NCAA Tournament: Ranking the teams in the Midwest Region

Top 4 teams in the Region

No. 4 Houston Cougars (31-3)

The other team in this region with 30+ wins. They ran away with the American Athletic Conference during the regular season, and get most of their scoring from the backcourt guards Corey Davis Jr. and Armoni Brooks. The Cougars also excel in defensive opponent shooting percentage.

No. 3 Auburn Tigers (26-9)

The Tiger are a run and shoot team. If they are down big, they’ll jack up 3s; if up big they’ll jack up 3s. It’s really their calling card and helped them capture the SEC Tournament Championship last week. If they connect on 48% or more they’ll expect to see them in the Final Four.

No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats (27-6)

Common fans know this group as “the team that Duke blew out.” They’ve bounced back since then by beating North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisville, and Auburn twice.

As usual in the Calipari era, his young wildcats are growing up right in front of him. Just in time for another recruiting pitch. Anyways, if PJ Washington and Reid Travis are healthy Big Blue Nation will be on the brink of another Final Four appearance.

No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (27-6)

What more is there to say? ACC regular season champs (tie), 17 quad 1 and quad 2 victories, all six losses were against quad 1 opponents, 11-1 in true road games, 9-0 on the road in the ACC, Top 10 strength of schedule both overall and non-conference, plus two wins against Duke a win against Gonzaga.

The Tar Heels have seen it all this year, and have really hit their stride after getting chastened in a home against Louisville back in January. Roy Williams will have his team ready to bring another National Championship back to Chapel Hill.