As March approaches, basketball fans all over the country start to get antsy in anticipation for one of the biggest sporting events in the world: the NCAA tournament. The tournament kicks off with Selection Sunday and culminates in a thrilling Final Four weekend. But before we get to that point, we need to fill out our brackets and predict who will come out on top. Luckily, we have a printable 2018 NCAA tournament bracket to help us get started. First things first, let’s take a look at the bracket itself. As we can see from the image below, the tournament is split into four regions: East, West, South, and Midwest. Each region has 16 teams, and they are ranked from 1-16 based on their performance throughout the regular season and conference tournament.  Now that we have a visual understanding of how the tournament is structured, let’s dive into each region and see which teams we should be keeping an eye on. **East Region** The East region is headlined by the Villanova Wildcats, who have been one of the top teams in the country all season long. They have a balanced offense and a stingy defense, which should make them a tough out in any game they play. They will be tested early however, with a potential second-round matchup against the winner of the First Four game between LIU Brooklyn and Radford. Other notable teams in this region include the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who boast a top-10 defense, and the West Virginia Mountaineers, who are known for their physical, full-court press defense. **West Region** The West region features a loaded field, with the Xavier Musketeers earning the top seed. They have a dynamic backcourt in Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura, who will be tasked with leading the team deep into the tournament. The North Carolina Tar Heels, last year’s champions, are also in this region and will be looking to defend their title. They are led by a trio of talented guards in Joel Berry II, Theo Pinson, and Kenny Williams. Other teams to watch out for in the West region include the Michigan Wolverines, who won the Big Ten tournament and are playing some of their best basketball of the season, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who made it to the championship game last year and will be looking to make another deep run. **South Region** The South region is topped by the Virginia Cavaliers, who have the best defense in the country. They play a slow, deliberate style of basketball and never give their opponents an inch. They will need to continue to rely on their defense if they want to survive and advance in the tournament. The Cincinnati Bearcats, another defensive stalwart, are also in this region and will be looking to make a deep run. They have a balanced offense and tenacious defense, which should make them a tough out. Other teams to keep an eye on in the South region include the Kentucky Wildcats, who have one of the most talented rosters in the country, and the Arizona Wildcats, who have a potential NBA star in Deandre Ayton. **Midwest Region** The Midwest region is perhaps the most top-heavy of the four. The Kansas Jayhawks earned the top seed thanks to their potent offense and star guard Devonte’ Graham. They will be looking to make it back to the Final Four for the first time since 2012. The Duke Blue Devils, one of the most storied programs in college basketball history, are also in this region and are well-equipped to make a deep run. They have a talented freshman class led by Marvin Bagley III and a veteran leader in Grayson Allen. Other teams to watch out for in the Midwest region include the Michigan State Spartans, one of the most talented teams in the country, and the Auburn Tigers, who have a high-powered offense led by guard Mustapha Heron. So now that we have a sense of which teams to watch out for in each region, it’s time to fill out our brackets. But remember, the NCAA tournament is known for its upsets and surprises, so don’t be afraid to take a chance on a lower-seeded team or a Cinderella story. After all, who could have predicted last year’s Final Four of Gonzaga, South Carolina, Oregon, and North Carolina? That’s what makes the tournament so special. Good luck with your bracket and may the best team win!
