27 Teams Locked & Loaded for NCAA Tournament (3 from Big Ten)

Here are the 27 teams (through games played March 3) I've locked in for the NCAA Tournament, meaning they can lose all their remaining games (including the conference tournament) and still make the NCAA. For comparative purposes, I've listed each teams' record vs. the RPI top 50, record vs. the RPI top 100, non-conference SOS, overall SOS, and road-neutral record.

Yes, I'm aware these aren't the only criteria the Selection Committee considers. Teams are listed in order of current RPI.

Lock City
#1 Kentucky -- 12-0 vs. top 50/18-0 vs. top 100/#11 non-conference SOS/#24 overall SOS/12-0 road-neutral
#2 Kansas -- 11-5/17-6/#2 non-conference SOS/#1 overall SOS/8-6 road-neutral
#3 Virginia -- 9-1/14-1/#35 non-conference SOS/#23 overall SOS/13-0 road-neutral
#4 Villanova -- 10-1/14-2/#61 non-conference SOS/#27 overall SOS/13-2 road-neutral
#5 Duke -- 9-2/16-3/#32 non-conference SOS/#12 overall SOS/12-2 road-neutral
#6 Wisconsin -- 7-2/15-2/#13 non-conference SOS/#17 overall SOS/11-2 road-neutral
#7 Arizona -- 6-0/13-2/#71 non-conference SOS/#39 overall SOS/11-3 road-neutral
#8 Gonzaga -- 4-2/8-2/#14 non-conference SOS/#75 overall SOS/13-1 road-neutral
#9 Maryland -- 5-3/10-5/#92 non-conference SOS/#32 overall SOS/7-4 road-neutral
#10 Baylor -- 7-6/11-8/#29 non-conference SOS/#3 overall SOS/7-6 road-neutral
#11 Wichita State -- 2-2/7-3/#30 non-conference SOS/#94 overall SOS/12-3 road-neutral
#12 Utah -- 2-5/9-6/#37 non-conference SOS/#31 overall SOS/6-5 road-neutral
#13 North Carolina -- 4-9/10-9/#6 non-conference SOS/#2 overall SOS/11-5 road-neutral
#14 Iowa State -- 10-5/13-7/#102 non-conference SOS/#9 overall SOS/6-7 road-neutral
#15 Northern Iowa -- 2-2/7-2/#114 non-conference SOS/#116 overall SOS/12-3 road-neutral
#16 Louisville -- 4-5/9-6/#108 non-conference SOS/#37 overall SOS/9-3 road-neutral
#17 Oklahoma -- 9-5/10-7/#80 non-conference SOS/#10 overall SOS/7-8 road-neutral
#18 Arkansas -- 5-3/8-5/#41 non-conference SOS/#63 overall SOS
#20 SMU -- 3-4/10-6/#15 non-conference SOS/#53 overall SOS/8-4 road-neutral
#21 Georgetown -- 4-9/7-9/#8 non-conference SOS/#4 overall SOS/7-6 road-neutral
#22 West Virginia -- 5-8/9-8/#188 non-conference SOS/#41 overall SOS/11-5 road-neutral
#23 Providence -- 5-6/10-6/#19 non-conference SOS/#11 overall SOS/7-6 road-neutral
#24 San Diego State -- 4-5/7-5/#53 non-conference SOS/#77 overall SOS/7-6 road-neutral
#25 Butler -- 5-7/8-8/#89 non-conference SOS/#33 overall SOS/8-6 road-neutral
#27 Dayton -- 3-2/6-5/#109 non-conference SOS/#119 overall SOS/7-6 road-neutral
#28 Notre Dame -- 4-4/8-5/#318 non-conference SOS/#102 overall SOS/8-3 road-neutral
#35 Iowa -- 4-6/8-9/#130 non-conference SOS/#34 overall SOS/7-6 road-neutral

There are roughly a handful to 10 teams (the likes of #19 VCU, #30 Michigan State, and #32 Oregon to name a few) really close to joining this group, but I'm holding off for at least another win.

Welcome gritty Michigan State, sizzlin' Oregon, and plucky Saint John's to the NCAA Tournament. Lock list now at 30.