The NCAA MIDWEST Region will display some exciting matchups and with the UC Davis Aggies defeating the North Carolina Central Eagles (67-63), all teams are ready to Dance!!!
Check out all the Midwest Region Matchups:
# 1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. # 16 UC Davis Aggies
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The #1 Kansas Jayhawks (28-4) will dance for the 28th consecutive time at the NCAA final tournament. After clinching their 13th straight Big 12 regular season title, the Jayhawks entered the conference tournament and got upset by TCU in the quarterfinals with 82-85. Some might say this showed vulnerability of the Jayhawks, but in fact this could do them good, leaving some extra days to rest for the players before they tip-off the NCAA tournament. This will be the Jayhawks 46th all-time NCAA final tournament.
The #16 UC Davis Aggies (23-12) fought their way into the Round of 64 after defeating the UNC Central with 67-63 on Wednesday in one of the four play-in games. Prior to the win, the Aggies have clinched the Big West Conference tournament trophy defeating UC Irvine with 50-47. The Aggies are the underdog in this one, but they won’t let down their guards that easily.
# 8 Miami Florida Hurricanes vs. # 9 Michigan State Spartans
Line: Miami Florida Hurricanes -2 (-110)
Total: 125.5 points (-108 over; -105 under)
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The #8 Miami Florida Hurricanes (21-11) are entering their 9th overall NCAA final tournament and their opponent in the Round of 64 will be the Michigan State Spartans. The Hurricanes are a slight favorite in this matchup, but it is not because of their offensive performances (69.4 ppg) but rather due to the fact that they are capable of locking teams down which is the main reason the Hurricanes counted to 21 wins overall. Best example of their defensive strength came in their meetings with the North Carolina Tar Heels who scored only 62 points back in January, than Duke who put up 50 points and Virginia who managed to score 48 points in their loss to the Hurricanes.
The #9 Michigan State Spartans (19-14) will try to reconcile after the Big Ten Conference 58-63 loss in the Championship game to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. In their 31st overall NCAA tournament appearance and 20th straight, the Spartans will try to pass by the first rounds opponent, the Miami Hurricanes and most likely square it off with the Kansas Jayhawks in the next round. Considering their 23-7 record in the opening round, and the fact that the Spartans (under Coach Tom Izzo) hold a 13-10 record when they are the under seeded team, the Spartans chances to advancing into the next round look very optimistic, with the possibility that this could be one of the upsets of the first round.
# 5 Iowa State Cyclones vs. # 12 Nevada Wolf Pack
Line: Iowa State Cyclones -6 (-105)
Total: 155 points (-105 over; -103 under)
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The #5 Iowa State Cyclones (23-10) will try to shake the curse off that the #5 seed team has high chances of losing to the #12 seed when the go against the Nevada Wolf Pack on Thursday in the Round of 64. The Cyclones have entered the final tournament after dominant performance in the BIG 12 Conference tournament defeating West Virginia in the title game with 80-74. Prior to their conference tournament, the Cyclones have won 6 of their last 7 conference games and including the 3 conference tournament wins that makes it 9 of their last 10…. Perfect timing, right!!!
The#12 Nevada Wolf Pack (28-6) will head to Milwaukee where they will try to pull another #12 over #5 upset, something that has already been done 46 times in the NCAA tournament history. The Wolf Pack have most recently claimed the Mountain West Conference title, defeating the Colorado State Rams with 79-71 in the Championship game. This will be the Wolf Packs first trip to the Big Dance in the last 10 years.
# 4 Purdue Boilermakers vs. # 13 Vermont Catamounts
Line: Purdue Boilermakers -9 (-109)
Total: 134.5 points (-105 over; -103 under)
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The # 4 Purdue Boilermakers (25-7) hope to finally put an end to their NCCA tournament winning drought. Over their last two trips to the Big Dance, the Boilermakers had a solid points advantage going into the closing minutes of the game, but both times suffered an overtime loss. This trip should put an end to that streak and led by the superb Caleb Swanigan (18.5 ppg and 12.3 rpg) the Boilermakers hope to go deep into the tournament. Their potential opponent in the next round is the winner between the Iowa State and the Nevada Wolf Pack.
The #13 Vermont Catamounts (29-5) claimed their 6th America East Conference title taking down the Albany Great Danes in the conference title game, earning the automatic ticket to the Final tournament. More importantly, with the win over the Great Danes, the Catamounts extended their winning streak to 21 straight, which is longest active streak in the nation.
# 6 Creighton Blue Jays vs. # 11 Rhode Island Rams
Line: Creighton Blue Jays -1 (+110)
Total: 141.5 points (-108 over/under)
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The #6 Creighton Blue Jays (25-9) came up short of winning the BIG East Conference title after suffering a 60-74 loss to the Villanova Wildcats in the final game. The Blue Jays have not been too consistent in the second part of their conference play, but still got a high #6 seed in their 20th All-time NCAA tournament appearance. The Blue Jays have faced the Rams only once, back in 2008 at the NIT with the Blue Jays celebrating a 74-73 win.
The #11 Rhode Island Rams (24-9) punched their ticket into the tournament winning the A-10 Conference title game against the VCU Rams with 70-63 final score. The Rams will go into the tournament with a 8 game winning streak and first Big Dance appearance in the last 18 years.
# 3 Oregon Ducks vs. # 14 Iona Gaels
Line: Oregon Ducks -15 (-105)
Total: 151.5 points (-106 over/under)
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The # 3 Oregon Ducks (29-5) had high hopes entering the Pac-12 Conference tournament game against the Arizona Wildcats, but eventually their hopes diminished as the Wildcats took control of the game late and secured the Conference tournament title with an 83-80 win over the Ducks. However, despite the loss, the Ducks still got a high seed and high chances to advance into the next. This will be the Ducks fifth straight final tournament appearance. Last season they made it into the Elite eight.
The #14 Iona Gaels (22-12) defeated Siena with 87-86 in the final game of the MAAC tournament championship game and punched their automatic ticket to the Big Dance for the second straight year and 12th overall.
# 7 Michigan Wolverines vs. # 10 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Line: Michigan Wolverines – 2 (-110)
Total: 154.5 points (-105 over; -108 under)
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The #7 Michigan Wolverines (24-11) went on to win 4 games in 4 days eventually winning the Big Ten Tournament with a 71-56 thrashing of the Wisconsin Badgers in the final conference game. This was the Wolverines 2nd Conference title in the school program since the inaugural year back in 1998, and their 27th all-time NCAA tournament appearance. Their biggest most recent success at the Big Dance came in 2013 when the Wolverines appeared in the Title game against the Louisville Cardinals.
The #10 Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-12) will also see the tournament for the 27th time in their school history. The Cowboys fall shorts to Iowa State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament. The Cowboys are going into this matchup with a three game losing streak and will have a tough task against the Wolverines who are riding a 5 game winning streak.
# 2 Louisville Cardinals vs. # 15 Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Line: Louisville Cardinals -19.5 (-111)
Total: 134 points (-108 over/under)
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The # 2 Louisville Cardinals (24-8) bad luck in the ACC tournament continued after suffering an mild upset with a 77-81 loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the quarterfinals of the Conference tournament. The Cardinals are now 0-2 in their 2nd ACC tournament appearance. Despite a very solid season, their loss to the Blue Devils prevented the Cardinals of receiving the #1 seed in their 42nd NCAA final tournament appearance. They should not have too many troubles overcoming their first obstacle, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
The #15 Jacksonville State Gamecocks (20-14) turned around their program in only 1 year after holding a record of 8-23 in the last season, the Gamecocks went on to record 20 wins and 14 losses, earning the right to play at the big table. Prior to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance, the Gamecocks won the Ohio Valley Conference by defeating the UT- Martin with 66-55.
