March Madness power rankings for the Midwest Region

We’re going to be going region-by-region for our Power Rankings for this year’s NCAA March Madness Tournament. Along the way, we’re going to give each region a nickname. The Midwest is the “Region of Pace.” There are some teams in this region that love to get up and down the floor, and it should produce some entertaining games on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

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1. Michigan

The Wolverines enter the tournament at close to 100% strength, as they are still trying to figure out how to play without backup point guard LJ Cason. Their strong frontcourt and matchup nightmare, Yaxel Lendeborg, make it hard for me to see them bowing out early.

2. Iowa State

Mar 13, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA. Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) reacts at the end of the game. Against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

The Cyclones really impressed me in the Big 12 tournament, walloping Texas Tech and taking Arizona down to the wire. No matter the opponent, they will have two of the absolute best players on the floor in Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey, and the best catch-and-shoot player in the country in Milan Momcilovic.

3. Tennessee

The Volunteers possess a unique combination of shotmaking on the perimeter and rebounding in the interior, and that is a dangerous combination for an NCAA Tournament run. The offense runs through Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament, but offensive rebounds from Estrella and Carey provide numerous second-chance opportunities.

4. Virginia

Lost in the shuffle after the loss to Duke in the ACC Title game is the development of Ugonna Onyenso into one of the sport’s premier rim protectors. Offensive output from the guards can be hit or miss, and that will be the key to making a long run in this tournament.

5. Kentucky

If there was any doubt before, there shouldn’t be any now: this is Otega Oweh’s team, and they will go as far as he can carry them. The Wildcats have experienced high highs and low lows this season, so truly anything is possible for this team in the coming weeks.

6. Alabama

News broke Monday that the Crimson Tide will be without Aden Holloway indefinitely. That is a huge blow to this team’s chances at making a deep run, as Holloway is one of their best offensive shotmakers on the perimeter and will put a lot more on the plate of Labaron Philon. Will they get a step up from Latrell Wrightsell or Jalil Bethea?

7. Texas Tech

Mar 7, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA. Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Christian Anderson (4) reacts to a made three point shot. During the second half against the BYU Cougars at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images

*lets out a loud audible sigh* This was supposed to be the NCAA Tournament where JT Toppin etched his name in college basketball lore. But unfortunately, he got injured in February, and the Red Raiders simply have not been the same since. They will go as far as the shotmaking of Christian Anderson can carry them.

8. Georgia

Mike White’s team started the season off strong, then went through a bit of a lull in January, and ended strong to completely clear the bubble by season’s end. Kanon Catchings looked great in the last two weeks, and his ability to sustain that will be key to winning a game or two.

9. Santa Clara

Don’t sleep on the Broncos – this team might play in the WCC, but they have legitimate wins over teams like Saint Mary’s, Xavier, and McNeese. They also have a legitimate NBA prospect and matchup nightmare in Allen Graves, and an intriguing international player who’s coming on late in Sash Gavalyugov.

10. Saint Louis

The Billikens are a fun story, and I’m excited that we get to see A10 Player of the Year Robbie Avila in the big dance to close out his career. But I’m worried that this team peaked in January. If you only look at the last 3 weeks, this team ranks outside the top-150 nationally, per BartTorvik.

11. Akron

The champions of the MAC should not be underestimated in this tournament. They have two shotmakers on the perimeter in Tavari Johnson and Shammah Scott, two legitimate power-5 level wings in the Mahaffey brothers, and a head coach who has been here before in John Groce.

12. Hofstra

Dec 13, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Hofstra Pride guard Cruz Davis (5) dribbles against Syracuse Orange guard Nate Kingz (4) in the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Fans of the 2000s-era NBA will remember Speedy Claxton, who is now the head coach of his alma mater at Hofstra. It’s a feel-good story for now, but this team is a threat to win a game: they have one of the tournament’s best guards in Cruz Davis, and play some serious team defense.

13. SMU

Andy Enfield’s Mustangs closed the season 1-5 in their last 6 games to enter this tournament. Is this solely because of the injury to starting guard BJ Edwards, or a sign of poor play down the stretch? He’s supposed to be back for this tournament, so I guess we’ll find out fast!

14. Miami (Ohio)

I am happy to see the Redhawks included in the Field of 68, and I think it is the fairest outcome that they get sent to play in the First Four in Dayton. The whole system would have imploded if they were seeded too highly or out of the tournament entirely. Now that we’re here, they’re objectively the worst at-large team in the field, and will depend on timely shotmaking from Peter Suder and Eian Elmer if they want their miracle season to continue.

15. Wright State

I thought of Wright State as a proper sleeper in this tournament, as TJ Burch and Michael Imariagbe are two guys who will likely be playing in a power-conference or top-tier mid-major next season. But I think they drew a horrible matchup – one of the most rim-attacking offenses in the nation now has to go play against Ugonna Onyenso. Yuck.

16. Tennessee State

Remember Nolan Smith from Duke? He’s now the head coach at Tennessee State. Remember Dante Harris from the 2021 miracle Georgetown team? He’s now their starting point guard. That’s about the only interesting thing I have to say about the Tigers – they’re clearly more athletic than anyone else in the OVC, but that isn’t going to play well against a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

17. UMBC

The Retrievers are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since knocking off Virginia as a 16-seed back in 2018. Don’t expect that same result here. This team was competitive against Dayton and Georgetown in the non-conference, but a potential matchup against Michigan would be a nightmare.

18. Howard

The Bison got kind of a raw deal, in my opinion. I know that the MEAC is traditionally one of the worst conferences in college basketball, and their champion is generally reserved a spot in the First Four, but this Howard team is one of the best MEAC teams in recent memory, and Bryce Harris is likely to put on a show in Dayton.