Bracketology 2020 Projected Field: Maryland, Auburn quietly rising

AMES, IA - JANUARY 29: Freddie Gillespie #33 of the Baylor Bears dunks the ball in the second half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on January 29, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Baylor Bears won 67-53 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – DECEMBER 10: Agbaji of the Jayhawks reacts. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Midwest Region (Indianapolis, IN)

(1) Kansas vs. (16) Robert Morris/Norfolk State

(8) Michigan vs. (9) Wichita State

(4) Butler vs. (13) New Mexico State

(5) Iowa vs. (12) East Tennessee State

(6) Marquette vs. (11) Oklahoma

(3) Florida State vs. (14) Hofstra

(7) Illinois vs. (10) USC

(2) Dayton vs. (15) UC Irvine

Iowa has quietly been collecting high-quality wins as one of the best teams in the country. Although the Hawkeyes have mainly acquired their top-tier victories at home, it is impossible to ignore that they are 7-2 in Quadrant 1. With Luka Garza and a talented supporting cast leading the way, Iowa could potentially land a Top 4 seed by Selection Sunday and be very dangerous in March. Improving on the defensive end will be key in the coming weeks but there are very few teams capable of slowing down Iowa’s high-powered offense. Too much shooting and dominance from Garza.

Sticking with the Big Ten, Illinois has been absolutely rolling as of late. With that said, though, the Fighting Illini are still working their way up the seed lines slowly but surely after starting the year behind most other top-tier teams. I would expect that Illinois keeps rising in the coming weeks and finishes with a better seed than a No. 7. This is a team that has been passing the eye test with flying colors for the past few weeks as one of the best teams in the nation’s toughest conference.

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