Keeping It Heel
Fansided

NCAA Tournament: Ranking the teams in the Midwest Region

By Davis Wallace

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a shot against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a shot against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Members of the Iona Gaels walk off the court defeated after their 67-89 loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the game during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Members of the Iona Gaels walk off the court defeated after their 67-89 loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the game during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Would need miracle runs

No. 16 Iona Gaels (17-15)

This is the fourth straight year that the Gaels have been invited to the big dance. During the regular season, Iona averaged 76.8 points per game and went 12-6 in their conference. They started the season with a 2-9 record, but won 10 straight games from Feb. 10 to now.

No. 15 Northeastern Huskies (23-10)

Northeastern is another good-shooting mid-major team. Starting to catch the trend here? They shoot 48% from the field, and 39% from beyond the arc. Their most notable win came against Alabama (another trend), and they are full of experience. That’s code for upset alert.

No. 14 Abilene Christian Wildcats (27-6)

The Wildcats had the best defense and best 3-point shooting in the Southland Conference this season, resulting in a 14-4 record. They’ve also been undefeated since Feb. 27.

No. 13 Georgia State Panthers (24-9)

Georgia State is one of those teams that live and die by the three-point shot. They also defend the three-pointer very well. In their 12-point loss to Kansas State, they made a sub-par 25% of their threes, and in a 25-point loss to Creighton they shot 21%. Oddly enough, their leading scorer D’Marcus Simonds is their worst three-point shooter.

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