NCAA Tournament 2021: Illinois, West Virginia headlines Midwest Region

(6) San Diego State vs. (11) Syracuse

The Aztecs are led by the duo of Jordan Schakel and Matt Mitchell. The Aztecs were able to avoid the slump from last year to this year, unlike Dayton. Schakel is an elite three-point shooter at 46.7% and could be an issue for a Jim Boeheim coached team, that relies on zone defense throughout.

Speaking of the Orange and Boeheim’s, Buddy is the leading scorer for them at 17.1 points per game. Although he is the leader in scoring, he might not be the best player, as that belongs to Quincy Guerrier.

He averages 14.4 points and 8.8 rebounds on the season and has even developed a three-point shot. At 6’8, he hits three-pointers at a 30% rate. He was awarded 3rd Team All-ACC and has made one of the biggest jumps in the league.

Through years and years of watching the NCAA Tournament, the two coaches to trust are Tom Izzo and Boeheim. The Orange are more athletic and have more experience against better opponents. Syracuse upends the sixth-seeded Aztecs.

Syracuse wins

(3) West Virginia vs. (14) Morehead State

After a hot stretch near the end of February, the Mountaineers have stumbled out of the gates to start March. The Mountaineers dropped three of their last four games, including the Big 12 Quarterfinals against Oklahoma State. How ready the Mountaineers will be is a big question.

The Mountaineers distribute the ball well, as four players average in double figures. Senior guard Taz Sherman was robbed of Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and Sean McNeil is nearly impossible to miss when he is on.

Since the disappearance of Tshiebwe, Derek Culver has been fantastic, averaging a near double-double at 14.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest. However, Culver might have one of his biggest matches of the season in 6’10 Johni Broome.

Broome has led the way for the Eagles and rebounds just as well as Culver does. The freshman from Plant City, Florida has had to grow up really quick. Broome is coming off one of his best performances of his young career, with 27 points and 12 rebounds on 1219 in their win over Belmont.

Broome has six straight games of double-doubles and can take over at just about anytime. If McGhee vs. Cunningham is the best 1 on 1 matchup, Broome vs. Culver is easily the second-best. Outside of Broome, Morehead State doesn’t have an intimidating player on their end, that is expected to go off. Sophomore guard Ta’Lon Cooper shoots the three-ball well at 39% and also leads the team in assists.

This is a game that will be won in the paint. When the dust settles, West Virginia prevails and advances.

West Virginia wins