Michigan State does not receive a No. 1 seed as bracket is revealed

When CBS revealed the four No. 1 seeds at the start of Sunday's selection show, the biggest surprise was that Michigan State was not among them.

The Big Ten tournament champion Spartans (29-5) were snubbed in favor of ACC runner-up Virginia (26-7).

Michigan State's exclusion was unexpected because the Spartans had eight RPI top 50 victories and reeled off 13 wins in their final 14 games to finish the season. Virginia had a more impressive collection of victories than Michigan State, but the Cavaliers lost to four teams not expected to make the NCAA tournament and failed to win either the ACC's regular season or tournament title.

Joining Virginia on the top seed line are ACC champion North Carolina (28-6), Pac-12 champion Oregon (28-6) and Big 12 champion Kansas (30-4). Michigan State and fellow No. 1 seed contender Villanova (29-5) will presumably fall to the No. 2 line.

The race for the final No. 1 seeds isn't as important as previous years because of the scant margin between the top dozen teams in the field. There's no 2009 North Carolina or 2015 Kentucky, season-long juggernauts whom other contenders were eager to avoid for as long as possible.

Last year's four No. 1 seeds entered the NCAA tournament with a mere nine losses between them. This year's quartet suffered a total of 23 losses.

 

South region:
1. Kansas (30-4)
16. Austin Peay (18-17)

8. Colorado (22-11)
9. Connecticut (24-10)

5. Maryland (25-8)
12. South Dakota State (26-7)

4. California (23-10)
13. Hawaii (27-5)

6. Arizona (25-8)
11. Vanderbilt/Wichita State

3. Miami (25-7)
14. Buffalo (20-14)

7. Iowa (21-10)
10. Temple (21-11)

2. Villanova (29-5)
15. UNC Asheville (22-11)

 

West region:
1. Oregon (28-6)
16. Holy Cross/Southern

8. Saint Joseph's (27-7)
9. Cincinnati (22-10)

5. Baylor (22-11)
12. Yale (22-6)

4. Duke (23-10)
13. UNC Wilmington (25-7)

6. Texas (20-12)
11. Northern Iowa (22-12)

3. Texas A&M (26-8)
14. Green Bay (23-12)

7. Oregon State (19-12)
10. VCU (24-10)

2. Oklahoma (25-7)
15. Cal St. Bakersfield (24-8)

 

East region:
1. North Carolina (28-6)
16. FGCU/Fairleigh Dickinson

8. USC (21-12)
9. Providence (23-10)

5. Indiana (25-7)
12. Chattanooga (29-5)

4. Kentucky (26-8)
13. Stony Brook (26-6)

6. Notre Dame (21-11)
11. Michigan/Tulsa

3. West Virginia (26-8)
14. S.F. Austin (27-5)

7. Wisconsin (20-12)
10. Pittsburgh (21-11)

2. Xavier (27-5)
15. Weber St. (26-8)

Midwest region:
1. Virginia (26-7)
16. Hampton (21-10)

8. Texas Tech (19-12)
9. Butler (21-10)

5. Purdue (26-8)
12. Ark. Little Rock (29-4)

4. Iowa St. (21-11)
13. Iona (22-10)

6. Seton Hall (25-8)
11. Gonzaga (26-7)

3. Utah (26-8)
14. Fresno St. (25-9)

7. Dayton (25-7)
10. Syracuse (19-13)

2. Michigan St. (29-5)
15. MTSU (24-9)