[Regional Breakdowns: East | South | Midwest | West]
With the sphere for the 2024 males’s NCAA match now official, we’re breaking down every group within the bracket within the lead-up to March Insanity. Right here’s what you might want to know in regards to the Midwest area.
1. Purdue (+600 to win nationwide title)
Purdue is hoping to do what Virginia did in 2019. A yr after changing into the primary No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed within the first spherical of the NCAA match, the Cavaliers received all of it. Final yr, Purdue turned the second No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 when it fell to Fairleigh Dickinson.
Star middle Zach Edey is once more a Participant of the 12 months favourite after averaging 24 factors a recreation this season. He additionally averages almost 12 rebounds a recreation. Sophomore guard Braden Smith escaped severe damage after he went down grabbing his proper knee within the Large Ten match recreation. He dishes out over seven assists a recreation. Purdue shoots over 40% from behind the 3-point line and in addition has a dominant massive man. It’s a recipe for March success. We’ll see if it comes collectively.
2. Tennessee (+1500)
Dalton Knecht emerged as a star this season after transferring from Northern Colorado. Knecht has 21 factors per recreation after averaging 20 a recreation within the Large Sky a season in the past. Knecht is the one Vol who averages greater than 10 photographs a recreation and instantly turned UT’s go-to participant when the season started.
That is the ninth season for head coach Rick Barnes at Tennessee and whereas the Volunteers have racked up the regular-season wins in his tenure, they’re nonetheless on the lookout for a deep match run. Tennessee hasn’t made an Elite Eight for the reason that 2010 season when Bruce Pearl was the group’s coach. UT superior to the Candy 16 a season in the past after falling on the primary weekend of the match in every of the earlier two seasons.
3. Creighton (+3000)
The Blue Jays boast three go-to scorers on an offense that’s among the finest within the nation.
Baylor Scheierman leads the group with 18.4 factors a recreation, whereas Trey Alexander averages 17.6 a recreation and middle Ryan Kalkbrenner averages 17 a recreation.
General, Creighton shoots over 60% from contained in the arc as a group and almost 49% from the sphere. A hidden weapon for the Blue Jays could also be their capability to not foul. Creighton ranks first within the nation with 362 fouls dedicated all season.
4. Kansas (+4000)
Sure, the Jayhawks are 40-1 lengthy photographs to win the NCAA match. That’s for good motive; this can be a Kansas group that hasn’t appeared able to making a deep NCAA match run for some time now.
All of it comes right down to the well being of Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar for the Jayhawks. They each missed the Large 12 match — a one-and-done affair that was a blowout loss to Cincinnati — as Dickinson injured his shoulder in opposition to Houston within the regular-season finale and McCullar has been coping with a knee damage. If KU’s two stars are wholesome and efficient, Kansas could make some noise on this area. Dickinson may be very acquainted with Edey from his time at Michigan.
5. Gonzaga (+6000)
The Bulldogs have been 11-5 after a loss to Santa Clara on Jan. 11. Since then, they ripped off a 14-2 run to finish the season and get a stable seed within the NCAA match.
Gonzaga averages almost 85 factors per recreation and is led by Graham Ike and Anton Watson. Ike shoots over 60% from the sphere and Watson makes virtually 58% of his makes an attempt. The Zags aren’t an incredible 3-point capturing group, however make up for it with how efficient they’re near the basket.
6. South Carolina (+10000)
The Gamecocks made an enormous leap from 2022-23 in head coach Lamont Paris’ second season in Columbia. After going 11-21 a season in the past, South Carolina completed fifth within the SEC this season and improved in each metric.
South Carolina is led by Meechie Johnson and B.J. Mack and is a group that prefers to play slowly. The Gamecocks rank 354th out of 362 in KenPom’s adjusted tempo rankings. KenPom additionally thinks South Carolina has gotten fortunate this season. Solely Tarleton State has a better luck ranking — a metric that measures the deviation in a group’s precise successful proportion and its anticipated successful file.
7. Texas (+10000)
Talking of luck, the Longhorns can take into account themselves fortunate they scored a No. 7 seed on Sunday. Texas was underwhelming for many of the season and completed eighth within the Large 12 with a 9-9 convention file.
In case you’re an off-the-cuff faculty basketball fan who actually pays consideration solely throughout March Insanity, you’ll discover a well-recognized face with the Longhorns. Former Oral Roberts star Max Abmas is now at Texas. He’s the group’s main scorer with 17 factors per recreation.
8. Utah State (+12500)
The Aggies are led by ahead Nice Osobor. The junior from England averages 18 factors and 9.2 rebounds a recreation and leads Utah State in each classes. The Aggies are among the finest capturing groups in faculty basketball regardless of their poor 3-point capturing. Utah State shoots simply 33% from deep but in addition takes simply 19 3s a recreation as Osobor is the main target of its offense.
9. TCU (+15000)
The Horned Frogs have received their first recreation of the match in every of the previous two seasons and have received at the very least 20 video games in six of Jamie Dixon’s eight seasons in Fort Value.
Senior ahead Emanuel Miller averages 16 factors a recreation and leads the group with six rebounds a contest. And if you wish to really feel actually previous, the group additionally boasts senior guard Jameer Nelson Jr. Sure, he’s the son of former St. Joseph’s and NBA guard Jameer Nelson.
10. Virginia (+25000)
The Cavaliers have been a considerably shocking inclusion within the NCAA match discipline. Virginia completed third within the ACC this season however was simply 2-7 in Quad 1 video games. Followers of Large East groups like St. John’s and Seton Corridor can argue their groups had a greater résumé than the Cavaliers.
If Tuesday evening’s play-in recreation in opposition to Colorado State is the primary time you’ve watched Virginia all season, this group seems to be rather a lot like earlier Virginia groups. The Cavaliers nonetheless play very slowly and pragmatically.
10. Colorado State (+25000)
The Rams are certainly one of six Mountain West groups within the match and snuck in because the bubble obtained squeezed throughout convention championship week. In case you like skilled groups in March, then you need to be intrigued by Colorado State’s roster. The Rams’ 5 main scorers are all seniors. Isaiah Stevens averages over 16 factors per recreation and Joel Scott shoots 63% from contained in the arc.
11. Oregon (+25000)
The Geese have been one of many final bid stealers of convention championship week as they beat Colorado for the Pac-12 title on Saturday evening. They’re additionally the highest-seeded convention match champ on this area; the 11 groups seeded forward of them are all at-large bids.
Senior middle N’Faly Dante leads the group with 16 factors and 9 rebounds a recreation as he shoots a exceptional 70% from the sphere.
12. McNeese State (+50000)
Will Wade is again within the NCAA match. The previous LSU head coach ousted as a part of the FBI investigation into faculty basketball is now in cost at McNeese State. The Cowboys beat VCU, UAB and Michigan this season and misplaced only one recreation to a Southland opponent all season. Guard Shahada Wells averages 18 factors a recreation and shoots 40% from behind the arc. The matchup with Gonzaga could possibly be an offensive showcase.
13. Samford (+100000)
Samford is within the NCAA match for the primary time since 2000 and is about as much as be a March darling if it will probably knock off Kansas. The Bulldogs shoot over 39% from behind the 3-point line and pressure 10 steals a recreation. Solely 4 groups common greater than Samford’s 86 factors a recreation too.
14. Akron (+100000)
Akron received the MAC match in gorgeous trend after Kent State took the lead late earlier than a participant mistakenly dedicated a foul that led to game-winning free throws for the Zips. Enrique Freeman is a double-double machine with 18.6 factors and 12.9 rebounds a recreation. He’ll have a tricky take a look at inside in opposition to Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner.
15. Saint Peter’s (+200000)
The 2022 match darling is again within the discipline after taking down Fairfield for the MAAC title on Saturday. The Peacocks received their three MAAC match video games by a mixed 9 factors.
This yr’s group seems to be rather a lot completely different than the one which captured hearts across the nation two seasons in the past. Sophomore Corey Washington is the group’s main scorer and rebounder with 16.5 factors and 6.6 boards per recreation.
16. Montana State (+200000)
It’s the third consecutive match look for the Bobcats, although they’ll should win a recreation to advance to the primary spherical this time. That’s what occurs whenever you go .500 in convention play earlier than successful your convention match. Senior guard Robert Ford averages 16 factors and over 7 rebounds a recreation.
16. Grambling (+200000)
Welcome to the Large Dance, Grambling. Good to see you. It’s the primary match berth for the Tigers as they’ve received 20 video games in back-to-back seasons for the primary time. Because of a non-conference schedule that included a nine-game dropping streak, Grambling has truly been outscored by its opponents this season. Main scorer Dozier Kintavious averages 13 factors in 27 minutes a recreation.