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MIDWEST BRACKET

My Pick: Taking a look now at the Midwest Bracket in the NCAA Tournament this bracket by far is the deepest not only in quality teams but in quality NBA prospects. The number 1 overall seed is featured in this bracket, that being the Kansas Jayhawks (32-2). With an experienced starting lineup featuring Sherron Collins, 15.6 ppg 4.4 apg and center Cole Aldrich 11.2 ppg 9.9 rpg the Kansas Jayhawks are my pick to make it out of the Midwest Bracket. The Jayhawks two loses came on the road to Tennesse and Oklahoma State by a combined margin of 15 points between the two games. My pick to win it all faces off in the first round against the Patriot League champion Lehigh Mountain Hawks (22-10).

Team to Watch: Keep an eye on the 10 seed Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (22-12) who come in with a sub .500 record in the ACC as they have a favorable matchup against the 7 seed Oklahoma State Cowboys (22-10) and then would most likely see the 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (27-7) who have been playing well of late but who I also think is the worst of the 2 seeds in the tournament. The Jackets are my surprise team in this bracket to get to the Sweet 16.

First Round Upsets: In the first round I have a couple of mild upsets with the for-mentioned Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets knocking off Oklahoma State. I also have the 9 seed Northern Iowa (28-4) from the Missouri Valley Confrence knocking off 8 UNLV (25-8). My biggest upset is the 11 seeded San Diego Aztecs (25-8) over Bruce Pearl's 6th seeded Tennessee Volunteer (25-8) ball club. Granted the Vols upset Kansas earlier this season but with all of the off the court problems Tennessee has had this year I believe that it is the Aztecs game to lose.

Players to Watch:  G Greivis Vasquez (MD) 19.5 ppg 6.3 apg 

                                          G James Anderson (OKST) 22.6 ppg 5.8 rpg

                                          F Derrick Favors (GT) 12.5 ppg 8.5 rpg 2.1 bpg

                                         G-F Evan Turner (OSU) 20.3 ppg 9.2 rpg 5.9apg