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.