NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Interviews

March 17, 2009 – 2:47 am by Jimmy Shapiro

Take a listen to interviews from Midwest Region coaches in this year’s NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament.  This is one tough region, with the defending champion Kansas Jayhawks occupying the third seed, a dangerous and perhaps peaking USC team all the way down at #10, and perennially tough March teams Louisville and Michigan State flanking the bracket at the #1 and #2 seeds respectively. After the interviews, odds to win the region can be found, compliments of Bodog, www.BodogLife.com.

Reason why #1 seed doesn’t make it to the Final Four:   If Louisville shoots poorly and doesn’t put up points on the board, they can’t press on defense and their defense is by far their best offense.

Best bet in the first round:   Kansas -10 over North Dakota State

Player I’m most looking forward to playing in the NBA:  Chase Budinger.  Just to see if he can become one of the handful of decent white American swingmen.  This list is short:  Mike Miller and Mike Dunleavy.

Prediction for this bracket:  Louisville.  Since the beginning of 2009, they’ve been the best team in the nation.  Their defense is sublime.  If Michigan State wins this bracket, they basically will be hosting the Final Four.  Sleeper pick would be West Virginia.

Listen to Michigan State (#2) Head Coach Tom Izzo on ESPN Radio with Tirico & Van Pelt

Listen to Kansas (#3) Head Coach Bill Self on WHB in Kansas City with Kevin Kietzman

Listen to Utah (#5) Head Coach Jim Broylen on KFAN 1320 in Salt Lake City with DJ & PK

Listen to West Virginia (#6) Head Coach Bob Huggins on WHB in Kansas City with Soren Petro

Listen to Ohio State (#8) Head Coach Thad Matta on WBNS in Columbus

Listen to Siena (#9) Head Coach Fran McCaffrey on Fox Sports 980 in Albany with Roger Wyland

Listen to USC (#10) Head Coach Tim Floyd on KLAC/Fox Sports Radio with Chris Myers & Steve Hartman

Listen to Dayton (#11) Head Coach Brian Gregory on 1530 the Homer in Cincinnati with Lance McCallister (6:30 into podcast)

Listen to Arizona (#12) Head Coach Russ Pennell on KTAR in Phoenix with Doug & Wolf

Listen to Cleveland State (#13) Head Coach Gary Waters on WFAN in New York with Mike Francesa

Listen to North Dakota (#14) State Coach Head Coach Saul Phillips on the Dan Patrick Show

Listen to Robert Morris (#15) Head Coach Mike Rice on WSCR in Chicago

Listen here to Morehead State (#16 Midwest) head coach Donny Tydnall on KJR in Seattle

Team Odds
#1 Louisville 1/2
#2 Michigan State 11/4
#3 Kansas 11/2
#4 Wake Forest 11/2
#5 Utah 18/1
#6 West Virginia 9/1
#7 Boston College 24/1
#8 Ohio State 30/1
#9 Siena 36/1
#10 USC 30/1
#11 Dayton 36/1
#12 Arizona 39/1
#13 Cleveland State 185/1
#14 North Dakota State 350/1
#15 Robert Morris 350/1
#16Morehead State/ #16Alabama State (Play-in) 350/1

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