When it comes to the NCAA tournament the 2023 version of the big dance has been full of drama, upsets, and Cinderellas, but two regions have remained almost fully intact, the Midwest and West Regions as we head to the Sweet 16.

The South and East Regions have seen the most upsets especially with Purdue going down to number 16 Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round. Virginia losing in the first round to Furman, and Marquette falling to Michigan State headline the upsets within these two regions.

South Region:

The four teams remaining are Alabama (1), San Diego St (5), Creghton (6), and Princeton (15). The overall number one team the Crimson Tide, seem poised to head to Houston and with teams such as Arizona, Baylor, and Virginia, no longer playing in the tournament , it should be Roll Tide, but then again this tournament has proved no one is safe.

East Region:

Kansas St (3), Tennessee (4), Michigan St (7), and FAU (9) remain in a region that has lost the likes of number one Purdue and number two Marquette.

This region could have the most competitive games of the Sweet 16 due to the scrappiness of the teams’s remaining. Kansas State came out of nowhere this season, and once again an Izzo-led Sparty team is making waves in March.

The West and Midwest regions have for the most part been on par with the highest seeds reaching the Sweet 16, minus the number one seed in the West, the Kansas Jayhawks, and the number 4 seeded Hoosiers in the Midwest Region.

Midwest Region:

The four remaining include: Houston (1), Texas (2), Xavier (3), and Miami (5). The top-seeded Cougers have survived their injuries to make to the second weekend, and looked poised to win the Midwest Region, with a trip home to Houston for the Final Four.

West Region:

UCLA (2), Gonzaga (3), UConn (4), and Arkansas (8) are still dancing out West. The marquee matchup is the UCLA Bruins vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs on Thursday. The Huskies and Razorbacks can’t be counted out in this region.

So yes, the brackets are busted, but not all the regions are. The possibility of a Final Four with two number ones, a number 2, and a number 3 , still remains but also the possiblity of a Final Four with a combination of seeds 5, 8, 9, and 15 also remains.

Enjoy the dance!

-Ed in Columbus

@Ed_In_Columbus

*Photo courtesy of Princeton Athletics*