The top two seeds in the Midwest look pretty good.

I'd be a little scared if I was Nos. 3, 4 and 5.

That said, if I wind up in Indianapolis next week (a distinct possibility, unless Maryland can summon a Saturday surprise here in Kansas City), the Louisville-Wake Forest game would be a treat of a regional semifinal.

Here's thinking it will happen.

SECOND ROUND

(1) Louisville
(9) Siena

(5) Utah
(4) Wake Forest

(6) West Virginia
(14) North Dakota State

(7) Boston College
(2) Michigan State

REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(1) Louisville
(4) Wake Forest

(6) West Virginia
(2) Michigan State

REGIONAL FINAL

(1) Louisville
(2) Michigan State

REGIONAL CHAMPION

(1) Louisville

I've been high on Louisville since the Cardinals pushed North Carolina for 30 or so minutes in last year's regional final. They have the look of a Final Four team.

Kansas is a prime upset candidate. If North Dakota State doesn't get them, either West Virginia or Dayton will.

Wake Forest could go out in the first round. It could also win five games in a row. Tough to tell with the Demon Deacons.

Michigan State is tough to figure, given the cluster of above-average --- but not great --- teams in the Big Ten. Going chalky with them makes sense.

Southern Cal is like Syracuse --- tough to trust a team that just spent so much energy making a conference tournament run. Boston College is overseeded, but can win that opener.

West Virginia will escape the first weekend. Seems like the Mountaineers always do, regardless of seed.

--- Patrick Stevens

• 
• Comment