NCAA Tournament - Midwest Region

I saved this for last because, as it does every year Georgetown makes the tournament, my bias inevitably comes in to play. I'm particularly upset because they SHOULD HAVE been the 2 seed in Duke's region and Villanova should've been the 3 in this one... but I digress. One thing is for certain about this region: it is an absolute MINEFIELD (or as Clark Kellogg put it, the "bang bus" bracket). It makes no sense that Kansas is awarded the #1 overall seed and their prize is this bracket. But I won't dwell on it too much. What this HAS done is provide us with the most competitive region of the four, and for that, I am thankful.

FAVORITE
Kansas is the top overall seed for good reason. They had the best season out of any team in the country. They were the most balanced team in the country, only losing twice all year. Cole Aldrich will probably be a first team All-American, and Sherron Collins won't be far behind. Xavier Henry will be a freshman All-American. I could keep going, too.

Their trouble starts when their shots stop falling, which has happened at times throughout the year. Sherron Collins is far from bulletproof, and when the offense is struggling, he decides to take over, for better or for worse. They won't survive this type of play against whoever comes out of the bottom half of this region.

NEXT IN LINE
Ohio State and Georgetown are the clear challengers. OSU is the obvious choice, they're hot and Evan Turner is earning the National POY honors he's sure to receive. He's far from alone though, as most people seem to overlook. Georgetown is firing on all cylinders. My concern for them at the beginning of the year was depth; Greg Monroe, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman were always going to perform, but Jason Clark, Julian Vaughn and Hollis Thompson have really stepped up as the season has progressed.

SLEEPER
I don't really see one, if I had to choose I'd take Oklahoma State; Georgia Tech being a close second. Whoever wins that game will give Ohio State a run for their money. GT with Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors (who has greatly improved over the last month) will be tough to handle inside. Few teams have one big man as good as Favors and Lawal. I like OK St though because their guards are better, and James Anderson is one of the best in the country. Plus, the ACC was HORRENDOUS and while I'm not a fan of the Big XII either this year, they were better.

WINNER
Georgetown. Bias aside, as long as Chris Wright doesn't fall off from where he's at right now, I just don't see Kansas beating them. Aldrich might get first team All-America, but Greg Monroe is the best center in the country. He's motivated (if I hear one more "expert" question his drive I'm going to stab somebody) and can affect games in any way imaginable. On top of that Chris Wright is playing flawlessly at the point, and Austin Freeman is one of the most efficient scorers in the country. Kansas is a great team, but the perception of how good they are has been inflated (by playing in a weak Big XII), not too much, but to the point where this would seem impossible, and it's not. Georgetown's defense will take Kansas out of rythm and Chris Wright will win the point guard/turnover battle with Sherron Collins. Greg Monroe MOP.