The college basketball season has been one of ups and downs and not a single number-one-ranked team has been safe. As March begins and competition heats up to land a spot in the big dance, who in this country is a number-one seed?

So far throughout the season there have been six different top-ranked teams. Kansas is the current number one for the second time this season. North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, and Villanova have also been ranked number one. As conference tournament time starts, are any of the teams going to be able to come out on top and grab one of the number-one seeds in the tournament? Kansas, Michigan State, and Villanova make up the top three teams with North Carolina and Oklahoma making the top ten. Kentucky is on the brink of falling out of the top 25 and is a long shot for any seed higher than a three in the national tournament.

Looking at the Big 12, Kansas and Oklahoma will have to play each other at some point in the conference tournament baring an upset of some kind, which can certainly happen. Iowa State has had their ups and downs all season, but is currently ranked number 21. The Cyclones have beaten both Kansas and Oklahoma and should be considered a dark horse in the conference tournament. They may be out of contention for a number-one seed in the big dance, but make no mistake: they certainly could ruin opportunities for Kansas and Oklahoma.

Michigan State may be ranked higher than Indiana at this point, but I cannot think of a hotter team going into the conference tournament. The Hoosiers won the regular season conference crown and have won four straight heading into a March 6 matchup with Maryland (played after publication). For Michigan State to win out the tournament they will have to be playing at an elite level to get through a conference that is predicted to have seven teams in the national tournament.

Villanova, featuring Stevenson (Lincolnshire, IL) product Jalen Brunson, probably has the easiest path to a number one seed at this point. Their only real competition in the Big East tournament will be Xavier, who they split the season series with. I honestly cannot see any reason Villanova would not get a top seed unless they self-destruct in the conference tournament.

North Carolina will have one heck of a road through the ACC in the quest for a conference tournament title. Virginia will have revenge on their minds after dropping the regular season matchup, Duke and North Carolina is always a treat as they split their season series, and Miami is the favorite heading in. Do not overlook Notre Dame or Louisville who have pretty much locked up a spot in the national tournament, but are looking to improve their seeding. With how up and down the Tarheels have been this year, I doubt they will make it through the conference tournament unscathed.

So who will it be? My picks are Villanova, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Oregon. No one is really considering Oregon at this point, but after some shake up in the conference tournaments I expect them to move up a couple slots and think they’ll be a top ranked underdog as March Madness begins. Things always get crazy the first couple weekends, so fill out your brackets (I’ll be setting up a free group so all the readers can partake) and strap in for a wild ride.