A Preview of the NCAA Midwest Region

The Midwest region is highlighted by its top seed, the Illinois Fighting Illini, who finished third overall in the polls by claiming the Big Ten Tournament Championship.

Article by Dave Nguyen, AKSM Sports

INDIANAPOLIS - The Midwest region is highlighted by its top seed, the Illinois Fighting Illini, who finished third overall in the polls by claiming the Big Ten Tournament Championship. The Illini are a stacked team built for March with veteran players, highlighted by one of the best guards in the entire country, Ayo Dosunmu. The 6'5 junior guard from the Windy City averaged 20.7 points per game this season, scoring 20+ points 13 times and 30+ points four times this season in arguably the most competitive conference in college basketball this season. If there's a success formula to win in the NCAA tournament, it's great guard play and Ayo provides that. Along with 7'0 sophomore center Kofi Cockburn, who averaged almost a double-double this season (17.6 ppg and 9.6 RPG), Head Coach Brad Underwood has a team that could potentially win the National Championship. While it's a nice story that Drexel is making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 25 years, the Dragons are going up against a juggernaut in the Illini.

There is a familiar face in the 8-9 matchup of the Midwest Region, as Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago take on Georgia Tech. Josh Pastner's bunch had grit and determination to defeat Florida State in overtime to win the ACC Tournament Championship, but with news breaking that the Yellow Jackets will be without its best player, ACC Player of the Year Moses Wright, it will be hard for Pastner's crew to defeat Loyola Chicago. Two players from its Final Four team in 2018 are still on the roster, including Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Cameron Krutwig. The 6'9 center averaged 15 points and just over six boards per contest this season, including 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in the MVC Tournament. Senior guard Lucas Williamson was also on the Final Four team in '18, and he can provide scoring and valuable experience. Along with transfers Brandon Norris, who dropped 20 points in the MVC title game, and Keith Clemons, who shot 46.7% from beyond the arc this season, the Ramblers have a good chance to win its opening matchup against Georgia Tech and can compete with the Illini. Ultimately, Illinois will be too strong for Loyola Chicago in the second round.

The 5-12 matchup finds the Tennessee Volunteers facing off against the Oregon State Beavers, another potential upset pick. Rick Barnes' club has a lot of young talent in Rocky Top, including a tandem of freshman guards Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson, who both shoot over 45% from the field. The Volunteers might be without senior forward John Fulkerson, who suffered a facial injury in the SEC Tournament against Florida, which will hurt the Vols defensively. The Beavers are coming into this game red-hot, winning six of its last seven games, including three straight against UCLA, Oregon, and Colorado to win the Pac12 Tournament Championship. With a one-two punch of guards Ethan Thompson and Jarod Lucas, who average 15 and 12 points per game respectively, will continue the Beavers momentum with an upset win over the Volunteers.

The 4-13 matchup is very intriguing, as the Oklahoma State Cowboys take on the Liberty Flames. Liberty made the NCAA Tournament in 2019, earning the school's first win in the "Big Dance" with an upset win over Mississippi State. While the Flames are coming off its third straight Atlantic Sun Championship, they are facing a Cowboys team that has one of the best guards in the country- future lottery pick Cade Cunningham. The 6'8 guard can score the basketball in multiple ways with the ability to knock down tough shots from the perimeter, and glide smoothly to the rack for close baskets, having the ideal makeup for a future NBA star. Cunningham's playmaking ability and his unlimited range to score the ball will propel Oklahoma State into the Sweet 16 and a potential matchup with Ayo Dosunmu.

The 6-11 matchup finds potential upset material as the San Diego State Aztecs take on the Syracuse Orange. SDSU has won 14 straight games heading into March Madness, led by seniors Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel, who averaged 15 and 14 points per contest respectively. The Orange, who were teetering as a bubble team, found its way into March Madness and will bring Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone to disrupt the Aztecs. Along with the sharpshooting of Jim's son Buddy and 6'9 forward Quincy Guerrier, Syracuse has a good chance to disrupt SDSU's rhythm and earn an upset win. If Syracuse were to advance, it would face Bob Huggins' West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round. "Huggy Bear" is known to always bring a tenacious full court defense, coining the nickname "Press Virginia". Four of West Virginia's starting five average double-figures in points, led by sophomore guard Miles McBride, who averaged 15 points a game this season. The Mountaineers are so talented, one could find them as far as the Elite Eight in the Midwest Region to take on Illinois.

The 7-10 matchup has the Clemson Tigers taking on Rutgers. The last time the Scarlet Knights made the tournament was 30 years ago in 1991. Ron Harper Jr is another dynamic guard who can score at will, having seven 20+ point games this season, including 21 and 28 point efforts against Illinois this year. Harper's play alone will help the Scarlet Knights pass by the Tigers and will give Houston, the two-seed, a competitive matchup in the second round. Ralph Sampson's club won 24 games this season, including its last seven to win the American Conference title. Junior guard Quentin Grimes can score the ball well, as he averaged 18 points a game and shot 41% from the field this season, but the competition in the American is not in comparison to the Big Ten or the Big 12. Houston may escape into the Sweet 16, but it will have a rude awakening if it takes on West Virginia.