Midwest Region preview: Kentucky looks to survive to toughest grouping
The Favorite
Kentucky
Kentucky dominates on both ends of the court and leads the nation in scoring margin, blowing out opponents by an average of 20.9 points.
The Wildcats' hallmark is their defensive dexterity. They surrender just 53.7 points per game, while allowing teams to make just 35.5 percent of their shots.
John Calipari's team features a slew of soon-to-be NBAers, who are about to receive more attention than even they're used to.
The Contenders
Notre Dame
Notre Dame comes into the tournament riding a five-game win streak, which includes wins over Louisville, Duke and North Carolina.
Guard Jerian Grant - one of the most under-appreciated talents in the nation - and scrappy forward Zach Auguste will try to reverse the team's recent tournament misfortunes.
Maryland
Maryland has been a pleasant surprise in the the Big Ten. Guards Dez Wells and Melo Trimble present a strong 1-2 punch, each combining strong outside shooting and the athleticism to attack the hoop.
The Terrapins can get hot and stay hot. They went on three separate win streaks of at least six games this season.
The Sleepers
Butler
The Bulldogs have had plenty of recent success in March Madness.
They flourished this season because of their ability to defend, holding their opponents to just 61.2 points per game.
At the other end of the floor, look for guard Kellen Dunham to continue his strong scoring pace. He has scored 15 or more in four of the last five games.
Purdue
Purdue has shown the ability to find shooters, averaging 14.9 assists and a 45.3 field goal percentage.
Guard Jon Octeus can impact the game in multiple different ways, and could help spark the team to a tournament run.
Player to watch
Kentucky F Karl-Anthony Towns
The potential top pick in the NBA draft, Karl-Anthony Towns does the little things that most guys his size can't.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound freshman has a knack for making plays at the rim, on the offensive and defensive end. The forward notches 2.4 blocks per game and shoots 55.4 percent.
The numbers don't tell the whole story, though. His versatility presents matchup problems for opponents and helps his teammates flourish.
Upset special
No. 15 New Mexico State over No. 2 Kansas
A susceptible Kansas squad is limping into the Big Dance.
The Jayhawks expect to be without forward Cliff Alexander for the entire tournament due to eligibility issues. Forward Perry Ellis, their best player, has been afflicted by injury of late.
Meanwhile, New Mexico State comes into the tournament playing at its most efficient, riding a 13-game win streak. The Aggies have been solid defensively, holding opponents to an impressive 59.3 points per game.
Watch for forward Pascal Siakam to lock Kansas down with stingy post defense. He averaged three blocks over his last three games, which could spell trouble for the Jayhawks, who rank 136th nationally in field goal percentage, making 44 percent of their shots.