The 2018-19 NCAA season came to a close and the bracket is finally set. March Madness has taken over the nation once again. The first round officially tips in less than a day and opening weekend is considered one of the most exciting times of the year. Brackets will be filled out, busted, yelled over, and frantically torn apart after every game. Sports fans from everywhere hang on each game and will keep a close eye on the Midwest region where North Carolina sits atop the seeds.
2019 NCAA Tournament: Midwest Region Preview
The favorite here is North Carolina (UNC) but there are a few other teams in the region that could easily slip past. Kentucky sits at the two seed and has a fairly easy path to the Elite Eight. They could face Wofford and their relentless attack from three, and a possible matchup against third seed Houston as well. The top half featuring UNC poses a tougher path where SEC tournament champion Auburn, the fifth seed, would most likely meet up with 4th seed Kansas in the battle to take on Roy Williams and company. Earning the top seed is a great place to be, but sometimes it’s easy to overlook those lower seeds, especially if they are playing well at the end of the season.
A Wild Weekend
Over the course of four days, we will see only four teams advance. The first and second round games take place in a span of those four days across each region. Basketball is on television constantly throughout that time and mobile apps buzz with good and bad news perpetually at this time of the year. This region features the SEC, ACC, Big 12, AAC, and the mid-major conferences.
Game to Watch
(7) Wofford Terriers vs. (10) Seton Hall Pirates
The Terriers have shown an outstanding ability to shoot and hit a high percentage of three-pointers per game. This season they shot an astounding 41.6% from three and their leading scorer, Fletcher Magee, attempts just over ten threes per game. The Pirates, on the other hand, have notable wins over Kentucky, Maryland, and St. Johns. They have the experience versus higher rated programs and could simply outplay the Terriers if they can stop the three.
Potential Upset Alert
Outside of the 7-10 and 8-9 matchups which don’t really count as upsets, there aren’t necessarily any upsets to look out for. It’s almost never safe to pick the favorites all the way but this region has some solid seeding. Usually, this sort of thinking leads to shredded brackets. Rewind to Virginia’s misfortune last year. Yet, this region might be safe to take the top seeds to the final.
Players to Watch
PJ Washington – Power Forward – Kentucky
The sophomore found his footing this season and has been the cornerstone of this young UK team. His athleticism and veteran status on this squad made him the leader and one of the premier scorers on the team. His draft stock is quite high and may improve greatly depending on his play.
Cameron Johnson – Guard/Forward- North Carolina
UNC has had an up and down season and fell short to Duke and Zion Williamson. He’s averaging 16.9 points per game this season and is also shooting above 50%. Currently, he is projected in the mid first round, which means he could fall to a serious playoff contender. UNC should have an advantage as the top seed but may face a tougher path than two seed UK. Johnson has a great opportunity to close out his senior season by hanging another banner from the rafters.
Early Predictions
Although they failed to score another SEC Championship, UK may be the favorite to come out of this region. Although this team has fallen a few times unexpectedly throughout the season, they’re still a great pick to advance. On the top bracket, UNC is, of course, a favorite in their own right. However, they will have a tougher path to the final going through four seed Kansas.
There is always upset potential but this region may just be as it seems, an eventual matchup between a one and two seed. If you’re picking a Final Four representative, you can’t go wrong with either of these teams. The Midwest region might be a straightforward pick, but still has plenty of exciting matchups to watch.
Main Image:
MORGANTOWN, WV – JANUARY 27: PJ Washington #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the hoop against Wesley Harris #21 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on January 27, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
