Women’s basketball bracketology: Baylor ascends to the top line

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STORRS, CT – JANUARY 23: Connecticut Huskies Guard / Forward Katie Lou Samuelson (33) and Connecticut Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) and Connecticut Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) and Connecticut Huskies Forward Kyla Irwin (25) walk up the court during the second half of the SMU Mustangs versus the Connecticut Huskies game on January 22, 2019, at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
STORRS, CT – JANUARY 23: Connecticut Huskies Guard / Forward Katie Lou Samuelson (33) and Connecticut Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) and Connecticut Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) and Connecticut Huskies Forward Kyla Irwin (25) walk up the court during the second half of the SMU Mustangs versus the Connecticut Huskies game on January 22, 2019, at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Storrs:

1. Connecticut (AAC)
16. Robert Morris (NEC)

8. Central Michigan (MAC)
9. Auburn

Piscataway:

5. Utah
12. James Madison (Colonial)

4. Rutgers (Big Ten)
13. Penn (Ivy)

I don’t want to dwell on this because UConn plays Louisville this week and we’re going to get a resolution either way, but there’s a non-crazy argument that UConn should be a 2 seed. Here it is: Oregon, as the top 2 seed, has the same record as the Huskies (18-1), but three more Group 1 wins, a better RPI, and a better strength of schedule. UConn has the edge, however, because its win at Notre Dame is better than anything on the Ducks’ resume, and its loss at Baylor isn’t as bad as Oregon’s loss at Michigan State.

Milwaukee:

6. Michigan State
11. Arkansas

3. Marquette (Big East)
14. Troy (Sun Belt)

Raleigh:

7. Texas A&M
10. BYU (WCC)

2. NC State
15. Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN)

I said a few weeks ago that Arkansas was a dangerous team that probably wouldn’t find its way into the field. The Razorbacks are 5-1 since then with a win over Tennessee. Their resume still isn’t sparkling, but any team that’s 5-2 in the SEC deserves a serious look. They’ll probably need to knock off at least two more projected tournament teams to stay in the bracket.