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NCAA Tournament: Midwest Region preview

By Leon Saffelle
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NCAA Tourney previews: EAST | SOUTH | MIDWEST | WEST

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Lehigh 6-foot-3 freshman guard C.J. McCollum was the first player in Patriot League history to be named Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Here’s why: He averaged 18.9 points and made 43 percent of his 3-pointers. The Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year committed to Lehigh before his senior year but was only offered by Bowling Green to that point. He played one year with future pro Kosta Koufos in high school. — John Keim

FIRECRACKER SPECIAL » We’d pay for ringside seats to this heavyweight fight

Ohio State’s Evan Turner vs. Oklahoma State’s James Anderson

East Region breakdownThe Dark HorseNew Mexico State is coming off an emotional run to win the WAC championship. The Aggies have five players scoring in double figures, led by Jahmar Young’s 20.5 ppg. They also drew an inconsistent team in Michigan State and a possible second game vs. Maryland, capable of winning or losing to anyone. — John KeimThe Party CrasherThis winter, the Mountain West conference emerged as the same thing it is in football — way better than BCS schools want it to be. Led by freshman Kawhi Leonard (12.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg), San Diego State upset both New Mexico and UNLV to win the conference title. First-round opponents beware. — Craig StoufferOne and DoneMichigan State typically excels in the postseason. But this team, largely the same as last year’s finalist, is reeling. One issue is Kalin Lucas’ ankle. Good teams have shut him down since he hurt it in early February. Stop him, stop the Spartans. They just have too many issues. — John KeimThe Examiner predicts …It’s a safe pick, but we’re not going against Kansas, even in a loaded bracket. The Jayhawks have too much experience and savvy, plus the requisite clutch senior guard in Sherron Collins. But who will they play? We’ll take Ohio State, led by its own special player in Evan Turner. — John Keim

Second round » This is a potential great matchup featuring two talented players. Turner usually faces guards who are smaller, but he only has an inch on the 6-foot-6 Anderson, who averages 22.6 ppg and was at his best vs. top competition. Against the top four teams in the Big 12, he averaged 25.9 points. Turner averages 19.9 points and 9.1 rebounds a game and rarely comes out aside from foul trouble. He’s adept at creating shots, both for himself and teammates, and excels at getting to the rim. Both players were named their conference’s player of the year; Turner is the likely choice for the national honor as well. — John Keim

The Favorite » Kansas

The bracketNo. 1 KansasNo. 16 Lehigh No. 8 UNLV No. 9 Northern Iowa No. 5 Michigan St. No. 12 New Mexico St. No. 4 Maryland No. 13 Houston No. 6 Tennessee No. 11 San Diego St. No. 3 Georgetown No. 14 Ohio No. 7 Oklahoma St. No. 10 Georgia Tech No. 2 Ohio St. No. 15 UC Santa Barb.

The Big 12 champions look ready for a Final Four run. Kansas finished 32-2, won the league tournament with ease and is a No. 1 seed. The Jayhawks lost only two games all season — and those were at Tennessee and at Oklahoma State. Both of those squads are NCAA Tournament teams. Kansas’ balanced offense is led by senior point guard Sherron Collins (15.6 ppg, 4.4. apg) and freshman guard Xavier Henry (13.6 ppg). Center Cole Aldrich (11.2 ppg) gives Kansas a productive inside game and is a rebounding machine (9.9 rpg). Six current players were part of the program when the Jayhawks won the national championship in 2008. These guys know how to win.

Achilles’ heel » The experience factor for Kansas is a little misleading given the roster turnover the past two seasons. Four of its seven top scorers are in primary roles for the first time. The Jayhawks are mediocre from the free throw line at 70.1 percent. — Brian McNally

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