What Does It Take To Be Number 1?

NELLY "Number One"

Well, the answer to Nelly's timeless question is...whatever it is, Michigan State ain't got it. They're officially out of the 1-seed discussion by tanking against Ohio State, dropping an 82-70 decision in thoroughly lackluster fashion. 

In other shocking news, apparently Ty Lawson is pretty important to the Heels. Without him they've struggled mightily against their ACC brethren, and the reckoning came today with a 73-70 loss to scrappy FSU and Toney Douglas. No Duke-Carolina III this year. 

I know I'm biased, and the competition is inferior, but the simple fact is that Memphis has won the games it should have quite convincingly, while other top teams, most glaringly Michigan State, have hiccuped under this week's pressure.  Right now, though, I still think the Tigers won't be cracking the top line. Here's my 4 PM Top 12 prediction:

1 Seeds: 1. North Carolina 2. Pitt 3. Louisville 4. UConn

2 Seeds: 5. Memphis 6. Michigan State 7. Oklahoma 8. Kansas

3 Seeds: 9. Duke 10. Villanova 11. Missouri 12. Wake Forest

As I've mentioned earlier, considering the reward for being the 4th 1 seed is getting shipped out to Glendale and all the teams under consideration for it are east of the Mississippi, it's not clear how much of a boon the spot is to the teams or their fans.