Bracketology: NCAA Tournament picture coming into focus as conference tournaments wrap up

We have arrived at the Saturday before selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament picture is getting a little more clear. With Alabama’s late surge, they’re a virtual lock for the field of 68, which would give the SEC eight teams in the big dance.

According to Joe Lunardi, Alabama is a projected nine seed. They could rise even higher with a win today over Kentucky. We’ll see what Collin Sexton has in store for us today.

Tennessee is holding steady as a three seed. Lunardi has them playing in Nashville against the 14th-seeded Bucknell. It seems like Tennessee is locked into that three range, with a chance to rise if they win a couple more games this weekend.

Auburn — the team Tennessee shared the regular season title with — has lost four of six. Alabama absolutely whipped them on Friday, but Lunardi still has them as a three seed as well. I’m interested to see if the selection committee agrees.

With Arkansas’ win over Florida last night, the Razorbacks have risen to a projected six seed. That’s a team with size and outstanding guard play, along with some senior leadership. Tennessee should have their hands full with them in the SEC semi-finals.

Lunardi has Virginia, Villanova, Xavier and Kansas as the No. 1 seeds heading into Saturday.

We will have full coverage of Selection Sunday festivities here tomorrow afternoon.