Busting Brackets
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Busting Bracketology 2.0: ACC and Big 12 in command

By Doug Winkey

Mar 18, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; General view of chairs with "The Road to the Final Four" logo and NCAA logo prior to the second round of the 2015 NCAA Basketball Championship at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; General view of chairs with "The Road to the Final Four" logo and NCAA logo prior to the second round of the 2015 NCAA Basketball Championship at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 16, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) reacts to a made 3-point basket against the Baylor Bears during a game at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 100-91 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) reacts to a made 3-point basket against the Baylor Bears during a game at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 100-91 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

3 Seeds: Iowa State, Michigan State, West Virginia, Maryland

Michigan State has been a mild disappointment in the Big Ten. Very few people would have predicted that Sparty would only be 8-5 at this point in February. Transfer Eron Harris has been a serious letdown, only averaging 9.3 points after scoring around 17 per game when at West Virginia. However, Michigan State always seems to peak right around this time before tournament season, so it’s never safe to sleep on Tom Izzo’s boys.

West Virginia has almost won Bob Huggins Big 12 Coach of the Year if they can hold onto second place behind Kansas. With a 9-4 record after being picked to finish sixth, the Mountaineers have put forth a tremendous run thanks to suffocating defense and volume offense. It remains to be seen if the type of play can carry a team in March, but WVU will give it a run.

Iowa State has seen overly high expectations crash to earth this year. The Cyclones are now sixth in the Big 12 at 7-6, but are still likely to stay in the 3-4 seed range thanks to no bad losses in conference play. What’s important to remember is that while Iowa State has trouble closing teams due to depth and defense on the boards, their offensive talent is still top notch with All-American Georges Niang and a promising head coach in Steve Prohm.

After multiple chances to solidify their lead in the Big Ten, Maryland now sits a game back of first after two straight losses to Wisconsin and at previously winless Minnesota. The Terps absolutely need to rebound with home games against Michigan and Illinois if they are to stay in the Big Ten’s top tier.

Next: The Terrifying 2s

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