2017 MIDWEST REGION BREAKDOWN

January February IZZO!!!! (photo credit gamedayr.com)

MIDWEST REGION BREAKDOWN

This is the region of death! So many tough match ups! So pretty much the bracket buster region this is!

1. KANSAS JAYHAWKS

2 super special players in Outhet Player of the Year, Frank Mason and super freshman Josh Jackson. Jackson is a special talent, but jury out if he’s late game special. Lotsa off court issues which then adds to their incredible lack of depth as KU goes 7 deep at best. Main question is how much is in the tank for their studs that have logged HEAVY minutes all year. Definitively a tourney favorite, but also the 1-seed that is in most danger of getting upset before the Elite 8.

16. UC DAVIS AGGIES

Won play in game yesterday. Won’t go further. Thanks a lot KU!

8. MIAMI HURRICANES

Great coaching performance by Jim Larranaga that has made this limited lineup over perform in the tough ACC all season.

9. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

January February IZZO! Freshmen laden line up that have shown their youth all year. Not having a true PG and the typical bruising rebounding of a typical Tom Izzo team have led to a struggling season. However, this line up is still progressing making them a dangerous team vs. Miami and also vs. KU?

5. IOWA STATE CYCLONES

The most under rated line up full of impact players led by 6-4 senior 250-lb Deonte Burton. This guy can explode onto scene with Madness run.

12. NEVADA WOLFPACK

They have been a solid mid-major all season but haven’t had great competition to allow them to progress being in the very weak Mountain West conference.

4. PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

All-Adolph 1^st teamer F Caleb Swanigan is the best psot player in the nation. He had had 20 pt-10 rebound games in 4/5^th of all Boilermaker games. Top team in the Big Ten all year that only garners a 4 seed? Hmmmmm.

13. VERMONT CATAMOUNTS

Pretty good ranked mid major team in many metrics that could catamount to a possible upset. #PaulsenPun

6. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS

They were having a generation season for this program until they lost their All-American (possible All-Adolph teamer) PG Mo Watson to a torn ACL in January. Don’t sleep on freshman forward Justin Patton who has come outta no where as a top 100 talent to having a season making him a possible NBA lottery pick and one-and-doner. But Patton needs a PG. Too bad for this team.

11. RHODE ISLAND RAMS

This team was a Top 15 rated pre-season team that is finally peaking after finally getting healthy in past month. Solid forwards and great 5^th year senior G EC Mathews will be tough for the newly injured Bluejays.

3. OREGON DUCKS

Jr. G Dillon Brooks can take the Ducks on his shoulders and lead them to the Final 4. He’s that good. He’ll have to be that good as Oregon lost Sr. F Chris Boucher to a torn ACL days ago. It can still happen but is the transition from filling Boucher’s injury too fresh for Oregon? Jr. F Jordan Bell will have to step up.

14. IONA GAELS

Come from the MAAC which was led by upstart Monmouth for a 2^nd straight season only to upset them and rest of MAAC to get the tourney berth. They’re in as a live underdog vs. the newly injured Ducks.

7. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

I’d say the hottest team coming into the Madness winning the Big Ten Tourney with great great PG from Derrick Watson. They also have grinding, solid forwards in Zak Irvin, Mo Wagner and bruising Mark Donnal.

10. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Top rated offense in the nation. Ten years ago they’d likely get worked by any solid defensive team, but the rules have been changed to promote more offense so the Cowboys high paced offense can make a Sweet 16 run in Head Coach, Brad Underwood’s first season.

2. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

Get this stat. They have played opponents that amount to the 4^th highest ranked offense only to still be the 5^th highest rated defense in the nation. If you pick these kats as your Final 4 pick outta the Midwest than you ain’t no joke cuz the Cardinals ain’t no joke!

15. JACKSONVILLE STATE

Um no.