ESPN.com - NCB - No. 1 Stanford has one, but who'll be other three?

Stanford's candidacy is pretty solid. The Cardinal have 27 wins in 28 outings and can save some money by booking their flights early to San Diego and the West sub-regional . Even if the top-ranked Cardinal get swept at home by the Arizona schools this week, it would still be a lock for the top spot in the West. Stanford can do no worse than share for the Pac-10 title.

The rest of the cases aren't so cut and dry.


	Jason Richardson and the defending champs may need to win the Big Ten tourney to earn a No. 1 seed.

Michigan State (24-3) has one blemish keeping it from locking in the Midwest No. 1 seed. The Spartans lost at Illinois last month and could lose to the Illini again this week in the Big Ten tournament title game. The Spartans, who got a share of the Big Ten title, have six wins against teams in the top 25.

"I think if we win two games (in the Big Ten tournament) then we can get one of (the No. 1 seeds)," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "But it might come down to whether or not we meet Illinois in the final. I think Illinois and us are deserving of it. A lot has to do with what happens in the ACC with Duke and Carolina and Florida in the SEC.

"But if we win two more that's eight straight wins and that's pretty good."

Michigan State would likely have to beat Ohio State in the Big Ten semifinals Saturday before a potential Illinois matchup on Sunday. Illinois has either Minnesota or Purdue in the quarterfinals and then either Wisconsin or Indiana in the semifinals.

The Illini have the advantage over Michigan State by beating the Spartans and sharing the league title. Illinois has four top 25 wins, a 23-6 record and a schedule strength of 11 for its RPI of 6 -- three spots lower than Michigan State.

"We need to win the tournament," Illinois coach Bill Self said. "That's our only chance. I don't know if there's a difference this year between playing a 7/10 or 8/9 in the second round. This year the only thing that could be important is playing in your region."

Could both be No. 1 seeds? Certainly. Arizona and Stanford were No. 1 seeds last year in the West and South.

"Last year, I swore we had to win the Big Ten tournament to get a No. 1 seed, but I guess we were in even with seven losses," Izzo said of the Spartans' No. 1 in the Midwest. "To me, there's not a huge advantage of being a No. 1.

"Last year, it meant more playing in Auburn Hills. This year, we could be in Dayton, but you only get 350 tickets. And the Midwest Regional is in San Antonio, so that doesn't matter that much.

"I know that if we're a No. 2, we won't be in the West because we won't be the 8th No. 2 seed against Stanford."

	“	It's going to be tough to get through the next three days. But I can't focus on being a No. 1 seed. I've got to focus on Friday night. ”
		— Billy Donovan, Florida head coach

Izzo's isn't the only one who thinks a No. 1 isn't as important as in year's past. North Carolina coach Matt Doherty shares the view.

Doherty said seeds lose their meaning after the first day of the tournament. The Tar Heels have a tougher road to get a No. 1 after losing to Duke. They've lost three of their last five games and if they don't win the ACC tournament that's four games in the last two weeks.

North Carolina does have five top-25 wins, an RPI of 4, a strength of schedule of 12 and an overall record of 23-5. The Tar Heels would have to likely beat Virginia and then either Duke or Maryland in the final.

Duke is in better position to get the No. 1 seed, even if the Blue Devils don't win the ACC tournament and Maryland and, or North Carolina do win the tourney.

The Blue Devils have seven top-25 wins, an RPI of 2, a record of 26-4 and a strength of schedule of 10. It makes sense for the committee to put either Duke or North Carolina in Greensboro, N.C., in the first round.

If Duke gets to the ACC final, however, the Blue Devils would have beaten a hot Maryland team, whereas North Carolina would have beaten Virginia or Georgia Tech.

Florida is in position to get the No. 1 in the South, but only if the Gators win the SEC tournament. No easy chore.

The Gators would have to beat either host Vanderbilt or Alabama in the quarterfinals, and the semifinal could be either Ole Miss or Tennessee. All that waits then in the final is a potential third meeting with Kentucky, or the SEC's hottest team -- Arkansas. And Donovan might have to do all this without forward Brent Wright, who's not expected to play in the SEC tournament after re-aggravating a stress fracture injury.

The Gators have five top-25 RPI wins, have won six straight over ranked teams, but have an RPI of 17. The Gators' strength of schedule is 70, which seems to inflate the 22-5 record.

"The selection committee puts a large emphasis on conference tournaments," Donovan said. "Last year we had a four-way tie in the SEC with LSU, Kentucky, us and Tennessee with 12 wins. But we all got knocked out early in the tournament and not one of us was higher than a four seed.

"It's going to be tough to get through the next three days. But I can't focus on being a No. 1 seed. I've got to focus on Friday night."

No one seems to be talking about Iowa State's chances. But the Cyclones could be in just as good a position as the Gators. Iowa State (24-4) has an RPI of 9, a strength of schedule of 60. The Cyclones have four top 25 RPI wins and have won 12 of 13 games.

"We've got to win the Big 12 tournament and cross our fingers," Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy said. "Last year, the No. 1 seed cost us the Final Four (by being a No. 2 in the Midwest to Michigan State's No. 1).

"Let's say Kansas did everything we did ... then I think they would be a No. 1. My fans don't want to hear this but I don't want the Big 12 tournament to burn us out for the NCAA.

"If we get by the first game then we have to play Texas and then either Oklahoma or Kansas. We might have to beat Kansas for a third time."

For a No. 1 seed? Definitely.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.

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