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Midwest Regional features three Big 12 teams
▶ AMIE JUST
@Amie_Just
Missy Minear/KANSAN
As expected, the Kansas Jayhawks earned the No 1
seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Championship. Kansas did not walk away with the No.1 overall seed, as the defending national champions in the Villanova Wildcats claimed that spot.
Kansas will play either NC Central or UC Davis in the first round of the tournament. Those two teams are battling for the No. 16 seed in one of the First Four games held in Dayton, Ohio.
The NC Central Eagles boast a 25-8 record and won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday.
The UC Davis Mustangs earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament this year with a 22-12 record. They won the Big West Tournament on Saturday.
NC Central and UC Davis will play on March 14 or 15 in Dayton, Ohio, and then will face off Kansas in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 17.
The rest of the first round matchups in the Midwest are as follows:
NO. 8 SEED MIAMI VS.
NO. 9 SEED MICHI-
GAN STATE
The Hurricanes (21-11) last made the NCAA tournament in 2016 and advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen under the leadership of then redshirt-senior Angel Rodriguez.
This season, Miami has played 10 tournament teams 14 times, including Iowa State (loss, 73-56), Florida (loss, 65-56), Notre Dame (loss, 67-62), Wake Forest (loss, 96-79), Duke (loss, 70-58; win 55-50), North Carolina (win, 77-62; loss 78-53), Florida State (loss, 75-57; loss 66-57), Virginia Tech (win, 74-68; loss 66-61), Louisville (loss, 71-66, Virginia (win, 54-48 OT).
The Hurricanes have three guards that average double digits in Davon Reed (15 points per game), Ja'Quan Newton (13.4) and Bruce Brown (11.9).
The Spartans last made the NCAA tournament in 2016 and, as a No. 2 seed, were bounced by No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee in the first round. A No. 15 seed upsetting a No. 2 seed
mmm
has only happened eight times in the history of the NCAA Tournament.
This season, Michigan State has played 10 tournament teams 14 times, including Arizona (loss, 65-63), Kentucky (loss 69-48), Florida Gulf Coast (win, 78-77), Baylor (loss, 73-58), Minnesota (win, 75-74 OT; win, 65-47; loss, 63-58), Northwestern (win, 61-52), Purdue (loss, 84-73; loss, 80-63), Michigan (win, 70-62; loss, 86-57), Wisconsin (win, 84-74), Maryland (loss, 63-60).
Three Michigan State players average double figures in scoring. Miles Bridgers averages 16.7 points per game, Nick Ward averages 13.7 and Eron Harris averages 10.4.
NO. 5 SEED IOWA
STATE VS. NO. 12
SEED NEVADA
Iowa State (23-10) finished its season on a high note, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship for the third time in four years. The Cyclones have also won 10 of their last 11 games, including one at Allen Fieldhouse against then-No.2 Kansas.
The Cyclones played several NCAA tournament teams this season for a 7-7 record against the field. Those previous opponents include Mount Saint Mary's, Miami, Gonzaga, Cincinnati and Vanderbilt, as well as all five of their fellow Big 12 Conference members in the tournament at least twice.
Scoring leaders for Iowa
State include: Monte Morris (16.3), Naz Mitrou-Long (15.5), Deonte Burton (14.8) and Matt Thomas (12.0).
Nevada comes into its seventh NCAA tournament appearance having faced a few other NCAA tournament teams, including Saint Mary's and Iona early in the season.
Nevada (28-6) hasn't been in the NCAA tournament for 10 years, but is riding into the big dance on a nine-game win streak. The Wolf Pack won the Mountain West Conference this season for the first time since 2012.
Four Wolf Pack starters average double digits in scoring. Marcus Marshall averages 19.8 points, good for No. 41 in the country. Other double figure scorers for Nevada are Cameron Oliver (15.8), Jordan Carolina (14.8) and D.J. Fenner (14.1).
NO. 4 SEED PURDUE
VS. NO. 13 SEED VERMONT
The Boilermakers (25-7) have made three-straight NCAA tournaments, but this seems to be the best chance for Purdue to advance. Purdue hasn't had less than seven losses since the 2009-10 season, when Matt Painter's squad ran to the Sweet Sixteen for back-to-back seasons.
Playing in the Big Ten, Purdue has played several NCAA tournament teams, such as Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin and Minnesota. It's also played
Notre Dame, Louisville and Villanova this season.
The Catamounts (29-5) currently hold the longest winning streak in the country at 21-straight. Vermont's strength of schedule isn't as strong as Purdue's, only having played two NCAA tournament teams in Butler and South Carolina. The Catamounts lost both games.
In preparing for their sixth NCAA tournament appearance, the Catamounts have three players averaging in double figures. Anthony Lamb leads the charge with 12.6 points per game. Payton Hensen and Trae Bell-Haynes follow him with 11.4 and 11.1 points per game, respectively.
NO. 6 SEED CREIGHTON VS. NO. 11 SEED RHODE Island
Creighton (25-9) hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2014 when current Oklahoma City Thunder forward (and son of Creighton coach Greg McDermott) Doug McDermott was a senior. Coming off a loss in the Big East title game to Villanova, the Bluejays have plenty to play for.
In the Big East, Creighton played many NCAA tournament teams, including Villanova (thrice), Marquette, Xavier, Butler and Seton Hall. In nonconference play, Creighton beat Wisconsin.
Justin Patton also brings in an average of 13.1 points per game. Maurice Watson Jr. and Khyri Thomas average 12.9 and 12.4 points respectively.
The Bluejays are led by former Kansas State guard Marcus Foster, who averages 18.3 points per game.
Rhode Island (24-9) hasn't been to an NCAA tournament since 1999, but the Rams rolled through the field to win the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, beating VCU for the title.
The Rams have faced multiple NCAA tournament teams this season, including Duke, Davton and VCU.
Leading the charge for the Rams are E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin. Matthews averages 14.9 points per game and Martin averages 14.1 points and seven rebounds per game.
NO. 3 SEED OREGON VS. NO. 14 SEED IONA
Oregon (29-5) finished second in the Pac-12 and had a shot at a 2-seed in the tournament. A loss to Arizona in the Pac-12 title game likely dropped Oregon to a No. 3.
The Ducks lost starting forward Chris Boucher for the season with an ACL injury during the Pac12 Tournament semifinal against Cal. However, the Ducks are known for their excellent backcourt. Guard Dillon Brooks stars for the Ducks with 16.3 points per game.
Iona (22-12) took the tournament bid by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament over Siena. The Gaels have made the NCAA tournament 11 times.
The Gaels are led by forward Jordan Washington, who averages 17.9 points per game. Washington also hauls in 7.4 rebounds per game. The Gaels won the MAAC Tournament as the 1-seed in the conference.
NO. 7 SEED MICHIGAN VS. NO. 10 SEED OKLAHOMA STATE
Michigan (24-11) captured the automatic bid to the tournament by winning the Big Ten tournament on Sunday. The Wolverines further boosted their tournament resume by defeating No. 24 Wisconsin in the title game.
The Wolverines defeated No. 13 Purdue along the way to the Big Ten Tournament title. Senior guard Derrick Walton Jr. leads Michigan with 15.2 points per game.
Powered by point guard Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State (20-12) comes into the tournament a dangerous No. 10 seed. A strong finish to the Big 12 season allowed the Cowboys into the tournament.
Evans, who averages 19.0 points and 6.2 assists per game, could have been a contender for national awards if he played for a more successful team. The Cowboys have also showed a propensity for three-point shooting, shooting 40 percent as a team.
NO. 2 SEED LOU-
ISVILLE VS. NO. 15
JACKSONVILLE STATE
With wins over Purdue and Kentucky in the nonconference season, Louisville (24-8) is one of the strongest teams not to be named a No.1 seed in the nation. The Cardinals compete in the ACC, one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
Cardinals coach Rick Pitino's tournament experience is always a helpful factor in predicting success for Louisville this season. Pitino has reached the top with less talented teams in the past.
Jacksonville State (2014) made the tournament by way of the Ohio Valley Conference championship. The Gamecocks finished the conference season with a 9-7 record and won the OVC Tournament as the 4-seed.
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