Last night gave us one of those “wait, did that really just happen?” moments in college hoops.
UConn, a team that’s been living comfortably on the one-seed line in just about every bracket projection out there, got punched in the mouth by Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad.
And while it’s not the kind of loss that sends a season spiraling, it’s the kind that should - should - shake up the top of the bracket.
But here we are, with UConn still holding onto a one-seed in most projections. That’s where things get dicey.
Let’s talk Iowa State. The Cyclones are 20-2, undefeated at home, and a scorching 7-1 in Quad 1 games - the kind of resume that selection committees drool over in March.
And this isn’t a team squeaking by in tight finishes. They’re dominating.
Night in, night out, they’re showing up and showing out. No off nights.
No letdowns. Just consistent, high-level basketball.
Now, if you’re a numbers person - and when it comes to March seeding, you have to be - the metrics back it up. Iowa State sits one spot ahead of UConn in the NET rankings at No.
- They’re also five spots ahead in KenPom, clocking in at No. 4 while UConn sits at No.
- That’s not a small gap.
That’s a statement.
So if the metrics matter - and they’re supposed to - then what are we doing here?
To be clear, UConn is still a powerhouse. Nobody’s throwing dirt on the Huskies.
But losing to a St. John’s team that’s been up and down all season?
That has to mean something. At this point in the year, every game counts, and when a top seed takes a hit like that, it should open the door for a team that’s been knocking with authority.
Enter Iowa State.
TJ Otzelberger’s crew has done everything you want from a one-seed candidate. They’ve handled business in the toughest games, they’ve passed every test, and they’ve done it with a level of control and consistency that’s hard to ignore.
Arizona’s already getting its flowers as a projected one-seed. Iowa State deserves to be right there with them.
This isn’t about disrespecting UConn - it’s about respecting what Iowa State has earned. If the committee’s process is truly about rewarding performance, not just brand names or preseason expectations, then the Cyclones belong on that top line.
And if a résumé like Iowa State’s isn’t enough to move the needle? Then maybe the needle was never meant to move in the first place.