Midwest Region
1 MICHIGAN vs 16 UMBC / HOWARD
Bracket text:
Committee ranks:
• Michigan = #3
• UMBC = #66
• Howard = #65
Structural read:
Michigan is a top‑3 team.
Both 16‑seeds are bottom‑4.
Massive gap.
8 GEORGIA vs 9 SAINT LOUIS
Bracket text:
Committee ranks:
• Georgia = #32
• Saint Louis = #35
Structural read:
True mid‑tier coin‑flip.
Very similar to Clemson/Iowa in the South.
5 TEXAS TECH vs 12 AKRON
Bracket text:
Committee ranks:
• Texas Tech = #19
• Akron = #48
Structural read:
Texas Tech is a top‑20 team.
Akron is mid‑40s.
Large gap.
4 ALABAMA vs 13 HOFSTRA
Bracket text:
Committee ranks:
• Alabama = #14
• Hofstra = #52
Structural read:
Alabama is a strong 4‑seed.
Hofstra is low‑50s.
Big gap.
6 TENNESSEE vs 11 MIAMI (OH) / SMU
Bracket text:
Committee ranks:
• Tennessee = #21
• Miami (OH) = #44
• SMU = #43
Structural read:
Tennessee is a strong 6‑seed.
Both 11‑seeds are mid‑40s.
Clear gap.
3 VIRGINIA vs 14 WRIGHT STATE
Bracket text:
Committee ranks:
• Virginia = #12
• Wright State = #57
Structural read:
Virginia is a top‑12 team.
Wright State is bottom‑15.
Huge gap.
7 KENTUCKY vs 10 SANTA CLARA
Bracket text:
“7 KENTUCKY
10 SANTA CLARA”
Committee ranks:
- Kentucky = #25
- Santa Clara = #37
Structural read:
Mid‑tier vs mid‑tier.
Closer than the seed line suggests.
2 IOWA STATE vs 15 TENNESSEE STATE
Bracket text:
“2 IOWA ST
15 TENNESSEE ST”
Committee ranks:
- Iowa State = #7
- Tennessee State = #59
Structural read:
Iowa State is a top‑7 team.
Tennessee State is bottom‑10.
Massive gap.
S‑Tier (True Contenders)
- Michigan (#3)
- Iowa State (#7)
- Virginia (#12)
- Alabama (#14)
- Texas Tech (#19)
A‑Tier (Strong but flawed)
- Tennessee (#21)
- Kentucky (#25)
- Georgia (#32)
- Saint Louis (#35)
B‑Tier (Mid‑tier)
- Santa Clara (#37)
- SMU (#43)
- Miami (OH) (#44)
C/D‑Tier (Low seeds)
- Hofstra (#52)
- Wright State (#57)
- Tennessee State (#59)
- UMBC (#66)
- Howard (#65)
Round 2
1 MICHIGAN vs 8 GEORGIA / 9 SAINT LOUIS
Committee ranks:
- Michigan = #3
- Georgia = #32
- Saint Louis = #35
Structural read:
Michigan is a top‑3 team.
Georgia/SLU are mid‑tier.
Large gap.
5 TEXAS TECH vs 4 ALABAMA
Committee ranks:
- Alabama = #14
- Texas Tech = #19
Structural read:
This is the closest Round 2 matchup in the Midwest.
True 14 vs 19 matchup disguised as 4 vs 5.
6 TENNESSEE vs 3 VIRGINIA
Committee ranks:
- Virginia = #12
- Tennessee = #21
Structural read:
Virginia is a top‑12 team.
Tennessee is strong but not in Virginia’s tier.
Clear gap.
7 KENTUCKY vs 2 IOWA STATE
Committee ranks:
- Iowa State = #7
- Kentucky = #25
Structural read:
Iowa State is a top‑7 team.
Kentucky is mid‑20s.
Large gap.
Sweet 16
1 MICHIGAN vs 4 ALABAMA / 5 TEXAS TECH
Committee ranks:
- Michigan = #3
- Alabama = #14
- Texas Tech = #19
Structural read:
Michigan will face a top‑20 team no matter what.
Alabama/Texas Tech are both under‑seeded and dangerous.
3 VIRGINIA vs 2 IOWA STATE
Committee ranks:
- Iowa State = #7
- Virginia = #12
Structural read:
This is the closest 2 vs 3 matchup in the Midwest.
A true 7 vs 12 matchup disguised as 2 vs 3.
Elite 8
Winner of (1 MICHIGAN / 4 ALABAMA / 5 TEXAS TECH)
vs
Winner of (2 IOWA STATE / 3 VIRGINIA)
Committee ranks:
- Michigan = #3
- Iowa State = #7
- Virginia = #12
- Alabama = #14
- Texas Tech = #19
- Michigan is the structural anchor of the region.
- Iowa State is a top‑7 team and the most dangerous 2‑seed.
- Virginia is the strongest 3‑seed in the Midwest.
- Alabama and Texas Tech are both under‑seeded and dangerous.
- The Midwest has five top‑19 teams in its Elite 8 cluster.
- Structurally, this region is deep but not as top‑heavy as the East or South. | 
