2023 March Madness 1st round bracket breakdown: Midwest Region
No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 11 Mississippi State or Pitt
The Cyclones made a surprising run to the Sweet 16 after handing the No. 3-seeded Wisconsin Badgers a loss in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. They are back as a No. 6 seed and will rely upon players Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes, who combined for 25 points a game during the regular season. Both players helped the Cyclones beat Kansas and Baylor, and if they start to click in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, they have the potential to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs and Pittsburgh Panthers will tip off on Tuesday for a chance to enter the Round of 64. The Bulldogs lost eight of nine heading to January, but after beating Marquette and TCU, the SEC program made its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2019. The Panthers are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016 and are led by first-team All-ACC guard Jamaruis Burton and second-team All-ACC guard Blake Hinson. Both players led the Panthers to a 14-6 conference record and almost captured the ACC regular season championship. Now both will aim to lead the Panthers in the Round of 64 and potentially the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009.聽聽