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Bracket Busters Primed for Major Run: West Region
The Miami Hurricanes and the Wisconsin Badgers could be destined for deep runs in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament.
Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:38pm
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The West Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is headlined by the Arizona Wildcats, with No. 2 seed Purdue and NCAA Tournament stalwart Gonzaga also in the mix. However, two lower seeds, the Miami Hurricanes and the Wisconsin Badgers, have the firepower to make deep tournament runs and potentially upset some of the bigger names.
Why it matters
The West Region features several high-profile teams, but the Hurricanes and Badgers have the talent and experience to potentially pull off some bracket-busting upsets and make unexpected deep runs in the tournament.
The details
The Badgers are led by a strong backcourt duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, who combine for 40 points per game. They are supported by 7-footer Nolan Winter and 6'10" forward Austin Rapp. The Hurricanes, led by first-year head coach Jai Lucas, have engineered a massive turnaround, going from 7-24 last season to 25-8 this year. They are led by a heavy influx of transfers, including Malik Reneau, Ernest Udeh, and Tre Donaldson, as well as freshman Shelton Henderson.
- The Badgers beat Michigan in Ann Arbor earlier this season.
- The Badgers have also knocked off UCLA, Ohio State, Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois (twice).
The players
Nick Boyd
A strong, physical guard with the Wisconsin Badgers who is part of an elite backcourt duo.
John Blackwell
The Wisconsin Badgers' best NBA prospect, featuring grown man strength, a buttery jumper, and a willingness to compete on every play.
Nolan Winter
The 7-footer for the Wisconsin Badgers who averages over a block per game patrolling the paint.
Austin Rapp
The 6'10" Australian forward for the Wisconsin Badgers who can space the floor from beyond the arc and is a menace on the boards.
Jai Lucas
The first-year head coach of the Miami Hurricanes who engineered a massive turnaround, leading the team to a 25-8 record and a third-place finish in the ACC.
What’s next
If the Hurricanes can get by No. 10 seed Missouri, Purdue could be lurking in the second round. Miami not only has an athleticism advantage in that game, but it also has the size to matchup with the Boilermakers — as well as an offensive-minded guard that'll force Braden Smith to defend.
The takeaway
The West Region features several high-profile teams, but the Hurricanes and Badgers have the talent and experience to potentially pull off some bracket-busting upsets and make unexpected deep runs in the tournament.
