Midwest Region Overview

Next: Butler, Fri 7:10 ET - Round 2: Beat Purdue 74-67 - Round 1: Beat Jackson St. 112-69
Overview: The Gators endured some bumps, losing three of five late, just as they did a year ago. As defending NCAA champs, criticism followed. But the SEC tournament champs are what they are – an emotional team that is either unbeatable or vulnerable, depending on which squad shows up. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Region champion and National runner-up

Next: UNLV, Fri 9:40 ET - Round 2: Beat Winthrop 75-61 - Round 1: Beat Miami (OH) 58-56
Overview: The Ducks play with an appropriate urgency. They rose from chaos that had folks calling for coach Ernie Kent's job the past two years. Their frenetic style is created by a guard quartet – Aaron Brooks, Bryce Taylor, Malik Hairston and 5-foot-6 freshman Tajuan Porter – anchored by a single big man, Maarty Leunen. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Second round

Next: Florida, Fri 7:10 ET - Round 2: Beat Maryland 62-59 - Round 1: Beat Old Dominion 57-46
Overview: Consider how close the Bulldogs came to not becoming America's darlings: If Notre Dame had made a clutch basket in November there would have been no preseason NIT wins against Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga – and no Top 25 ranking. Yet they won them all and remain a threat because of their deliberate style and three-point prowess. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Second round

Next: Oregon, Fri 9:40 ET - Round 2: Beat Wisconsin 74-68 - Round 1: Beat Georgia Tech 67-63
Overview: The key to the Rebels is not that PG Kevin Kruger was the first to take advantage of a new NCAA rule and transfer from Arizona State and join his father, Lon, for his senior season. It's that Kevin hasn't had to be the star in a backcourt that includes Wendell White and Wink Adams. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round

Round 2: Lost to UNLV 74-68
Overview: Turns out the biggest loss was not just the game in the No. 1-vs.-No. 2 clash with Ohio State, but that of big man Brian Butch to a dislocated elbow. Now all things Wisconsin revolve around All-America forward Alando Tucker and sidekick Kammron Taylor. Butch, who scored 27 against Pitt, seems invaluable now that he's gone. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Elite Eight

Round 2: Lost to Butler 62-59
Overview: The Terrapins went from 3-6 to 10-6 in the ACC, and then on into the NCAA tournament by finding the sort of offensive balance that carried Florida to a national title. Five players average in double figures – guards D.J. Strawberry, Mike Jones, freshman Greivas Vazquez and forwards James Gist and Ekene Ibekwe. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Sweet 16

Round 1: Lost to Winthrop 74-64
Overview: Coach Mike Brey showed those who were grumbling after three consecutive NITs. The Irish survived the midseason loss of their point guard because several players had breakout seasons. Few expected so much of Russell Carter off the dribble, Colin Falls behind the arc or Rob Kurz and Luke Harangody inside. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Sweet 16

Round 1: Lost to Purdue 72-63
Overview: The Wildcats haven't had the season that Lute Olson has grown used to. That said, offensively there are few teams with a more explosive quartet than Mustafa Shakur and forwards Marcus Williams, Ivan Radenovic and freshman Chase Budinger. There are no apparent chemistry problems, yet something's missing. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Second round

Round 2: Lost to Florida 72-63
Overview: Carl Landry and David Teague came back in a big way from injuries that made them sit out the 2005-06 season. Landry, in particular, pushed the Boilermakers into NCAA Tournament by averaging 20.2 points and 8.8 rebounds during their six victories over the final month of the regular season. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round

Round 1: Lost to UNLV 67-63
Overview: The young Yellow Jackets needed time to establish a style and identity – a defensive edge – that propelled them to seven wins over their final nine regular-season games. Freshman Javaris Crittenton played like an All-American, averaging 19.7 ppg and 7.3 assists during the stretch. More
Y! Sports Prediction: Second round

Round 2: Lost to Oregon 75-61
Overview: The winners of 18 straight also took North Carolina and Wisconsin to the limit and lost at Texas A&M and Maryland. It was no accident they nearly knocked out No. 2-seed Tennessee in last years tournament. They have an ultra-confident coach and decent big man, play tough defense and value every possession. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round

Round 1: Lost to Butler 57-46
Overview: Though the Monarchs had no apparent replacement for former center Alex Loughton, he was there all along in former sixth man Valdas Vasylius. The 6-foot-7 Lithuanian emerged as one of the nation's most improved players – putting up Loughton-like numbers – after serving as a backup for three seasons. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round

Round 1: Lost to Maryland 82-70
Overview: Freshman Stephen Curry has a stroke that might remind you of his father, Dell, a pretty fair shooter, too. Curry and Jason Richards, whose 7.3 assists per game top the tournament field, led the Wildcats beyond all expectations for a team that returned just one starter from the 2005-06 season. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round

Round 1: Lost to Oregon 58-56
Overview: Charlie Coles brings the RedHawks back to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since he led them to a Sweet 16 appearance in 1999, one year after nearly dying of cardiac arrest during a MAC tournament game. Tim Pollitz leads Miami, which finished next-to-last in the MAC in scoring offense but first in scoring defense. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round

Round 1: Lost to Wisconsin 76-63
Overview: After spending their first seven Division I seasons as an independent, the Islanders picked a good season to move into the Southland. TAMUCC's balanced attack can light it up, and only one team in the nation shoots a better percentage – Florida. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round

Round 1: Lost to Florida 112-69
Overview: Three years ago, Trey Johnson traded in his 90-mph fastball on the Alcorn State baseball team for a basketball career at Jackson State. Try to stop the nation's second-leading scorer if you can, because that's the key to beating the Tigers. The 6-foot-5 guard with NBA potential takes 36 percent of the Tigers' shots. More
Y! Sports Prediction: First round