Tourney breakdown: Previewing the Midwest Region
Selection Sunday is officially in the books, and after a one-year absence, the NCAA Tournament is upon us. Ahead of the opening round, theScore previews each region to get you prepared to pick your bracket. After looking at the South and East earlier this week, our attention turns to the Midwest.
The top teams
No. 1 Illinois
Led by the electric Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois may be the most entertaining team in the country. Brad Underwood's Illini enter the event as Big Ten tournament champions for the first time since 2005, the same year they made a run to the national championship. Illinois is red-hot at the moment, having won 14 of its last 15, including six straight over top-10 opponents. While Dosunmu gets most of the headlines, Kofi Cockburn is a star in his own right, averaging 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while locking down the paint. A very interesting matchup in the second round may await Illinois, with in-state school Loyola Chicago a potential opponent.
No. 2 Houston
Houston enters play as arguably the top defensive team in the nation, ranking No. 1 in field-goal percentage allowed at a paltry 37.5%. Kelvin Sampson's outfit pummelled Cincinnati in the AAC tournament final, claiming a 37-point win and grabbing a No. 2 seed in the process. The Cougars are led on offense by former Kansas standout Quentin Grimes, a flashy guard who claimed conference player of the year honors. Houston faces a tricky opening matchup against No. 15 Cleveland State, with a possible defensive battle against No. 7 Clemson awaiting in the second round.
No. 3 West Virginia
Bob Huggins taking West Virginia to the tournament is certainly no shock, but the way this Mountaineers team operates is going to surprise some people. The Big 12 program isn't the usual lockdown defensive team we've grown accustomed to, instead relying on a strong offense to win games this year. Ken Pomeroy has West Virginia ranked No. 11 in the country in offensive efficiency, while it falls to 65th on defense. Miles McBride drives the engine for the Mountaineers, pouring in 15.4 points per game on 39% shooting from deep, while Derek Culver provides the interior presence with 14.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest.
The bracket-busters
No. 4 Oklahoma State
While a No. 4 seed doesn't seem like much of a bracket-buster, only 13 teams from that slot have made the Final Four in the 35-year format of the current tournament. Oklahoma State certainly has the star power to become the 14th thanks to brilliant freshman Cade Cunningham. The projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft was named a first-team All-American earlier in the week after averaging 20.2 points and 6.4 rebounds on the year. The key to the Cowboys making a deep run will be the supporting cast stepping up to help Cunningham. A potential blockbuster meeting with No. 1 Illinois awaits, a matchup that would see Illini coach Brad Underwood face his former team.
No. 8 Loyola Chicago
Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago are back in the tournament after the school's incredible run to the Final Four as the No. 11 seed in 2018. Casual fans will likely remember Cameron Krutwig from that team, as the standout center has become the Ramblers' star. The 6-foot-9 senior leads the team in scoring, assists, rebounds, and blocks. This year's squad relies heavily on defense to get the job done, and it's working - the Ramblers have one of the top units in the country on that side of the ball.
**See full betting preview for Midwest Region**
Players to watch
Quentin Grimes, Houston
Grimes has been a force since transferring from Kansas, winning AAC co-player of the year this season. The steady guard drops 18 points per game and connects on a sparkling 40% of his 3-pointers, a solid improvement over last season's numbers. Grimes isn't just an offensive standout either, as the lockdown guard has provided quality defense for one of the nation's most successful teams this year.
Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
He won't be at Oklahoma State for long, but Cunningham's stop in Stillwater will be remembered for a long time. The highly touted freshman will certainly head to the NBA after this season, but will look to make a deep tournament run first. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder showed his versatile game throughout the season, with his best performance a 40-point effort in an overtime win against rival Oklahoma. Should they meet in the Sweet 16, the matchup between Cunningham and Dosunmu will be must-see TV.
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Dosunmu was already one of the most entertaining players in the country before he was forced to don a Batman-style mask due to a broken nose, but he now looks like an actual superhero on the court. The silky 6-foot-5, 200-pounder pours in 20.7 points per game while also adding 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Earlier this week, he became the first Illini player to be named an AP first-team All-American - no small feat given the history of players to come through the program.
Moses Wright, Georgia Tech
Jose Alvarado of Georgia Tech would be another good option here, but Moses Wright is worthy of your attention when the Yellow Jackets take the court in Indianapolis. The 6-foot-9 senior claimed the prestigious ACC player of the year award thanks to a campaign in which he averaged 17.4 points and eight rebounds per game. Wright was a force down the stretch for Josh Pastner's program, recording 23.5 points and 10 rebounds over a six-game winning streak to end the regular season.