Leading up to the first round of the NCAA tournament, The Chronicle will preview one of the four regions in the bracket, touching on the true contenders in the region and potential bracket-busting Cinderellas. After starting with the South, we now move on to the Midwest: The No.1 seed: North Carolina It was just two years ago when North Carolina came home with a ring, although that may have been overshadowed after the Tar Heels got booted out of the tournament after the second round last year. North Carolina ended the regular season as second in the ACC, as the Tar Heels were able to beat top teams like Duke. UNC also had a high reputation for cleaning the glass throughout the season, with top rebounder Luke Maye contributing with 10.5 rebounds a game. Part of North Carolina’s success this season can be attributed to the team dynamic on the floor. The Tar Heels had a balanced starting line-up, with both veterans and new additions to the court. Seniors Maye, Cameron Johnson, and Kenny Williams dominated all around the floor putting up shots inside the paint and even backing up to sink treys. Coby White proved himself throughout the season, even breaking freshman school records when he tallied three 30-point games. Although North Carolina had a successful season, they had a few bumps along the way. The Tar Heels were unable to beat Duke for a third time, losing their first game to the Blue Devils in the ACC tournament. The other contenders: set an even playing field North Carolina’s performance in the tournament could go either way—especially with intimidating Kentucky in their region. The Wildcats are a solid team that relies a lot on an unstoppable trio of great shooters: PJ Washington, Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro. The Wildcats were able to close out their season as second in the SEC, but the team has taken some big hits. A couple of notable losses were against Duke and Tennessee, and the Wildcats lost by over 30 points to the former and by 19 to the latter. These hits in a sea of successes show that the Wildcats have had a pretty similar season to UNC and that a game against them could go either way. No.3 Houston finished as first in the American conference and it’s no surprise with their impressive record. The Cougars had an overall 31 wins, with a 15-win streak to start of the season. Although their competition wasn’t too difficult, they did bring in some big wins against Oregon, Oklahoma State and LSU. The potential Cinderella: Georgia State Based on No. 14 Georgia State’s history of upsets, they could potentially knock No. 3 Houston out of the tournament. Get Overtime, all Duke athletics Signup for our editorially curated, weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time. It wouldn’t be the first time the Panthers have taken out a three seed, as they upset Baylor back in 2015. Georgia State delegates on the floor, with consistent numbers all around their starting lineup. Their five starters all contribute eleven or more points per contest, with D’Marcus Simonds not too far ahead with 18.4 points per game. The secret lies in its 3-point shooting as the team averages out at almost a 40 percent success rate. If the Panthers can reel off multiple shots from beyond the arc, they have a chance to pull off an unlikely upset. The regional narrative: Kentucky takes the win again UNC will likely match-up with Kentucky in the Elite Eight, which could knock them out of the tournament. The Tar Heels took on the Wildcats earlier on in the season in a non-conference game that Kentucky controlled and won by 12 points. Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that North Carolina beat Virginia in the regular season. The Chronicle regrets the error.<doc-sep>USA TODAY Sports breaks down the NCAA Midwest Regional. Best first-round matchup: Wofford-Seton Hall. The selection committee rewarded No. 7 Wofford for a terrific season with a very nice seed. Now, can the Terriers capitalize against a more athletic first-round opponent? Wofford is fueled by 3-pointers – they rank No. 2 nationally, hitting 41.6 percent – which make the Terriers extremely dangerous. Meanwhile, led by Myles Powell, Seton Hall has been erratic, which is why it fell onto the bubble in the final weeks. But the Pirates beat Kentucky and went 3-1 against Big East rivals Marquette and Villanova. Key for the Pirates could be getting help for Powell. Potential upset: It’s never a bad idea to pick a No. 12 to beat a 5, and New Mexico State fits the bill as a dangerous No. 12. The Aggies, who won the WAC’s regular-season and tournament championships, have won 19 consecutive games; they do it with defense and rebounding and a big dose of 3-pointers. Although Trevelyn Queen scored 27 points in the WAC Tournament final against Grand Canyon, no player averages as many as 12 points. Included on their resume is a near upset of Kansas. After a midseason swoon, Auburn got hot late and played very well in winning the SEC Tournament – a 20-point victory against Tennessee in the final – and led by Jared Harper, they force turnovers and score in transition. But the Tigers’ reliance on the 3-pointer can be problematic. This could come down to which team is hot from deep. REGIONAL BREAKDOWN: East | Midwest | South | West TOO HIGH OR LOW? :Five seedings the selection committee got wrong BRACKET TIPS:Everything you need to dominate your office pool The sleeper: Iowa State is as hard to decipher as any team in the country. The Cyclones are very talented – with a bevy of potent scorers led by guard Marial Shayok, they might be the Big 12 team with the highest ceiling – but their defense rarely matched the offense. They lost six of their last eight regular-season games, but then won the Big 12 Tournament. For a glimpse of what’s possible, look no further than the way Iowa State dominated Kansas in the championship game. If the Cyclones can replicate that performance, they could play deep into the bracket. NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET: See all 68 March Madness teams PRINTABLE BRACKET: Get yours to fill out here The winner: North Carolina. It’s tempting to take Kentucky, which morphed (like so many of John Calipari’s teams) into something very formidable by the end of the season. But the Tar Heels were this close to beating Duke three times – the last time, in the ACC tournament, with Duke at full strength, Zion Williamson in full effect. North Carolina prefers a fast pace, and with freshman guard Coby White as the catalyst, has the athletes to run away from most opponents. But the Heels can slow down, play physical and win that way, too. No one would be surprised if North Carolina won the national championship -- or at least met Duke again, this time for the ultimate prize. The teams 1. North Carolina Nickname: Tar Heels. Location: Chapel Hill. Record: 27-6, 16-2. Bid: ACC at-large. Last appearance: 2018, lost to Texas A&M in second round. Coach: Roy Williams (77-25 in 28 appearances). Overview: Unaccustomed to second-round departures, the Tar Heels figure to have a lengthier stay this time. They have depth and athleticism at every position, enabling them to maintain their preferred frenetic pace for 40 minutes with fresh legs. You’ll know things are going their way if most of their points are coming from layups and dunks. Perimeter shooting can be spotty. Projected starters: G Cameron Johnson, 6-9, Sr. (16.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 51.1 FG% 46.9 3FG%); G Coby White, 6-5, Fr. (16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 81.4 FT%); F Luke Maye, 6-8, Sr. (14.6 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.5 apg); G Kenny Williams, 6-4, Sr. (8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.6 apg); F Garrison Brooks, 6-9, So. (8.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 56.6 FG%) 2. Kentucky Nickname: Wildcats. Location: Lexington. Record: 27-6, 15-3. Bid: SEC at-large. Last appearance: 2018, lost to Kansas State in Sweet 16. Coach: John Calipari (53-18 in 19 appearances). Overview: After being blown out by Duke in the season opener, they rebounded well to make their typical late-season charge. Their winning formula starts with a plethora of size that helps dominate opponents on the backboard. The size also allows them to take high-percentage shots and force teams to stay out of the interior. The lack of consistent three-point shooting will be a challenge. Projected starters: F PJ Washington, 6-8, So. (14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 51.5 FG%, 41.9 3FG%); G Tyler Herro, 6-5, Fr. (14.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 94.0 FT%); G Keldon Johnson, 6-6, Fr. (13.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg); F Reid Travis, 6-8, Sr. (11.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg) G Ashton Hagans, 6-3, Fr. (7.7 ppg, 4.2 apg). EAST REGION:Bracket analysis, team capsules SOUTH REGION:Bracket analysis, team capsules WEST REGION: Bracket analysis, team capsules 3. Houston Nickname: Cougars. Location: Houston. Record: 31-3, 16-2. Bid: American Athletic at-large. Last appearance: 2018, lost to Michigan in second round. Coach: Kelvin Sampson (13-14 in 14 appearances). Overview: A defense that ranks among the best in the country. An offense powerful enough to score 80 or more points 10 times during the regular season. A veteran and tested roster led by an experienced head coach. Houston is a team very capable of making a run deep into March. One asset that could be a major factor in the tournament: Houston is strong from deep (54th nationally in makes behind the arc during the regular season) and superb at defending the 3-point line. Projected starters: G Corey Davis Jr., 6-1, Sr. (16.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 43.1 FG%, 38.5 3FG%); G Armoni Brooks, 6-3, Jr. (13.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 40.6 FG%, 40.1 3FG%); G Galen Robinson Jr., 6-1, Sr. (8.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 43.6 FG%); F Breaon Brady, 6-8, Sr. (6.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 60.0 FG%); F Fabian White Jr., 6-7, So. (6.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 45.6 FG%). 4. Kansas Nickname: Jayhawks. Location: Lawrence. Record: 25-9, 12-6. Bid: Big 12 at-large. Last appearance: 2018, lost to Villanova in Final Four. Coach: Bill Self (47-19 in 20 appearances). Overview: It’s been a weird season for Kansas, which saw its run of 14 consecutive Big 12 regular-season championships snapped amid injuries and attrition. The Jayhawks retooled with a lineup filled with four freshmen. Dedric Lawson, the fourth-year junior forward (a transfer from Memphis), has been Kansas’ catalyst as a double-double machine. Freshman point guard Devon Dotson has been a steadying force. The Jayhawks were 19-1 at home, but only 6-8 in road or neutral-site games. Projected starters: G Devon Dotson, 6-2, Fr. (11.7 ppg, 3.5 apg); G Quentin Grimes, 6-5, Fr. (7.8 ppg, 1.9 apg); G Ochai Agbaji, 6-5, Fr. (9.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg); F Dedric Lawson, 6-9, Jr. (19.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 49.1 FG%); F David McCormack, 6-10, Fr. (3.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg). 5. Auburn Nickname: Tigers. Location: Auburn, Ala. Record: 26-9, 11-7. Bid: SEC champ. Last appearance: 2018, lost to Clemson in second round. Coach: Bruce Pearl (11-9 in nine appearances). Overview: The Tigers got off a fast start and were in the top 10 before Christmas. Then things went sideways as they split their next 14 games. A fast finish, including a run to the SEC tournament title, has them peaking at the right time. Auburn’s game is to shoot a lot of threes and live with the results. When those fall, the Tigers are dangerous. If they don’t fall, there could be an early exit. Projected starters: G Bryce Brown, 6-3, Sr. (15.7 ppg, 40.2 3FG%, 80.9 FT%); G Jared Harper, 5-11, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 5.9 apg, 81.6 FT%); F Chuma Okeke, 6-8, So. (11.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, 50.2 FG%); F Anfernee McLemore, 6-7, Jr. (6.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) G/F Malik Dunbar, 6-6, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg). 6. Iowa State Nickame: Cyclones. Location: Ames. Record: 23-11, 9-9. Bid: Big 12 champ. Last appearance: 2017, lost to Purdue in second round. Coach: Steve Prohm (4-3 in three appearances). Overview: The Cyclones, who rotate interchangeable parts in a four-guard lineup, can fill it up offensively, averaging almost 78 points with the potential to heat up and run away from opponents – as shown in winning the Big 12 tournament. Their issue is stopping opponents from doing the same; defensively, they’ve been inconsistent at best; while losing six of eight to end the regular season, Iowa State allowed opponents to average 82.7 points in the losses. Senior guard Marial Shayok, an all-Big 12 performer, shoots at a nearly 50 percent clip and 39.6 percent on three-pointers. Sophomore guard Lindell Wigginton provides significant scoring punch off the bench (13.4 ppg). Projected starters: G Nick Weiler-Babb, 6-5, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.0 apg); G Talen Horton-Tucker, 6-4, Fr. (12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.6 apg); G Tyrese Haliburton, 6-5, Fr. (6.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.8 apg; G Marial Shayok, 6-6, Sr. (18.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Michael Jacobson, 6-9, Jr. (11.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg). 7. Wofford Nickname: Terriers. Location: Spartanburg, S.C. Record: 29-4, 18-0. Bid: Southern champ. Last appearance: 2015, lost to Arkansas in first round. Coach: Mike Young (0-4 in four appearances). Overview: This isn’t your ordinary Southern Conference team. The Terriers were perfect in league play and ran through the conference tournament. Each loss was to a Power Five school that made the NCAAs. Wofford lives and dies off the three-point shot, making 41.6% of its attempts, second in the nation. Wofford can surprise if it can stay hot. Projected starters: G Fletcher Magee, 6-4, Sr. (20.5 ppg, 42.8 3FG%, 90.7 FT%); F Cameron Jackson, 6-8, Sr. (14.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 58.1 FG%); G Nathan Hoover, 6-4, Jr. (13.2 ppg, 45.7 3FG%, 89.6 FT%); G Storm Murray, 5-11, So. (7.8 ppg, 3.1 apg, 51.1 FG%, 48.5 3FG%, 84.4 FT%); F Keve Aluma, 6-9, So. (6.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 67.2 FG%). 8. Utah State Nickname: Aggies. Location: Logan. Record: 28-6, 15-3. Bid: Mountain West champ. Last appearance: 2011, lost to Kansas State in first round. Coach: Craig Smith (first NCAA appearance). Overview: In his first year, Smith set the bar pretty high. The renewed energy and enthusiasm he brought is self-evident even without the results on the court. The combination of veterans like Sam Merrill and the rapid development of newcomers like Neemias Queta helped the Aggies turnaround last season’s 8-10 league record. Projected starters: G Sam Merrill, 6-5, Jr. (21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.2 apg, 90.6 FT%); C Neemias Queta, 6-11, Fr. (11.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 54.3 FT%); F Quinn Taylor, 6-8, Sr. (8.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 51.3 FG%); G Brock Miller, 6-6, Fr. (8.0 ppg); G Abel Porter, 6-3, So. (4.9 ppg, 2.7 apg). 9. Washington Nickname: Huskies. Location: Seattle. Record: 26-8, 15-3. Bid: Pac-12 at-large. Last appearance: 2011, lost to North Carolina in second round. Coach: Mike Hopkins (first appearance). Overview: The Huskies ran away with the Pac-12 regular-season title behind the play of Pac-12 player of the year Jaylen Nowell and defensive player of the year Matisse Thybulle. Washington was dominant while playing a 2-3 zone (imported by second-year coach Mike Hopkins, a longtime Syracuse assistant) that is difficult to prepare for. Opponents averaged just 64 points; Washington ranks No. 2 nationally in blocks (5.9) and 10th in steals (8.9). But the Huskies’ offense sometimes disappears. Projected starters: G Jaylen Nowell, 6-4, So. (16.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 44.1 3FG%, 3.2 apg); G Matisse Thybulle, 6-5, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.5 spg; 2.3 bpg); G David Crisp, 6-0, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 2.7 apg); F Noah Dickerson, 6-8, Sr. (12.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 56.0 FG%); F Hameir Wright, 6-9, So. (2.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg). 10. Seton Hall Nickname: Pirates. Location: South Orange, N.J. Record: 20-13, 9-9. Bid: Big East at-large. Last appearance: 2018, lost to Kansas in second round. Coach: Kevin Willard (1-3 in three appearances).<doc-sep>
INDIANAPOLIS — Duke, Tennessee, Virginia and Gonzaga would be the top seeds if the season ended today, according to the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, which conducted its annual selection orientation meeting at NCAA headquarters this week. For the third consecutive year, the meeting included the selection, seeding and full vetting of the top 16 teams, which were unveiled this afternoon on CBS. GET TO KNOW NET: The net rankings and what they mean for the NCAA tournament The No. 2 seeds would be Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and Michigan State, while Purdue, Kansas, Houston and Marquette were voted as the No. 3 seeds, and Iowa St., Nevada, Louisville and Wisconsin rounded out the field. According to committee chair Bernard Muir, there was a strong consensus among the top seven teams on the seed list, while some of the lengthier deliberations centered around the back end of the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 lines. “There was considerable discussion about the order of the top seven schools, but certainly those teams separated themselves from the others at this time,” said Muir, the director of athletics at Stanford. “Duke and Tennessee were essentially 1 and 1a; it was that close. A slight edge in some of the metrics was the difference in Duke getting the overall top seed. Virginia was a solid No. 3 team on the top line, and Gonzaga got the fourth No. 1 seed based largely on the teams they’ve beaten and the quality of the opponents they’ve lost to.” . @TheAndyKatz reacts to the committee's Top 16 #BracketPreview released this morning and discusses his full 68-team bracket. pic.twitter.com/CXvNC2MFJu — NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 9, 2019 Kentucky, with three wins away from home in the upper half of Quadrant 1, had an advantage as the best of the No. 2 seeds, while Michigan’s head-to-head win over North Carolina slotted the Wolverines at No. 6 on the seed list followed by the Tar Heels seventh. DUKE-VIRGINIA: Everything you need to know for this big ACC battle “The final spot on the 2 line came down to Michigan State’s eight Quadrant 1 wins, five of which have come away from home,” said Muir. “While Kansas has a similar number of Quadrant 1 wins as the Spartans, we thought Kansas’s performance on the road, along with the unfortunate season-ending injury to Udoka Azubuike, kept the Jayhawks behind Purdue. At the same time, the abundance of quality wins kept Kansas in front of Houston. If the tournament started today... DUKE would be the No. 1 overall seed! #BracketPreview pic.twitter.com/UkSy4ELr81 — NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 9, 2019 “The debate over which team should also be seeded third came down to Marquette, Iowa State and Nevada. The tipping point for the committee was Marquette’s victories in the upper half of Quadrant 1, particularly against teams that made our top 16 list. Iowa State’s four victories in the first quadrant included three road wins, giving them an edge on Nevada, and Louisville’s considerable success on the road put the Cardinals solidly on our 4 line. While a handful of teams were considered for the final spot, it eventually turned into a two-team race between Wisconsin and Villanova, and the Badgers ended up getting more votes based on having six Quadrant 1 wins, including four away from home.” MARCH MADNESS: Dates and schedule for the 2019 tournament Using existing bracketing principles, the committee assigned Duke to the East regional, which will take place in Washington, D.C. Tennessee was sent to the South regional in Louisville, while Virginia was assigned to the Midwest regional in Kansas City, Missouri, and Gonzaga was sent to the West regional in Anaheim, California. Because teams from the same conference seeded on the top four lines can’t be placed in the same region, and because the top No. 2 seed can’t go to the same region as the overall No. 1 seed, Kentucky could not go to the two closest sites. Therefore, the Wildcats were assigned to their next closest site in Kansas City. Michigan was assigned, initially, to the closest available site, which is Louisville. That, however, changed later in the bracketing process, thanks to a unique set of circumstances. With four ACC teams in the field of 16, those schools had to go to separate regions.