NCAA Midwest Regional preview

A look at the top four seeded teams

1. North Carolina. The Tar Heels are vying for their third NCAA title under Coach Roy Williams. North Carolina lost to Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title game.

2. Kansas. The Jayhawks, a loser to Baylor in the Big 12 Conference tournament semifinals, could go a long way if they avoid NCAA tournament upsets that have plagued them.

3. Georgetown. The Hoyas moved past an ugly on-court brawl in China during an August exhibition and earned the No. 3 seed despite a double overtime loss to Cincinnati in Big East tournament.

4. Michigan. The Wolverines are making an NCAA appearance for the second year in a row, but this is no Fab Five revisted. They are long shots to win their first NCAA title since 1989.

Cinderella search

Belmont was a trendy choice to beat Wisconsin last year and couldn’t get it done. The high-scoring Bruins, however, could take down Georgetown.

Top players

Harrison Barnes, forward
North Carolina
The 6-8 sophomore averages 17.2 points a game and combines with senior center Tyler Zeller and junior forward John Henson to lead the Tar Heels.

Thomas Robinson, forward
Kansas
The 6-10 junior went from being a valuable sixth man last season to the most productive player for the Jayhawks. He averages 17.9 points and is second nationally in rebounding with 11.8 a game.

Doug McDermott, forward
Creighton
The 6-7 sophomore is third nationally in scoring, averaging 23.2 points a game, and helped lead his team to the Missouri Valley Conference title.

Rim shots

North Carolina Coach Roy Williams could go up against his successor at Kansas, Bill Self, if the Tar Heels and Jayhawks reach the regional final.

North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes and Creighton’s Doug McDermott were teammates who led Ames High to Iowa state titles in 2009 and 2010.

Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is the son of the former NBA All-Star.

Matchups

Friday at Greensboro, N.C.

1. North Carolina (29-5, at large)
16. First-round winner (see below)

North Carolina’s trio of Barnes, Zeller and the 6-foot-11 Henson, who averages 13.8 points and 10.1 rebounds, should have no problem against Lamar or Vermont.

8. Creighton (28-5, Missouri Valley champion)
15. Alabama (21-11, at large)

Creighton ranks sixth in scoring, averaging 80.0 points a game, and shoots 43% from three-point range. Alabama, in the tournament for the first time since 2006, ranks ninth in scoring defense (57.9 ppg).

Friday at Nashville, Tenn.

5. Temple (24-7, at-large)
12. First-round winner (see below)

Senior guard Ramone Moore averages 17.7 points, junior guard Khalif Wyatt 17.1 for a Temple team that shoots 40% from beyond the arc.

4. Michigan (24-9, at large)
13. Ohio (27-7, Mid-American champion)

Freshman guard Trey Burke, sophomore guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and senior guard Zack Novak lead the Wolverines, who couldn’t get past Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament. Ohio should be easier.

Friday at Columbus, Ohio

6. San Diego State (26-7, at-large)
11. North Carolina State (22-12, at-large)

Jamaal Franklin averages 17.2 points a game for San Diego State. First-year coach Mark Gottfried has North Carolina State in tournament for first time since 2006.

3. Georgetown (23-8, at-large)
14. Belmont (27-7, Atlantic Sun champion)

Junior forward Hollis Thompson (12.7 ppg), who played at Loyola High, and senior guard Jason Clark (13.9) are top scorers for Georgetown. Belmont averages 81.5 points, which ranks fourth nationally.

Friday at Omaha, Neb.

7. St. Mary’s (27-5, West Coast champion)
10. Purdue (21-12, at-large)

Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova leads St. Mary’s, which ensured itself a bid by defeating Gonzaga in the WCC tournament final. Robbie Hummel averages 16.3 points and seven rebounds for Purdue.

2. Kansas (27-6, at-large)
15. Detroit (22-12, Horizon champion)

Thomas Robinson and guard Tyshawn Taylor are a dynamic duo for a Kansas, which last won the title in 2008. Detroit is making its first tournament appearance since 1999.

Wednesday at Dayton, Ohio

16. Lamar (23-11, Southland champion)
16. Vermont (23-11, America East champion)

First-year Lamar Coach Pat Knight has the Cardinals back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2000. Vermont Coach John Becker also has his team in the tournament in his first season. Wednesday at Dayton, Ohio.

12. California (24-9, at-large)
12. South Florida (20-13 at-large)

Cal, led by Jorge Gutierrez and former Price High standout Allen Crabbe, is one of only two Pac-12 teams in the tournament. No South Florida player averages 10 points or more.