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Kansas, Auburn, Iowa, and Wisconsin are a few teams that can make a deep run in this tournament out of the Midwest Region. This should be a great region.
Match-ups:
Round of 64
Fort Worth
1.Kansas
16.Texas Southern/16.Texas A&M-CC
Kansas needs a big game from Ochai Agbachi to advance in this tournament, and they should versus the winner of Texas Southern and Texas A&M-CC.
8.San Diego State
9.Creighton
This might be the toughest 8-9 game to pick but San Diego State’s number two ranked defense in the KenPom rankings to beat Creighton.
Buffalo
5.Iowa
12.Richmond
Red hot Big Ten Tournament champion Iowa will take down Richmond.
4.Providence
13.South Dakota State
Providence battles South Dakota State in a battle that will be won by the Jackrabbits.
Milwaukee
6.LSU
11.Iowa State
LSU might have fired their coach Will Wade but I think that encourages them to beat an Iowa State team that has scored less than 40 points multiple games.
3.Wisconsin
14.Colgate
Wisconsin has been cold as of late, but injured star Johnny Davis should be healed and the Badgers should take care of Colgate.
Greenville
7.USC
10.Miami
USC battles Miami in a huge 7-10 match up. Both schools made their respective conference tournament semifinals but I think Miami is hot and will beat Isaiah Mobley and USC.
2.Auburn
15.Jacksonville State
Auburn should run all over Jacksonville State.
Round of 32
Fort Worth
1.Kansas
8.San Diego State
I can see many people picking the upset here, but I believe in Bill Self and the Jayhawks to beat the Aztecs in a low scoring game.
5.Iowa
13.South Dakota State
Iowa will use a good offensive game to take down South Dakota State.
Milwaukee
3.Wisconsin
6.LSU
LSU’s magic without head coach Will Wade will run out and the Badgers will move into Chicago.
Greenville
2.Auburn
10.Miami
While I may pull the upset in my bracket, Auburn’s height with Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler should help Auburn defeat Miami.
Sweet 16
Chicago
1.Kansas
5.Iowa
Iowa is hot and the Jayhawks finally fall to the Hawkeyes in Chicago.
2.Auburn
3.Wisconsin
Auburn’s shooting will finally show up again and Auburn will take down Wisconsin in their backyard.
Elite 8
Chicago
2.Auburn
5.Iowa
Iowa’s Keegan Murray and the Hawkeyes offense gets hot and they take down Auburn, led by Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler.
Picked winner of regional: 5.Iowa
Favorites:
1.Kansas
Kansas is led by wing Ochai Agbachi, guard Remy Martin, and forward David McCormack, who could get them to the Final Four.
2.Auburn
Auburn has struggled a bit since reaching the top of the AP Poll in the beginning of February. Potential top three pick Jabari Smith, big man Walker Kessler, and others have the chance to get Auburn back to where they were in January.
5.Iowa
Iowa, despite being a five seed, is playing some of if not the best basketball right now. The Big Ten Tournament champions are a terrific offensive team led by potential lottery pick Keegan Murray.
Sleepers:
4.Providence
Providence, despite being highly seeded as a four seed, lost in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament to Creighton, following their Big East regular season title, look to bounce back against South Dakota State.
10.Miami
Miami has lived and loved to be in close games this season and made it all the way to the ACC semifinals before losing to runner-up Duke. Transfer Charlie Moore leads the Hurricanes as they look to take down Miami.
13.South Dakota State
South Dakota State comes out of the same league that Sweet 16 team Oral Roberts came out of last season. They use hot-shooting to potentially upset Providence.
