This article is part of our NCAA Tournament Preview series.
East Region
West Region
Midwest Region
South Region
The Midwest Region is all about blue bloods and that has nothing to do with Tom Selleck. North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas get to battle for a spot in the Final Four, though Houston isn't a team that should be overlooked with only three losses all season. UNC and UK are talented, but Auburn and Iowa State just ran through their respective conference tournaments. Most brackets will point to an inevitable matchup between the Tar Heels and Wildcats, but usually what's expected never happens. You've been warned.
THE FAVORITES
No. 1 North Carolina
The Tar Heels didn't have a great start to the season highlighted by a loss to Texas, but once Coby White (16.3 ppg, 4.2 apg) figured things out, they won 15 of their last 17. Those lone losses came at the hands of Virginia and Duke, fellow No. 1 seeds. This is a normal UNC team that loves to run, though it doesn't have the same kind of size as previous versions with Luke Maye and Garrison Brooks at 6-8 and 6-9, respectively. Fortunately, there aren't many dominant big men in their region and their offensive talent could be enough to make the Final Four. In addition to White, Cameron Johnson (16.9 ppg) has been a knockdown shooter at 46.5 percent and Maye (14.7 ppg) stretches the defense at the four and five spot. While their offense ranks No. 7 in terms of efficiency (according to KenPom), their defense
East Region
West Region
Midwest Region
South Region
The Midwest Region is all about blue bloods and that has nothing to do with Tom Selleck. North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas get to battle for a spot in the Final Four, though Houston isn't a team that should be overlooked with only three losses all season. UNC and UK are talented, but Auburn and Iowa State just ran through their respective conference tournaments. Most brackets will point to an inevitable matchup between the Tar Heels and Wildcats, but usually what's expected never happens. You've been warned.
THE FAVORITES
No. 1 North Carolina
The Tar Heels didn't have a great start to the season highlighted by a loss to Texas, but once Coby White (16.3 ppg, 4.2 apg) figured things out, they won 15 of their last 17. Those lone losses came at the hands of Virginia and Duke, fellow No. 1 seeds. This is a normal UNC team that loves to run, though it doesn't have the same kind of size as previous versions with Luke Maye and Garrison Brooks at 6-8 and 6-9, respectively. Fortunately, there aren't many dominant big men in their region and their offensive talent could be enough to make the Final Four. In addition to White, Cameron Johnson (16.9 ppg) has been a knockdown shooter at 46.5 percent and Maye (14.7 ppg) stretches the defense at the four and five spot. While their offense ranks No. 7 in terms of efficiency (according to KenPom), their defense improved the most this season and enters the tourney at No. 10 in the country. That could come in useful in a possible matchup against a team like No. 5 seed Auburn that loves to shoot threes.
No. 2 Kentucky
The Wildcats were headed for a 1-seed before falling to Tennessee in the SEC tournament. Now, they get a path that could feature a Sweet 16 matchup against stout Iowa State or Houston squads. The good news is that Reid Travis played 28 minutes in the most recent game and he helps fill out one of the best starting lineups in the country. Led by PJ Washington (14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), it's a group of five guys that can score and defend with anyone. Ashton Hagans (4.5 apg) runs the show, Tyler Herro (14.2 ppg) is the shooter, Keldon Johnson does it all and Travis is a defensive force in the paint. That core group of guys will be hard to upset, though they've had issues when the shots aren't falling. There's also a chance they get an early rematch with Seton Hall, a team that already beat them earlier in the season.
No. 3 Houston
The Cougars lost in the AAC Championship, but that's no reason to overlook their three total losses this season. They were unlucky to lose on a buzzer-beater in last year's tournament and while they don't have the same team, they have the same defensive mentality that will be an issue for any opponent. Most of their scoring goes through the perimeter led by guards Corey Davis (16.8 ppg) and Armoni Brooks (13.5), while DeJon Jarreau can be just as effective off the bench. One of their problems could be a lack of scoring down low, as Breaon Brady and Fabian White are mostly used for defensive purposes. That could lead to problems against solid defensive teams, already seen in the losses to UCF and Cincinnati.
CINDERELLA WATCH
No. 13 Northeastern
The Huskies could end up being the most popular upset pick in this region, having won their last seven games thanks to an efficient offense that ranks fifth in the country in terms of effective field goal percentage. Vasa Pusica (17.8 ppg, 4.2 apg) is the main guy to know after hitting seven threes in the CAA Championship. Even then, they still have three other guys that shoot it regularly and make it over 39 percent of the time in Bolden Brace, Jordan Roland and Donnell Gresham. That could be a problem for Kansas, which ranked sixth in the Big 12 in three-point defense. Either way, it'll be hard to trust the Jayhawks, which have struggled away from home without Udoka Azubuike. If Northeastern can get past KU, a matchup with three-happy Auburn may be next and anything could happen between two teams that love to shoot.
BIGGEST BUST
No. 4 Kansas
The Jayhawks were just mentioned, but it's hard to put any other team in this spot. They went 3-8 in true road games and three of their five neutral wins came with Azubuike. Plus, those other two neutral wins came 45 minutes from campus in Kansas City. This game is in Utah where the air is thin so that could even the playing field even more. Stopping Dedric Lawson (19.1 ppg) is the biggest thing against Kansas and while Northeastern doesn't have elite talent down low, it has bodies to throw at him. Otherwise, the Jayhawks don't get consistent production anywhere else on the court with Devon Dotson, Ochai Agbaji, Quentin Grimes and Marcus Garrett all mysteries as to what version will show up. Kansas undoubtedly has more talent, but if its defense struggles to defend the three, that could make this game a little too close for comfort.
FIRST-ROUND UPSET
No. 12 New Mexico State over No. 5 Auburn
Since the Kansas-Northeastern game has already been covered, this is the next likely upset. New Mexico State has oddly made more tournaments than Auburn this decade with this being its eighth appearance since 2010. The Tigers are hoping to build off last year when they fell to Clemson in the second round and while they have won their last eight games, they still rely heavily on threes. That usually leads to close games when least expected and that's exactly what this matchup presents as NMSU ranks No. 40 in NET. The Aggies aren't a big team, but they're active and top 10 in the country in terms of offensive and rebounding percentage. If the shots aren't falling for Auburn, that rebounding could be a huge factor. The Aggies don't have one stand out player, but their long bench has led to 30 wins and a three-point loss to Kansas. Since they don't have one player that averages more than 25.4 minutes per game, it's possible that could help in the Utah air.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Coby White, G, North Carolina
If you like quick, athletic and talented point guards, White is your guy. If the Heels make a run to the Final Four, he's likely to be a main reason for that and his fro will also get plenty of attention. He's steadily improved his defense and if his shot isn't falling, he can take anyone off the dribble when he wants. White isn't an elite shooter, but he's the perfect point guard to run UNC's fast-break offense and something everyone on the top half of this region will have trouble with.
SWEET 16 PICKS
No. 1 North Carolina
It's hard to see the Heels falling before the Sweet 16, but Washington and Utah State aren't freebies. That said, the Heels already know how to deal with the zone because of Syracuse and their offensive talent may be too much against Utah State.
No. 12 New Mexico State
I'm not confident in Auburn or Kansas, and I think New Mexico State's 10-deep lineup could be a real advantage in Salt Lake City. Plus, a few of these players were in this spot last year and won't be fazed by the atmosphere. The Aggies don't have one guy that stands out, but that also means they have 10 different guys that could drop 10-plus points in any game.
No. 6 Iowa State
This is a fun, semi-upset pick that a lot of people will probably look at after the Cyclones just won the Big 12 tournament. They're hard to trust, but can win in a number of ways and their offense will be tough for Houston to stop. However, the smart play is with defense and the Cougars.
No. 2 Kentucky
With Reid Travis back, I can't envision this Kentucky team losing before the Sweet 16. Wofford and Seton Hall will be tough, but with the Wildcats at full strength, those teams will need a huge effort. Sure, the Pirates already beat them earlier in the season, but this is a different UK team.
FINAL FOUR PICK
No. 1 North Carolina
Kentucky already beat UNC earlier in the season, but that was at a different time for both teams. The Wildcats are a little better overall, but Coby White was a little more erratic at that point in the season and only scored eight points. White will have the advantage over Ashton Hagans at point guard and that could be enough, though the other matchups will all be equally fun to dissect.
