Q: With all the talk about No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tourney, what seed does Memphis get, and why can’t the Tigers be a No. 1 seed? It’s not their fault that the rest of the powerhouses left Conference-USA. They are just doing what comes natural, dominating and winning. What do you think their seed should be?
— Tony Jones, Memphis, Tenn.

A: I hate to get involved in John Calipari’s “propaganda” battle, but I’m already in — so what the heck? I think I enlisted in the war on Sunday when I placed Memphis No. 3 in the East and wrote, “no team from Conference-USA is going to occupy my second line.”  That answers your last question, Tony. Backing up to your first question, nobody has said the Tigers can’t be a No. 1 seed. Personally, I don’t think Memphis is a No. 1. (I didn’t think they were a No. 1 last year either.) But there is no doubt the Tigers could play themselves into that position. They have a 17-game winning streak, the longest in the nation. They are undefeated in conference play and there’s a good chance they will enter NCAA play on a 22-game winning streak.

Those are great numbers, certainly worthy of No. 1 consideration. But you’ve got to look closer. Are the Tigers truly tournament tested? How do we know? The only judgment anyone can make is based on their body of work. They certainly haven’t been tested playing in C-USA. And that’s not propaganda — as Calipari recently told USA Today. The numbers do not lie. If you praise Memphis for its RPI of No. 8, then you must be equally realistic about the RPI numbers for the rest of the conference members. The next highest rated team from C-USA is Houston at 97. After that it’s Central Florida (109), UAB (111), Tulsa (126) and Southern Miss (132). That is pathetic. Against teams with an RPI between 1-25 Memphis is 1-2. Calipari told USA Today that the Tigers have a “top-five non conference schedule.” But their strength of schedule this week is 64 overall and their non-conference SOS is 42.

Here’s the bottom line: I respect the job Calipari has done. He had a lot to replace from last year’s team. He is starting a junior, three sophomores and a freshman. The Tigers have had a great season. If they win out, and win the C-USA tournament, they might be a No. 1 seed — depending on what happens to the other top teams. My guess is Memphis will be a No. 2 seed, but I don’t think they are a Final Four team.

Q: Is Brian Butch’s injury going to cost the Badgers a chance at the Final Four?
— Mick, Milwaukee

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A: It certainly won’t help, Mick. Butch’s injury will impact Wisconsin’s seed. Remember when Kenyon Martin fractured his leg in the first game of the 2000 Conference-USA tournament? Cincinnati dropped from a No. 1 seed to a No. 2 seed and lost to Tulsa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Obviously, Wisconsin has a lot of talent still on the floor, starting with Player of the Year candidate Alando Tucker. All season, I have honestly thought Wisconsin is better than Ohio State.

But Butch leads the Badgers in rebounding (5.9) and is third in scoring (8.8). In addition to that, he is a defensive presence inside and a tremendous passer for a big man. Then there is his work ethic. That’s what really makes his injury so sad. Butch has worked so hard to get to this point, you couldn’t help but feel bad for him when he crashed to the floor and grabbed his elbow in such obvious pain. The Badgers played well the remainder of the game against Ohio State but it will be interesting to see how they fare against Michigan State on Saturday and again in the conference tournament. Kammron Taylor, Michael Flowers and especially Jason Chappell will have to elevate their games with Butch out. It would be a great story if Wisconsin kept on winning and Butch got a chance to play in the tournament. You know he will work as hard as possible to return to his team. That is a given.