2010 NCAA Bracket Advice: Midwest

Bracket layout coming by Monday evening

Key to the region...
Whether the big boys can simply survive and advance. Seriously, I thought Kansas was supposed to be the number one team in the field, because it sure doesn't look like it based on the rugged field they have to contend with just to reach the Final Four. Starting with their second round matchup against UNLV or Northern Iowa, the Jayhawks will likely have three donnybrooks in a row. Maryland or Michigan State likely loom in the Sweet 16 and are you kidding me, Ohio State or Georgetown after that? !?! The contending team that moves on will be the one best equipped to stay mentally tough even when the chips are down, which they likely will be at once a game in this star-studded bracket.

First round upsets:
San Diego State (11) over Tennessee (6)...The Vols can beat any team in the country, as evidenced by their wins over Kansas and Kentucky, but they are flawed and loudly so. They rank in the mid-200's nationally in 3-point and free throw shooting, plus can get beat up on the boards and simply do not play hard for 40 minutes. The Aztecs have their own warts -- they too clang free throws at a dizzying rate -- but they shoot 48 percent from the field and rank 13th nationally in rebounding margin. San Diego State is coached by Steve Fisher, the man who directed Michigan's 1989 title team and the Fab Five to two Final Fours. He doesn't have a Glen Rice or Chris Webber on this squad, but he has freshman big man Kawhi Leonard, who had 21 rebounds in their conference final. Plus, Fisher has his team on a roll, with clutch wins over New Mexico and UNLV to make the tourney.

Others:
None...It is tempting to take New Mexico State over Michigan State, especially with the Spartans not firing on all cylinders, but I simply can't go against Tom Izzo, at least not in round one. Also ESPN's Pat Forde noted that Houston coach Tom Penders has 10 tourney wins as a double digit seed, so Maryland better be on upset alert.

Best player you never heard of
Greg Monroe, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman get the majority of the ink when folks talk about Georgetown and rightfully so, but their offense is truly a four-headed attack. Jason Clark, a long-range bomber who leads the Hoyas in total 3-pointers made (66), helps spread the court which is instrumental to how the Hoyas attack opposing defenses. When teams focus on his more heralded teammates, the 6-2 sophomore makes them pay by nailing 42.5 percent of his shots from beyond the arc and does a great job getting set to shoot in anticipation of the pass. Clark averaged 20 points in two games against Villanova this season and expect at least one game in this tourney where he is the one keeping the Hoyas afloat when he splashes in shot after shot.

Others
Jordan Williams (Maryland), Tre'Von Willis (UNLV), Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State)

Sweet 16 matchups
Kansas over Maryland, Georgetown over Ohio State...Frankly, I have been shocked that ACC Player of the Year Greivis Vasquez has been able to keep his high wire game functioning at such a high level all season. Vasquez, along with fellow senior guard Eric Hayes, will lead the Terps through two rounds, but the Jayhawks will have too many answers for him on the defensive end and the Terps cannot overcome Vasquez posting a 6 for 21 shooting night against a stacked team like Kansas...Wow, picking Evan Turner and the Buckeyes to go out this early was not part of original plan. In fact, I was viewing Turner to have a potential Danny Manning-like run and I would have picked him to do so if Ohio State was placed in Duke or Kentucky's region. Sadly for them, the Hoyas are a dominating offensive unit and all of their backdoor cuts are hard to stop the first time out. Monroe, the best passer in the country, dishes out assists and scores inside against the Buckeyes four-guard lineup.

And going to the Final Four...
Kansas. My take all year has been that the Hoyas starting five stacks up with any in the country, but their bench -- or lack of one -- is what might hold them back from reaching the Final Four. Not only are the Jayhawks deep, but they have the kind of size that has also given the Hoyas fits at times. Georgetown will have to have one of those nights where they are just unstoppable on offense -- and they are fourth in the country in field goal percentage so it is not inconceivable. Of course Kansas sports the nation's No. 2 field goal percentage defense, not to mention their own varied offensive attack, and that combo will be hard to top...78-76 over the Hoyas, Sherron Collins named Most Outstanding Player