March Madness: Breakdown of the 2018 NCAA Tournament’s Midwest region

Key Players:

Ryan Betley – Penn

Betley is the go-to guy for the Quakers coming into the tournament averaging 14.5 points per contest while also shooting 38% from the three-point line.  Betley lives behind the three-point line and can carry Penn when he is hot.  He will need to get very hot for Penn to have a chance in the tournament.

Rickey McGill – Iona

McGill is the Point Guard for the Gaels and makes their offense run.  He is their leading scorer also while contributing 5.5 assists per game for Iona’s high powered offense.  McGill and Iona are an experienced team but may be overmatched in their first game.

Zach Thomas – Bucknell

Thomas averages just over 20 points per game, and he is the best player on the Bucknell squad.  Thomas can shoot from deep and can keep the Bison in any game.  Bucknell relies on Thomas to do everything for them, as he is also their leading rebounder.  Thomas is a pleasure to watch play Basketball even if Bucknell does not win a game.

Joe Chealey – Charleston

Chealey makes up part of the 3 headed monster on Charleston.  The Cougars are very much a team to keep an eye on in this bracket. Chealey is an elite scorer and gets fouled a lot.  While at the foul line Chealey shoots 80% from the line.  He is a game changer and when he gets going the Cougars are hard to beat.

Jemerrio Jones – New Mexico State

Jones is not the leading scorer for the Aggies but he averages a double-double.  Jones averages 15 rebounds a game and is only 6’5”.  Jones is the most important player to the Aggies because he extends possessions and ends them on the defensive end with his rebounding prowess.  The Aggies are going to be primed for an upset.

Oshae Brissett – Syracuse

Brissett is far and away the best player for Syracuse.  He can score inside and finish with power and can step out and hit three-pointers.  He is a load to get through in the Syracuse zone as he has the length and agility to guard anyone.  Brissett is also a great rebounder and extends possessions for the Orange.

Trae Young – Oklahoma

The most polarizing player on the most polarizing team in the entire tournament.  Young leads the country in scoring and assists.  Young was an early frontrunner for the National Player of the Year, before a late-season swoon.  Young is in range once he walks into the building.  He is an exciting player because he can either win Oklahoma a game or will shoot them way out of a game.

Omer Yurtseven – NC State

Yurtseven, who is from Turkey is one of the better big men in the tournament.  Yurtseven leads the Wolfpack with 13.8 points per game, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.  In the first round matchup, NC State is going to need Omer to be every bit as good as he has been all year.  If Omer locks down the paint NC State will be a tough out.

Angel Delgado – Seton Hall

Delgado is a monster in the paint for the Pirates.  He is a double-double machine and is a load for opposing defenses.  Delgado is a huge part of what Coach Kevin Willard tries to do on offense and is a stalwart on the defensive end.  Delgado can make life very hard for the opposing teams on both ends of the floor.