Bracketology 2024: Gonzaga and BYU surge in the first bracket projection for the field of 68 in March

Midwest Region (Detroit)

1.) Purdue vs. 16.) South Dakota State

8.) Texas vs. 9.) Nevada

5.) BYU vs. 12.) McNeese State

4.) Kentucky vs. 13.) Charleston

6.) Dayton vs. 11.) New Mexico

3.) Iowa State vs. 14.) High Point

7.) Florida vs. 10.) Michigan State

2.) Marquette vs. 15.) Colgate

It is unique that the No. 1 seeds have seemingly been set for some time, while the bubble has seen so much movement. However, that has been the case this season as Purdue remains the top seed in the Midwest region with a 26-3 record. The Boilermakers have been the top team in most projections for most of the year. Not only have they done yeoman's work in quad 1 with 10 wins but also away from home with 11 road/neutral wins.

The Midwest region has a handful of teams that are outside the first three seeds but have second-weekend potential. The No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats are at the top of that list with a young team that can beat anyone in the country but has a propensity to play wildly inconsistently in each 40 minutes. BYU is the No. 5 seed and may be the surprise of the Big 12 in their first season sitting at 21-8 with wins over Iowa State, Baylor, and Kansas. Even though Dayton is currently 3rd in the Atlantic 10, this veteran club led by DaRon Holmes II is dangerous thanks to a 39% shooting percentage behind the arc.

Speaking of three-point percentage, the No. 12 seed in this region the McNeese State Cowboys will be a scary opponent for any team. The 26-3 Cowboys are 9th best in the nation, shooting just under 29% from deep, and are 35th in effective field goal percentage, as well as being a top-75 team in both offensive and defensive efficiency.