{"id":192171,"date":"2026-03-15T04:17:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T04:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/192171\/"},"modified":"2026-03-15T04:17:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T04:17:09","slug":"lunardi-has-florida-at-no-1-seed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/192171\/","title":{"rendered":"Lunardi has Florida at No. 1 seed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated March 14, 2026, 8:05 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

It had been a dozen games since Florida<\/a>‘s last loss heading into its SEC Tournament semifinal matchup with Vanderbilt. Alas, all good things must come to an end and the Commodores slammed the brakes on the Gators’ winning streak with a 91-74 victory<\/a> in Nashville.<\/p>\n

Todd Golden’s team had only experienced defeat twice this calendar year prior \u2014 an SEC schedule-opening loss to Missouri and the program’s first home loss to Auburn<\/a> in 30 years. After that loss to the latter Tigers team, the Orange and Blue went on a run of success that elevated them back into the upper echelon of college basketball.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that the loss in the semifinals is by no means a “bad loss,” as the Commodores are ranked No. 14 in the NET rankings<\/a> and are a projected 5-seed\u00a0in USA TODAY Sports’ latest bracket projections<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The big question after that 17-point thumping is whether or not Florida will hold onto its projected No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with UConn knocking at the door. With a familiar face like Houston also well in the mix, the Gators’ rusty play<\/a> over the past two games might look bad in the eyes of the selection committee.<\/p>\n

However, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi said on his network that he believes the committee will still keep the Gators on the 1-seed despite the early exit from the SEC tournament because of “their body of work.”<\/p>\n

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“Florida was the outright champion of a far stronger league. UConn finished second in a far weaker league, and I know the UConn and Big East people won’t want to hear that, but I fully expect Florida is going to be the No. 1 team in the South Region,” Lunardi said.<\/p>\n

“The committee over the years, for all the swings and arrows they take, they’re very good at not overreacting to a single result. … I think they are going to keep Florida right where they are.”<\/p>\n

Given that Lunardi’s take tends to be the gold standard among bracketologists, it does bode well for the Gators heading into Selection Sunday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Who gets final No. 1 seed in March Madness: UConn or Florida?<\/p>\n

Here’s a side-by-side look at the Huskies and Gators NCAA Tournament resumes:<\/p>\n

UConn NCAA Tournament resumeRecord:\u00a029-4 overallNET ranking:\u00a0No. 10Quad 1 record:\u00a07-2Best wins:\u00a0vs. BYU (neutral site), vs. Illinois (neutral site), at Kansas (road), vs. Florida (neutral site), vs. Texas (home) and vs. St. John’s (home)Bad losses:\u00a0vs. Creighton (home) and at Marquette (road)Florida NCAA Tournament resumeRecord: 26-6NET ranking:\u00a0No. 4Quad 1 record:\u00a012-5Best wins:\u00a0vs. then-No. 18 Georgia (home), vs. Tennessee (home), vs. Vanderbilt (home), vs. Alabama (home), vs. Arkansas (home), at Kentucky (road) and vs. Kentucky (SEC Tournament)Bad losses:\u00a0vs. TCU (neutral site), at Missouri (road) and vs. Auburn (at home)When is Selection Sunday?Date:\u00a0Sunday, March 15Time:\u00a06 p.m. ETTV channel:\u00a0CBSStreaming options:\u00a0Fubo<\/a> (free trial)<\/p>\n

The entire Men’s NCAA Tournament bracket will be released at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15. It will be broadcast nationally on CBS and is available to be streamed on Fubo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Follow us\u00a0@GatorsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky<\/a>, and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators<\/a> news, notes and opinions.<\/p>\n