdue. If either team expects to make a case as a top seed, they will need wins and meltdowns from teams like Xavier, Virginia, and Kansas. However, the numbers just don’t help each of their cases.

As for the two ACC teams here, it is Duke who seems to be the team that could be headed out of the No.2 seed line as they have Virginia Tech and North Carolina this week. It is possible they could enter the ACC Tournament on a two-game losing streak.

Games of note this week

Feb. 27

Miami at North Carolina

North Carolina hasn’t been impressive at home this season so Miami is a solid test to end the home slate for UNC.

Mar. 2

Big Ten Tournament: Wisconsin/Maryland winner vs. Michigan State

Michigan State needs quadrant one wins badly, Sparty better hope they get Maryland instead of Wisconsin.

Big Ten Tournament: Rutgers/Indiana/Minnesota winner vs. Purdue

A potential Big Ten semifinal matchup with Ohio State awaits Purdue if they can survive their quarterfinal game.

Mar. 3

North Carolina at Duke

Duke. North Carolina. Cameron Indoor Stadium. Enough said.