Midwest Region

#1 Kansas Overall Record: 32-2 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 13-2 Tournament Criteria: Big 12 regular season champions, Big 12 Tournament champions Best Player: Cole Aldrich, Center/ Sherron Collins, Guard Biggest Strength: Backcourt and frontcourt talent and depth Biggest Weakness: Perimeter inconsistencies, both offensively and defensively Notes: The Jayhawks have it all: they have upperclassmen leadership with Collins and Aldrich, exceptional guard play with Collins, Xavier Henry, Tyshawn Taylor and Brady Morningstar on the perimeter, excellent front court play and depth with Aldrich, Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris and Thomas Robinson who can come in for some minutes and an experienced Coach in Bill Self. Kansas has been team in the nation all year long- defeating 13 tournament teams in the regular season, while only losing two contests.	#16 Lehigh Overall Record: 22-10 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-1 Tournament Criteria: Patriot League regular season champions, Patriot League Tournament champions Best Player: C.J. McCollum Biggest Strength: Perimeter shooting Biggest Weakness: Youth and inexperience Notes: Lehigh may not have a chance against the Tournament's top overall seed, but this is a growing experience for the Mountain Hawks. They have only played one tournament team all season long, Richmond, on opening night way back in November, so its been a while since Lehigh has played a high-caliber team, nonetheless Kansas. Two of Lehigh's best players are freshmen so this is an experience for the young guys and better preparing them for the future.
#8 UNLV Overall Record: 25-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 4-6 Tournament Criteria: At-large bid, Mountain West Conference Best Player: Tre'Von Willis, Guard Biggest Strength: Guard play Biggest Weakness: Contributions from their frontcourt Notes: UNLV spent some time on the national stage this year after starting the season 12-1, but went through the rigors of the Mountain West during conference play. The team is led by 1st Team All-MWC performer, Tre'Von Willis and 3rd Team G/F, Chace Stanback, both of whom were named to the All-Defensive Team as well.	#9 Northern Iowa Overall Record: 28-4 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 2-0 Tournament Criteria: Missouri Valley regular season champions, Missouri Valley Tournament champions Best Player: Adam Koch, Forward Biggest Strength: Team defense and leadership Biggest Weakness: Offensive fire power Notes: Last season, the Panthers put together a run through the MWV Tournament, ending in an overtime win over Illinois State before a near miss against Purdue in the opening round sent Northern Iowa home. They have an uncanny ability to win games away from home and on neutral courts, which should greatly benefit the team as they travel to Oklahoma City for the 1st Round of Tournament play.
#5 Michigan State Overall Record: 24-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 7-6 Tournament Criteria: Big Ten regular season co-champions, At-large berth Best Player: Kalin Lucas, Guard Biggest Strength: Experience and versatility Biggest Weakness: Post play and front court size Notes: A year removed from the NCAA championship game, Michigan State is back in the field of 65, but this time as a #5 seed, in arguably the Tournament's most difficult bracket. But Tom Izzo-led teams have made the Final Four five times in the last 11 years and while this Spartan team has been rather inconsistent, they definitely have talent and can piece together a run. Their backcourt is filled with players who can go off at anytime- Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Chris Allen, while their front court has one consistent threat, Draymond Green, but he is just 6'6". The versatility of Summers, Green and senior forward Raymar Morgan makes Michigan State a team to watch out for.	# 12 New Mexico State Overall Record: 22-11 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 3-5 Tournament Criteria: Western Athletic Conference Tournament champions Best Player: Jahmar Young, Guard Biggest Strength: Scoring and rebounding Biggest Weakness: Depth Notes: While New Mexico State may be a relative unknown in some basketball circles, we had them as our preseason favorites to take the WAC. Their frontcourt is potent, featuring 6'6" Wendell McKines, 6'8" Troy Gillenwater and 6'11" Hamidu Rahman, who combine for 36 points and 24 rebounds a night. McKines and Gillenwater are inside-outside players who can bang on the low blocks or step outside to the perimeter. But the Aggies two best players are guards in their backcourt- Jahmar Young and Jonathan Gibson. Both shoot and knock down a ton of 3s (175 in the regular season), while also getting to the foul line at a high rate (295 times between the two).
#4 Maryland Overall Record: 23-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 5-6 Tournament Criteria: ACC co-regular season champions, At-large berth Best Player: Greivis Vasquez, Guard Biggest Strength: Senior leadership Biggest Weakness: Frontcourt depth and experience Notes: With four starters returning from last season's NCAA squad, Maryland has a wealth of experience of depth and experience, with the exception of their center. Greivis Vasquez is an All-ACC player who has the ability to take over games in a way that few players in the nation can. He is extremely versatile and despite struggling mightily earlier season, he still led the Terps to an ACC regular season title. His ability to knock down shots under pressure is matched by few.	#13 Houston Overall Record: 19-15 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 2-1 Tournament Criteria: C-USA Tournament champions Best Player: Aubrey Coleman, Guard Biggest Strength: Perimeter shooting Biggest Weakness: Depth behind their two stars Notes: Houston features the nation's leading scorer in the 2009-2010 season, Aubrey Coleman, who is averaging 25.6 points per night, but they also boast Kelvin Lewis, another senior who averages 15.3 points. Between these two guards, they attempt more than half of the Cougars shots on the offensive end (50.6%). Coleman has hit double-figure scoring in every game this season, and scores in a variety of ways, mostly using his physical strength and creativity to outdo opponents within 15 feet of the rim, while Lewis is a 3-point shooter. He led the nation in free-throw attempts (306), while shooting a respectable 75% from the line. Lewis is a jump shooter who's 100 made 3-pointer ranked 9th in the nation.
#6 Tennessee Overall Record: 25-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 3-6 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, SEC Best Player: Wayne Chism, Forward/Center Biggest Strength: Versatility and depth Biggest Weakness: Offensive and defensive post play Notes: Tennessee has big time potential in the NCAA Tournament, or they could wither out in the opening round. Against NCAA Tournament foes, the Vols are just 3-6, but they have knocked off two of the Tournament's #1 seeds. Wayne Chism, Bobby Maze and JP Prince are all senior starters, but it could be sophomore, Scotty Hopson, that will spark the team to a run in March. He has remarkable talent, but his game is far from being a finished product. His perimeter shot is a work in progress, but if he is able to find some consistency from the perimeter, Hopson and the Vols have the power to upset some teams.	#11 San Diego State Overall Record: 25-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 5-5 Tournament Criteria: Mountain West Conference Tournament champions Best Player: Kawhi Leonard, Forward Biggest Strength: Frontcourt play Biggest Weakness: NCAA Tournament Experience Notes: The frontcourt is clearly the Aztecs greatest strength. Their three leading scorers and rebounders are Kawhi Leonard, Billy White and Malcolm Thomas- all athletic and very versatile. In the backcourt, D.J. Gay serves as the full-time floor general, but he struggles as a viable scoring threat. Three other guards fill out the rest of the rotation, including Tyrone Shelley, a potential big-time player. When he was given adequate playing time earlier this season, Shelley, the Pepperdine transfer, produced, averaging 14 points and 5 rebounds per game.
#3 Georgetown Overall Record: 23-10 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 9-8 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big East Best Player: Greg Monroe, Forward/Center Biggest Strength: Stingy team defense Biggest Weakness: Close games Notes: Georgetown's non-conference schedule combined with Big East play should have adequately prepared the Hoyas for the rugged Midwest Region. Georgetown has the highest scoring trio in college basketball, led by Austin Freeman, Greg Monroe and Chris Wright. When one struggles, the other two can pick up the slack and hit another gear. Monroe has put aside his selfless attitude and has begun to demand the ball in the post and score using a variety of finesse moves. When all three players are hot, watch out, Georgetown can knock off anyone (See wins over Duke, Villanova, Syracuse...). In close games,	#14 Ohio Overall Record: 21-14 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-2 Tournament Criteria: Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament champions Best Player: Armon Bassett, Guard Biggest Strength: Guard play Biggest Weakness: Experience Notes: Ohio welcomed seven newcomers to the Bobcats' program this year, including former-Indiana Hoosier Guard, Armon Bassett. While Bassett leads the team in scoring in his first season in Athena, Ohio, freshman D.J. Cooper has also made a significant impression on Ohio's backcourt. The 5'11" guard is second on the team in scoring and rebounding, while also leading the team in assists per game. The two have really bonded on the court, but will be outmatched against teams with some size in their backcourt. DeVaughn Washington and Tommy Freeman have delivered some memorable performances, but they need to bring 110% to make it passed Georgetown in the opening round.
#7 Oklahoma State Overall Record: 22-10 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 5-6 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big 12 Best Player: James Anderson, Guard Biggest Strength: Perimeter shooting Biggest Weakness: Inside presence on offense Notes: James Anderson may be one of the most talented players in the nation, yet he still flies under the radar. He was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, ahead of Kansas' Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins and Texas' Damion James. He finished the regular season ranking third in the nation in scoring (22.6 points) and was their main option on offense. The Cowboys also feature two other guards, Obi Muonelo and Keiton Page who can hit from the outside.	#10 Georgia Tech Overall Record: 22-12 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 6-7 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, ACC Best Player: Gani Lawal Biggest Strength: Post play Biggest Weakness: Perimeter shooting Notes: The Yellow Jackets may have two of the best post players in the nation in Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors, but a lack of a constant perimeter threat allows defenses to collapse. Favors has begun to show NBA scouts a new gear, averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks per game over Georgia Tech's last eight games. They also boast Zach Peacock, a former-starter turned 6th man who stands as a 6'8" mid-range/high post complement to Lawal and Favors. A player who can be streaky but gives the Yellow Jackets a necessary outside shooter is Glen Rice Jr., son of legendary 3-point threat Glen Rice.
#2 Ohio State Overall Record: 27-7 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 7-5 Tournament Criteria: Big Ten co-regular season champions, Big Ten Tournament champions Best Player: Evan Turner, Guard Biggest Strength: Guard play Biggest Weakness: Will their guards breakdown? Notes: Turner, the likely winner of the nation's player of the year awards, is certainly the most deserving candidate in the country. He's a 6'7" point guard, who is just as athletic as he is versatile. He is a playmaker on the offensive end and a lockdown defender on the other side of the ball. Turner is surrounded by three other guards- Jon Diebler, a lethal outside shooter, Willie Buford, a perimeter shooter who can slash as well, and David Lighty, another lockdown defender and a seasoned veteran who played for a national championship a few years ago. All four play 34+ minutes per game.	#15 UC Santa Barbara Overall Record: 20-9 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-2 Tournament Criteria: Big West co-regular season champions, Big West Tournament champions Best Player: Orlando Johnson, Guard Biggest Strength: Wing players Biggest Weakness: Taking care of the ball and post defense Notes: The Gauchos from the Big West have the player of the year in Orlando Johnson and 2nd Team all-league performer, James Nunnally, on the wings, but not much else. UC Santa Barbara turns the ball over at an alarming rate, almost 16 times a game. Point guard, Justin Joyner, a touted transfer was supposed to take of ball-handling duties, but has contributed very little after missing all of last season with a wrist injury. UCSB's defense is also alarming: they ranked 225th in the nation in blocks per game and 280th in rebounds per game.