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Hello friends, Jerry Scherwin here. We have a wild first round of games on the docket today including the #6 seeded Iowa Hawkeyes who are one of the hottest programs coming into March Madness after two come from behind wins in the semi-finals and finals of the Big Ten Championship nearly a week ago. But the Hawkeyes aren’t the only team looking to make their mark in the tournament with #1 seeded Kansas sitting atop the Midwest Region. Head Coach Bill self is as confident as ever about his team saying to our staff earlier this afternoon that this might be one of the best Kansas squads he’s ever gotten to pay to coach.
And don’t forget about Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers who are looking to get back to the Final Four once again this season. Rumors have been swirling all day that Pearl is standing firm on coaching in nothing but body paint until the NCAA allows him to offer Pilot Pete of The Bachelor fame’ ex-girlfriend a hardship scholarship after the injury to Isaac Okoro. It’s a bold strategy for sure, but if it’s going to pay off for anyone, it’s crazy ol’ Brucey Pearl.
And of course there’s Big Ten Coach of the Year Greg Gard and the sell-your-soul-to-the-college-basketball-Devil Wisconsin Badgers looking to slap the floors with the Midwest region. Arguable THE hottest team going into conference tournament play, they were quickly dispatched against Juwan Howard’s revamped Michigan Wolverines.
This bracket has everything you could ever want from a tournament perspective, but before we get to the action, let’s take a quick look back at last nights First Four results:
- With 191 of the total 330 votes, #16 Robert Morris is moving on to take on #1 Dayton.
- With 159 of the total 307 votes, #12 Richmond upsets #12 Texas. No word yet on Shaka Smart’s future, but sources close to Texas are saying things “are up in the air”.
- With 199 of the total 312 votes, #11 NC State flies by UCLA. I know Steve Alford isn’t the coach their anymore, but he can go right ahead a screw off.
- And finally, with 175 of the total 303 votes, #16 North Carolina Central gets the opportunity to get annihilated by Gonzaga. Congrats to North Carolina Central!
Congratulations again to all of the First Four play-in game participants and better luck next year for those who dreams ended a little too early.
Now, back to the reason you all came here... The Midwest Region!
Poll
#1 Kansas vs. #16 Siena: Who ya got?
Poll
#5 Auburn vs. #12 Liberty: Who ya got?
Poll
#4 Wisconsin vs. #13 North Texas: Who ya got?
This poll is closed
-
80%
#4 Wisconsin
(188 votes) -
19%
# 13 North Texas
(46 votes)
Poll
#6 Iowa vs. #11 East Tennessee State: Who ya got?
This poll is closed
-
95%
#6 Iowa
(234 votes) -
4%
#11 East Tennessee State
(11 votes)
Poll
#3 Duke vs. #14 Belmont: Who ya got?
Poll
#7 Providence vs #10 Arizona State: Who ya got?
This poll is closed
-
37%
#7 Providence
(86 votes) -
62%
#10 Arizona State
(142 votes)
Poll
#2 Kentucky vs. #15 North Dakota State: Who ya got?
This poll is closed
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88%
#2 Kentucky
(202 votes) -
11%
#15 North Dakota State
(26 votes)