NCAA Midwest Region analysis: Kentucky and everybody else
Kentucky probably didn’t even notice who else is in the Midwest Region.
The Wildcats, the NCAA Tournament’s overall No. 1 seed by a long shot, will open play in Louisville, Ky., against the winner of the opening-round game between Manhattan and Hampton.
No top seed has ever lost to a No. 16 seed, and if that streak ends with a second triumph by the Jaspers or Pirates it would mark the biggest upset in college basketball history.
Kentucky, 34-0, continued to take its bid for perfection seriously by manhandling Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference Tournament title game Sunday, as Willie Cauley-Stein led the way with 15 points, 11 rebounds and a tournament MVP trophy.
How much of a favorite is Kentucky to win the regional and advance to the Final Four for a second straight year? The region’s second seed is Kansas, a team the Wildcats played in November and beat by 32 points.
The region has its share of intrigue. Third-seeded Notre Dame is coming off an Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship, taking down North Carolina and Duke along the way.
Two teams that some bracket analysts had as bubble teams — Indiana and Texas — are in the Midwest. The Hoosiers are a No. 10 seed, the Longhorns a No. 11.
A year ago, Wichita State arrived in the NCAA Tournament with the same perfect record as Kentucky, and it was the Wildcats who knocked the Shockers out of the tournament in each team’s second game.
This time, if seventh-seeded Wichita State can get past Indiana, a possible matchup with second-seeded Kansas awaits.
The Jayhawks and Shockers haven’t played since 1993 — Kansas’ choice. But they have a history in the NCAA Tournament. Wichita State won a one-point thriller in a 1981 Sweet 16 game.
To reach Blair Kerkhoff, call 816-234-4730 or send email to bkerkhoff@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BlairKerkhoff.
BEST MATCHUP
Fifth-seeded West Virginia needs to be on upset alert against No. 12 Buffalo, which is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
UPSET SPECIAL
No. 11 Texas takes down sixth-seeded Butler, if the Longhorns play like they did in the Big 12 Tournament.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Take your pick of Kentucky’s probable NBA Draft lottery selections, 7-foot freshman center Karl-Anthony Towns or 7-foot junior Willie Cauley-Stein. Maybe 6-10 freshman Trey Lyles could sneak into the lottery as well.
FINAL FOUR PICK
Kentucky over Notre Dame
This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 7:16 PM with the headline "NCAA Midwest Region analysis: Kentucky and everybody else."