It seems like the OK St game is killing [Texas]. The win one for Eddie S. thing bit them, but the treatment seems harsh. Is this team a legitimate No.1 seed with real Nat’l. Championship aspirations or this year really just a two team race? CK

This has been the week to anoint UConn as the lead dog in the college hoops scene. A win over Villanova coupled with losses by Duke and Texas have clarified things dramatically. At least for the moment.

And right now there is little doubt that UConn is the best team in basketball right now. There’s still some time for them to change my mind. To be honest, had UConn lost to Notre Dame, I don’t think you’d be seeing so much pro-UConn material.

But being the pre-tournament favorite is by no means a guarantee of winning it all. If you give me the choice, I’ll take the other 64 teams and you can have UConn. And just as a reminder, here’s how the pre-tournament favorite(s) fared in recent years. (Pre-tournament favorite(s) based on my memory and subject to error. Feel free to correct me on these.)

2005 – UNC/Illinois. UNC won.
2004 – Duke/UConn. UConn won.
2003 – Arizona/Kentucky. Neither made the Final Four.
2002 – Duke. Lost in sweet sixteen.
2001 – Duke. Won it all.
2000 – Can’t remember a clear favorite. Cincinnati would have been were it not for the late injury to Kenyon Martin.
1999 – Duke. Lost in the final.
1998 – Arizona. Lost in the elite eight.
1997 – Kansas. Lost in the sweet sixteen.
1996 – Kentucky. Won it all.
1995 – UCLA. Won it all.
1994 – Arkansas. Won it all.
1993 – UNC. Won it all.
1992 – Duke. Won it all.
1991 – UNLV. Lost in the Final Four.

Line o’ the Night

                           FG    3pt  FT   Reb
                      Min  M-A   M-A  M-A  O-T   A F S TO BLK Pts
Joakim Noah            31  9-14  0-0 19-22 2-11  1 2 0  2  1   37
Result: Win. Florida 77, Georgia 66.