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Three ways Louisville basketball can secure a No. 1 seed

By Alan Thomas

MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 05: Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center on November 05, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 05: Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center on November 05, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates after making a three-point shot against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates after making a three-point shot against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

Finish the season strong

Though Louisville is not staring down the loaded, shiny barrel of their season any longer, there are plenty of obstacles along their path to doing their part to secure an NCAA region’s top seed- though I wouldn’t say it’s of paramount importance to win out.

Last season, the committee selected a Duke Blue Devil team that halfway floundered at the end of the regular season, going 3-3 (beating 3 unranked teams and losing to 3 top-20 teams). They went on to run the table in the ACC Tournament, which ultimately secured a 1-seed for Zion Williamson and company.

Louisville can do this.

Along with being loaded with depth and size, the Cardinals have been blessed to play in the weakest ACC in recent memory. The likelihood of them breezing through the rest of their games without a defeat is not worth betting on, but neither was a ten-game winning streak, including a road victory in Durham or a curse-breaking victory over the defending National Champs. This team has the pedigree to do it.

The magic numbers (record) over the next ten games that would more-than-likely propel the Cards up to a 1-seed is 8-2 at a minimum, and that is if, and only if, those two losses are A) Florida State on the road, and B) in the ACC Tournament Championship vs a team that is not named Duke or Florida State (assuming those two teams finish the season by sustaining the level of success they’ve had so far).

If the Cards can do that, regardless of the next two items on the agenda, they stand a great chance of securing a 1 seed.

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