Funny what a big win can do for a college basketball program feeling the heat this time of year. Days after pulling an upset of Tennesee, LSU’s men’s basketball team is feeling more confident at a crucial point. Not only have the Tigers seen their NET ranking improve, but LSU is feeling a little more secure about its chances of playing in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament next month. USA TODAY Sports’ updated bracketology has LSU picking up the No. 9 seed in the East region, as of Monday.
The current projection of the basketball tournament has LSU playing Colorado of the Pac-12. The winner of that 8/9 matchup would likely go on to face the region’s No.1 seed, which is currently Ohio State of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have been piling up Quad 1 wins this season and have been emerging as the favorite to land the No. 1 seed in the East after Villanova took a loss over the weekend. The Wildcats are currently projected to be the No. 2 seed in the East.
While LSU is the only SEC team currently projected in the East region, they are far from the only SEC team expected to go dancing. Alabama is holding the No. 2 seed in the West region, which also includes No. 5 seed Missouri. Florida (No. 7) and Arkansas (No. 9) are currently projected to play in the Midwest region. Tennessee, with a No. 3 seed, is placed in the South region.
There is a little more confidence in LSU making the NCAA Tournament with a 9-seed with just a couple of weeks left in the regular season compared to being floated as a double-digit seed. LSU can still not afford to take any bad losses down the stretch. A solid NET ranking is helping the cause right now, but if the Tigers slip up leading up to the SEC Tournament, they could be in some jeopardy of being invited to play in the tournament in Indianapolis this season.
For now, things are looking pretty good for LSU basketball.
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