Sportz Assassin's Midwest Region Preview

TEAM TO BEAT: Illinois. I love the Illini. They boast two NBA players who are the best inside-outside tandem in college basketball Ayo Dosunmu is having a fantastic season, scoring 20 ppg and recording a couple triple doubles late in the year. Kofi Cockburn is a paint menace who is tough to move around. 

TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE REGION: Illinois. Like I said, I'm a fan! 

TEAM TO WATCH FOR (LESS THAN A NO. 3 SEED): Oklahoma State. Cade Cunningham is likely the top overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and he's been playing lights out of late. Their current streak of playing eight consecutive games against ranked opponents (which they were 6-2 in) ironically ends with their first NCAA tournament game. 

YOUR CINDERELLA: Virginia Tech. There are some good candidates in this region, but Virginia Tech could make a run. They are very physical and athletic and you feel it the next morning when you play them. Mike Young can coach and get a somewhat doable bracket.   

WORST SEEDING ERROR: Syracuse. Buddy Boeheim has been electric of late, hitting nearly 50% of his threes over the last week. It took Virginia a buzzer beating three to knock the Orange out of the ACC tournament. Oh, and the last two times they entered the tournament as a double-digit seed, they got to the Sweet 16 once an a Final Four the other.     

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Illinois. Illinois has spent some time in Indiana. Their fans won't mind making the quick trip to Indianapolis. 

MUST WATCH GAME: Loyola-Chicago vs Georgia Tech. One of those games where you don't want to root against anybody. We all know Loyola-Chicago's pedigree as a Final Four participant two tournaments ago, and Georgia Tech became the ACC champions despite being built by nobodies who play so hard and work so well together. How can you not love Moses Wright and Jose Alvarado? 

MUST WATCH (POTENTIAL) SECOND ROUND GAME: Oklahoma State vs Tennessee.  There should be three lottery picks playing in that game. Cunningham would go up against Tennessee's Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson. When the erratic Vols play well, they can beat anyone in this field. 

Sportz Assassin's South Region Preview

TEAM TO BEAT: Baylor. The Bears were crushing opponents until a late season pause disrupted their rhythm. They lost to Kansas and then to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament. Don't be alarmed as they boast the best backcourt in the nation. 

TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE REGION: Baylor. They have been the second best team all year long. Baylor does have a tricky bracket to navigate, but they should be able to shine to the Final Four. 

TEAM TO WATCH FOR (LESS THAN A NO. 3 SEED): Texas Tech. The last NCAA tournament game we saw, Texas Tech lost to Virginia in overtime of the 2019 national championship game. This isn't that kind of Red Raiders team, but it is still build on defense, toughness and an ability to make opponents uncomfortable. 

YOUR CINDERELLA: Virginia Tech. There are some good candidates in this region, but Virginia Tech could make a run. They are very physical and athletic and you feel it the next morning when you play them. Mike Young can coach and get a somewhat doable bracket.   

WORST SEEDING ERROR: Florida. Like I've said, we are splitting hairs with the seeding this year since the committee didn't have to consider geography, so I'm going with Florida. They got a 7th seed ahead of North Carolina and Wisconsin? Even their first round opponent, Virginia Tech, could have a gripe.     

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Purdue. The only school from Indiana making it into a tournament held entirely in Indiana. 

MUST WATCH GAME: North Carolina vs Wisconsin. Two contrasting styles with the up tempo Tar Heels against the slower Badgers. There are so many clashes of strengths and weaknesses that this game could really be something to behold. 

MUST WATCH (POTENTIAL) SECOND ROUND GAME: Arkansas vs Texas Tech.  Two coaches smart coaches who have had tournament success going at it in a great chess match. A team that loves to score against one with a great defense. Love it!

Sportz Assassin's East Region Preview

TEAM TO BEAT: Michigan. Up until the last two weeks of the season, the Wolverines have been hanging in that triumvirate with Gonzaga and Baylor. This is a talented offensive team with a bit on an edge coming into this tournament. 

TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE REGION: Alabama. The Crimson Tide are one of the best two way teams in the country. They are aggressive on both ends of the court and have a guy in Herbert Jones that can be everywhere. Well coached and the lone power conference school to win both the regular season and conference titles. 

TEAM TO WATCH FOR (LESS THAN A NO. 3 SEED): Florida State. This is a typical Leonard Hamilton team. They are tall, interchangeable and athletic.  Freshman sensation Scottie Barnes is a 6'9 point guard who is coming off the bench. 

YOUR CINDERELLA: Michigan State. Yeah, it sucks when you see a team with this kind of branding labeled a Cinderella, but it applies this year. They are talented ... they just don't play up to it. They've also dealt with players in and out of the lineup so continuity has been a problem. They can get UCLA in the First Four and BYU in the first round. From there, they can bang with Texas and get to the Sweet 16. Tom Izzo is a tournament legend, so it is tough to sell him short.   

WORST SEEDING ERROR: Georgetown. Sure, they are 13-12 ... but they did win the Big East tournament. Shouldn't that get them an 11th seed ahead of a First Four matchup between Michigan State and UCLA?     

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Michigan State. Not only will Spartans fans be able to come down into Indiana to watch their team play, but their First Four game is in Mackey Arena ... a place they played a month ago when they lost to Purdue. That little bit of familiarity will help. 

MUST WATCH GAME: Michigan State vs UCLA. Yes, a First Four game is the best matchup we have set. Two power programs who have had a skittish season facing off on a national stage Thursday night. 

MUST WATCH (POTENTIAL) SECOND ROUND GAME: Michigan vs LSU.  Michigan is without Isaiah Livers and will have to face Cameron Thomas, who led all freshmen in scoring this year. Michigan could be the first No. 1 seed to fall. 

Sportz Assassin's West Region Preview

TEAM TO BEAT: Gonzaga. The Zags are attempting to be the first team since Indiana in 1976 to finish the season as undefeated national champions. This is a legit national title contender and should be the overwhelming favorite. They deserve this.

TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE REGION: Gonzaga. Looking at the region, I can only see a few teams capable of beating the Bulldogs ... and they won't reach those teams until the regional final. 

TEAM TO WATCH FOR (LESS THAN A NO. 3 SEED): USC. I'm not in love with the Trojans, but they are very tall and athletic and certainly can topple a COVID-reeling Kansas and cause Iowa some trouble.  

YOUR CINDERELLA: Ohio. Ohio will go up against a Virginia team that had to drop out of the ACC tournament due to COVID protocols. Who knows how ready the Cavs will be to play on Saturday. They would then get either a Creighton team that can be erratic (I can still hear that thud from the Big East title game) or a UCSB squad they're capable of beating. The Bobcats' Jason Preston is a stud who I hope gets a few games in the dance to show his stuff.   

WORST SEEDING ERROR: Missouri. Let me start off by saying that the committee wasn't bound by some of the issues they come upon in regards to seeding. The geographic restrictions they run into can cause some seeds to bounce around, but with the entire tournament being played in Indiana certainly helped. I'm going with Missouri here just because I feel that they could be flip-flopped with Oklahoma -- not that it would matter.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Iowa. Home court isn't really an issue with everyone playing in Indianapolis, but Iowa is a big contender that is closest to Nap City. That could really help up against Kansas or Gonzaga. 

MUST WATCH GAME: Oklahoma vs Missouri. Both of these teams have beaten some great squads and have shown they can be very dangerous in this tournament. They've also let a few slip away. Watch for Austin Reaves to have a big game.

MUST WATCH (POTENTIAL) SECOND ROUND GAME: Kansas vs USC.  Kansas has had COVID issues of late, but if they are all in then the matchup between David McCormack and USC's Evan Mobley should be great.