College Basketball: March Madness Is Near, Which Teams Will Grab Top Seeds

Selection Sunday is less than two weeks away. As many as eight teams are still in the hunt for a number one seed and none of them seem to be able to secure their spot once they reach the top. With the final week of the season and conference tournaments right around the corner, here's my final February ranking of the top four seeds in all of college basketball.

Number One Seeds: Kansas Jayhawks

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LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 12: Markieff Morris #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks slautes the crowd during the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on February 12, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Kansas needs to finish off the season strong against Texas A&M and Missouri to give themselves confidence that they can beat ranked opponents, but their number one seed is almost completely secure.

The Jayhawks only have two losses right now and with the exception of BYU and Ohio State, all of the other teams in the running for a number one seed have four or five defeats. Unless they lose to Texas A&M at home, Missouri on the road and bounce out of the Big 12 tournament in their first game, the Jayhawks will grab one of the four number one seeds.

If they win out, they will be the number one overall seed.

Ohio State Buckeyes

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COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 15: Head coach Thad Matta of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on from the bench while playing the Michigan State Spartans on February 15, 2011 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Big Ten may not put as many teams into the NCAA tournament as the Big East or even the Big 12, but the competition at the top is on par, if not better than any conference in the country.

Ohio State has navigated a brutal Big Ten schedule with only two losses thus far. Losing at Wisconsin is almost a given in college basketball and a loss at Purdue is nothing to be ashamed of. The Buckeyes need to be careful this week with a road game against the surprisingly difficult Penn State and their season finale against Wisconsin.

The Buckeyes will finish with two to four losses which will give them a number one seed.

Byu Cougars

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SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young Cougars reacts to being fouled against the San Diego State Aztecs during the second half at Cox Arena on February 26, 2011 in San Diego, California. BYU beat SDSU 80-67. (Photo by Kent

This team has done enough to secure a number one seed.

They are 27-2 right now with two wins over San Diego State and a win against Arizona that looks more impressive now that the Wildcats will probably grad a top five seed. 

BYU finishes with two home games and will most likely reach their conference tournament's championship game.

Duke Blue Devils

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DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 23: Ryan Kelly #34 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts to making a basket during their game against the Temple Owls at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 23, 2011 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Duke at North Carolina this Saturday will be another classic in this historic rivalry.

If Duke wins this game, they have secured a number one seed regardless of what happens in the ACC tournament.

If they lose, they will need to win the ACC tournament to keep teams like Texas, Pittsburgh and Purdue from taking their place.

Number Two Seeds: Pittsburgh Panthers

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VILLANOVA, PA - FEBRUARY 12: Coach Jamie Dixon of the Pittsburgh Panthers calls to his players during the game against the Villanova Wildcats at The Pavilion on February 12, 2011 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

It almost doesn't seem fair that the winner of the Big East, the mega-conference that might send 11 teams to the NCAA tournament, will not be awarded a number one seed.

Pittsburgh can change that if they win the rest of their games.

The road to a Big East tournament crown will put Pittsburgh or Notre Dame in position to win enough marquee games to secure a one seed on Selection Sunday. Pittsburgh had a spot nearly secured until yesterday's loss at Louisville.

Texas Longhorns

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GREENSBORO, NC - DECEMBER 18: Gary Johnson #1 of the Texas Longhorns against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Greensboro Coliseum on December 18, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Texas Longhorns will not fall any further than a number two seed. Their losses at Colorado and at Nebraska will prevent them from a one seed (unless all teams ahead of them finish poorly), but many still believe this is the best team in the country when they want to be.

Purdue Boilermakers

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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 09: E' Twaun Moore #33 of the Purdue Boilermakers brings the ball up court against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big Ten Conference game at Mackey Arena on January 9, 2011 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue won 75-52. (Photo

Purdue is one of the hottest teams in the country right now.

Even though Michigan State has had their fair share of problems this year, for Purdue to go into East Lansing and win by twenty points holding the Spartans to a mere 47 should raise eyebrows within the Selection Sunday committee.

Wins against Ohio State, Wisconsin and Minnesota also help the Boilermakers case.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 08: Ben Hansbrough #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish plays defense during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2010 DIRECTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational at Freedom Hall on December 8, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Pho

Around this time every year I ask myself, "Is Notre Dame actually good?"

I usually refrain from taking them far in the tournament, but this year I think the Irish are actually a legitimate top team. They have a tough close to their year against Villanova and at Connecticut, but if the Irish make a decent run in the Big East tournament, I see them securing a number two seed and maybe a sweet 16 appearance on my bracket.

Number Three Seeds: San Diego State Aztecs

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SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Coach Steve Fisher (R) speaks with Malcolm Thomas #4 of the San Diego State Aztecs during a time out against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at Cox Arena on February 26, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo

San Diego State is 27-0 against teams not named BYU.

The recent home loss against Jimmer's squad hurt their chances at a number one or two seed, but the Aztecs should fall no further than a three.

If they can win the Mountain West tournament, they might grab a two seed.

Wisconsin Badgers

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Bo Ryan of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts during a game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center November 20, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 68-65. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Wisconsin has the chance to make a huge statement at the end of the year at Ohio State. Even if they lose this game, a run to the Big Ten tournament championship game will solidify their spot as a three seed.

What hurts the Badgers from climbing to a two seed is their home loss to Notre Dame. Notre Dame will be a low two seed and Wisconsin will be a high three. If the selection committee puts them side by side, Notre Dame will be chosen because they went into Wisconsin and beat the Badgers.

Arizona Wildcats

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 27: Kyle Fogg #21 of the Arizona Wildcats looks to pass against the Kansas Jayhawks during the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational at The Orleans Arena November 27, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kansas won 87-79. (Photo by

Arizona snuck into the top ten last week.

They celebrated their high ranking with a horrible 22 point loss at UCLA.

The road should be fairly clear for the Wildcats to win both the regular season and conference tournament title which will give them the number three seed.

St. Johns

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Dwight Hardy #12 of the St. John's Red Storm fakes in front of Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

How far can this team climb in the seeding?

Yes, the nine losses make a three seed seem a little out of reach, but what teams in the country have this list of wins:

Duke 

Pittsburgh

Notre Dame

Georgetown

at Villanova

They will not grab a three seed if they are bounced out early in the Big East tournament, but if they put on a magical run in the Garden, then honestly, a two seed might be in reach.

Number Four Seeds: Syracuse Orange

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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 26: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange reacts to call during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas on February 26, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC The Orange 58-51. (Photo by Mitchell L

When Syracuse went on their four game losing streak in January, it was easy to forget that they won 18 games before it.

Now sitting at 24-6 with back to back wins on the road at Villanova and at Georgetown, the Orange are poised and ready to make some noise in the Big East tournament.

Florida Gators

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 16: Forward Alex Tyus #23 of the Florida Gators grabs a rebound against the Ohio State Buckeyes November 16, 2010 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

A win at Kentucky would have solidified the Gators' spot in the top four seeds. The loss does not necessarily hurt them, but it puts them in a position where they will need to win the SEC to keep their fourth seed.

North Carolina Tar Heels

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DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 9, 2011 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

North Carolina struggled early on in the season. Since their loss against Texas (which is nothing to be ashamed of), they have won 15 of their last 17 games. I like their chances at home against Duke this Saturday and the Tar Heels should be able to get to the ACC tournament finals.

The Tar Heels are coming on strong late in the season and as a number four seed, Roy's boys will probably give a one seed a scare in the sweet 16.

UCLA Bruins

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LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 02: Reeves Nelson #22 of the UCLA Bruins in action during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on December 2, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

This is my wild-card pick.

UCLA still remains on the outside of the top 25, but the Bruins are a team whose resume` is beginning to look better and better.

One of BYU's two losses this year came to UCLA.

UCLA only lost by one point to the Jayhawks in Allen Fieldhouse.

The Bruins win over St. John's looks more impressive with each top 15 team the Johnnies continue to knock off. UCLA is the last team to beat St. John's.

They've won 12 of 14 games and just destroyed Arizona. If they win the Pac Ten tournament, they will be a four seed. If they lose another game, expect either Villanova, Georgetown or Louisville to take their spot.