This article is part of our Sweet 16 Preview series.
Midwest Region Sweet 16 Preview
South Region Sweet 16 Preview
West Region Sweet 16 Preview
MIDWEST REGION SWEET 16 PREVIEW
Site: St. Louis
Tip-off: Friday
The Midwest Region saw top seed North Carolina advance to the Sweet 16 with decisive wins over Vermont and Creighton, while No. 2-seed Kansas came back to defeat No. 10 Purdue to reach the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in six seasons. But upsets abounded in the first two rounds elsewhere in the region. No. 13-seed Ohio upset No. 4 Michigan before defeating No. 12 South Florida, which rode the momentum of a "First Four" victory to upset fifth-seeded Temple in the Round of 64. No. 11-seed North Carolina State continued its solid play in the postseason by taking down No. 6 San Diego State fairly decisively in the first round before a 66-63 victory over third-seeded Georgetown to reach the Sweet 16. It will be two double-digit seed Cinderellas and two of the more renowned programs in college basketball heading to St. Louis with a trip to New Orleans and the 2012 Final Four at stake.
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Ohio
Key Matchup: North Carolina's Kendall Marshall against Ohio's D.J. Cooper. Marshall's status for the Sweet 16 and beyond is in question after suffering a fractured right wrist against Creighton in the second round, but if there is any way he can play he likely will, and the fact he is left-handed also bodes well
