Since the start of February, several non-1 and 2 seeds have surged into elite form. Using the Bart Torvik filter, here’s a clean, polished breakdown of the hottest teams still dancing:
Among the biggest risers are the Illinois Fighting Illini, who check in at No. 5 in the rankings during this stretch. They’ve been powered by the No. 2 offense in the country alongside a respectable No. 23 defense. What stands out most is their extreme three-point profile. Illinois is taking threes at a massive 50.4% rate (14th highest nationally since February 14), yet converting just 33.7% (195th). That volume-variance combo makes them one of the more unpredictable teams left. Up next is a matchup with the Houston Cougars, where Illinois enters as a 3.5-point underdog.
Next up are the St. John's Red Storm, ranked No. 9 in this span and widely viewed as underseeded as a 5-seed. Their identity is clear: elite defense. The Red Storm boasts the No. 1 defense in the country since February, paired with a more modest No. 60 offense. The phrase “defense wins championships” gets thrown around a lot, but St. John’s is actually living it right now. Their next test comes against the top overall seed, the Duke Blue Devils, who also rank No. 1 in Bart Torvik’s filter during this stretch, setting up an absolute war. The Blue Devils currently stand as 6.5-point favorites.
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Lastly, the Tennessee Volunteers come in at No. 11, featuring a balanced profile with the No. 35 offense and No. 11 defense. They’re fresh off a statement win over a 3-seed and now turn their attention to the Iowa State Cyclones. One key storyline here is the potential absence of Iowa State’s top player, which could shift the outlook of a game where the Cyclones are currently 4.5-point favorites. Tennessee’s defining edge? Offensive rebounding, they rank No. 1 in the country in that category since February 1, giving them a major possession advantage.
