Want to win your office pool? Do your research and you will reap the rewards. In all likelihood, your bracket will be busted by the end of the weekend. But that doesn't mean we can't try, right? For an analysis of the West Region and East Region, please click on the links. In this article, we'll take a look at the Midwest Region.
Favorite: Kansas
The overwhelming favorite to come out of the Midwest Region is the team that wins the Big 12 regular season title almost every season. They've been one of the best teams in the country all season, and were rewarded with a 1 seed for their efforts.
The team that poses the biggest challenge to Kansas is Louisville, but it won't be an easy road. Potential matchups with Michigan State, Miami, and Iowa State could pose problems for Frank Mason and Josh Jackson, who have carried the Jayhawks all year long.
Louisville deserves an honorable mention here, but isn't quite on the same level as Kansas in terms of resume. Donovan Mitchell is an excellent player and the Cardinals defend very well, but they will also face a tough road. Potential matchups against a red hot Michigan team and a dangerous Oregon team could derail the team's Final Four hopes.
Darkhorse: Michigan.
The team that won the Big 10 Tournament enters the Ncaa Tournament hotter than any other team in the nation.
Quality guards like Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton are excellent shooters and attackers, and have the ability to stretch the entire floor. The entire team can shoot threes, making Michigan very dangerous on any given night. They'll have a tough matchup against a very good Oklahoma State team in the first round, but Michigan is clicking right now and John Beilein has the tournament experience to help this team make a deep run.
Upset Pick: Vermont.
If there's one thing we can count on in college basketball, it's Purdue choking. The Boilermakers blew a massive lead in the NCAA tournament against Arkansas Little Rock last season and didn't even get a real shot up when the game was tied in regulation. The team also blew a lead against Michigan in the Big 10 tournament.
Nobody is better at losing games than Purdue, which gives upset minded teams a chance.
Vermont brings the country's longest win streak into the NCAA tournament and will be looking to prove their regular season wasn't a fluke in the Big Dance. Anthony Lamb will be able to play with the bigger players of Purdue, but the rest of the roster might struggle. But if the game is close late, don't be surprised when Purdue makes a disastrous play that results in a loss.
