Daily Word: One month from Selection Sunday

By ESPN.com | ESPN.com

Every weekday, some of our college hoops experts discuss the biggest issues, trends and themes in and around college basketball.

1. Which team has the potential to be the biggest surprise -- good or bad -- between now and Selection Sunday?

Andy Katz: North Carolina and Baylor. The Tar Heels have the talent to reach Indianapolis, but they've been erratic enough that they could flame out early. The Bears are physical and diversified enough offensively to win the Big 12 tournament, even though they will finish with a middling record.

Myron Medcalf: Virginia, for obvious reasons. Justin Anderson was a Wooden Award candidate. And Virginia struggled with Wake Forest without him over the weekend. The Cavs won't face the ACC's best (aside from that March 7 matchup with Louisville) before the ACC tournament. But they're still vulnerable without their best player, who is one of the best players in America.

Dana O'Neil: Pittsburgh. The Panthers did not look anything like an NCAA tournament team as recently as a month ago. But with four wins in their past five games, including that thumping of North Carolina, Pitt looks like it's finding its way. Better yet, the Panthers have winnable games down the stretch -- save for maybe the next, at Virginia -- which could bump up the Panthers' seed.

2. Of the current four potential No. 1 seeds -- Kentucky, Virginia, Gonzaga, Duke -- which one could drop out come Selection Sunday?

Katz: Virginia. The Cavs end the season with road games at Louisville and Syracuse, and while both teams are struggling that's asking a lot of Virginia to win out if Justin Anderson isn't 100 percent. Kentucky isn't going to lose the No. 1 slot and Gonzaga isn't going to lose in the WCC. Duke could drop a game, but the Blue Devils' resume is too strong.

Medcalf: Gonzaga. The Zags shouldn't lose again before Selection Sunday. They haven't lost since Dec. 6. And they're light years ahead the rest of the WCC. But a loss to a WCC opponent could ruin their shot at a No. 1 seed. They have less margin for error than the other schools vying for No. 1 seeds.

O'Neil: Virginia. Between the strength of the league and the loss of Justin Anderson, the Cavaliers might take a slide -- especially if Duke wins out, including the conference tournament. Can't imagine Gonzaga winning, and certainly the world will have to swallow Kentucky for the Wildcats to lose their seed. Duke, meantime, has the head-to-head against the Cavs.

3. The happiest conference on Selection Sunday will be? The most disappointed?

Katz: The Big 12. The conference may get 70 percent of its teams in the tournament. The AAC and the MWC could be the most disappointed as neither conference has been able to establish separation. It's not a crazy thought to think they may only get a maximum of two NCAA tournament bids, respectively.

Medcalf: Happiest should be the Big Ten because the whole league got off to a rocky start. And now, it appears that Jim Delany's conference could secure six or seven bids in the NCAA tournament. That's something to smile about. The ACC might be disappointed. Wasn't this supposed to be an eight-bid ACC once Louisville entered the picture? Doesn't seem that way right now. Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke and Notre Dame are all in probably. The rest of the conference? It's all uncertain. And that's surprising.

O'Neil: Frankly, they could be one and the same. The Big 12, I suspect, will be quite happy with the number of bids it receives, but it may be less than thrilled with the seeds it receives. The league's lack of solid nonconference wins could come back to bite its members when push comes to shove to slot the teams into the seed lines.


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Games To Watch

Pittsburgh at No. 2 Virginia
Monday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Fresh off a double-digit win over No. 12 North Carolina on Saturday, the Panthers have won four of their last five games. The Cavaliers have struggled on offense the past two games -- both close wins -- without injured guard Justin Anderson.


Seton Hall at No. 6 Villanova
Monday, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

The Wildcats have won 10 out of 11, including a 68-65 win over No. 18 Butler on Saturday, and are sitting pretty in the Big East. Seton Hall is just 3-8 since handing Villanova its first loss back on Jan. 3.


No. 8 Kansas at No. 21 West Virginia
Monday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Mountaineers have lost three of four, including a 20-point beatdown at Iowa State on Saturday. West Virginia will try to slow down the balanced Jayhawks, who hold a two-game lead over Iowa State atop the Big 12 standings.

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