2009 NCAA Tournament: Midwest Region Preview

Note: This is the first in a series of four regional previews for the NCAA Tournament. The South region comes on Monday, the West region on Tuesday, and the East region on Wednesday.

First Round Thoughts and Predictions

(Philadelphia, PA)—Thursday

#1 Connecticut vs. #16 Chattanooga: Chattanooga comes into the tournament as the Southern Conference champions at 18-16 with no real impressive non-conference wins. The first 16-seed over one-seed upset won't happen here.

Pick: CONNECTICUT

#8 BYU vs. #9 Texas A&M: This is the most intriguing 8/9 matchup out there. BYU averages 77 points a game behind their two guards Lee Cummard and Jimmer Fredette, and that will give Texas A&M trouble. Texas A&M played well towards the end of the season, but stumbled with a terrible loss to Texas Tech in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. Momentum will play a factor in this one and it leads me to pick the team that will probably be the underdog in this one.

Pick: BYU

(Portland, OR)—Thursday

#5 Purdue vs. #12 Northern Iowa: I don't see a 5/12 upset happening here. Northern Iowa lost by 30 to the six-seed in the West, Marquette, and although it will be much closer in this one, they won't overcome the Big 10 Champ Boilermakers.

Pick: PURDUE

#4 Washington vs. #13 Mississippi State: A game that looks easy to pick on paper but after analyzing it becomes a tough choice. Mississippi State comes into the game winning four games in four days to take the SEC title and are without a doubt playing their best basketball of the season. Washington has the game in their backyard and gets 30 points a game from their top two guards. Guard play is so important in the tournament, and that is why Washington will come out on top.

Pick: WASHINGTON

(Boise, ID)—Friday

#6 Marquette vs. #11 Utah State: Utah State knows how to win. Their 30 wins puts them with Memphis as the only 2 NCAA teams with more than 30 entering the tournament. However, they lost to region eight-seed BYU early in the season. Marquette's high powered guard-oriented offense will be too much for them.

Pick: MARQUETTE

#3 Missouri vs. #14 Cornell: Cornell comes in winning the Ivy League at 21-9, but 0-3 against eventual NCAA qualifying opponents. Mizzou comes in 28-6 and Big 12 Champions. This team is the one to watch out for in the tournament, with their defensive pressure and steady play from Demarre Carroll and Leo Lyons.

Pick: MISSOURI

(Kansas City, MO)—Thursday

#7 California vs #10 Maryland: Both of these underachieving teams deserve to play each other in the first round; to put one out of its misery. Cal played its worst game of the season in getting ousted by USC in the Pac-10 tournament while Maryland, after a disappointing regular season, played well in getting to the ACC Semis. It's a tossup in this one and I'm going with my gut.

Pick: MARYLAND

#2 Memphis vs. #15 Cal-State Northridge: Pick: MEMPHIS.

Kind of an anti-climatic ending, isn't it?