NCAA Midwest Regional History and Locations
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, often called March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States, currently featuring 68 college basketball teams from the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to determine the national champion. The tournament is known for its unpredictable nature, exciting upsets, and the crowning of a national champion.
The Selection Process
Each year, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee is responsible for selecting teams to participate in the tournament. Thirty-two teams receive automatic bids by winning their respective conference tournaments. The committee is also in charge of choosing the teams who receive "at-large" bids. Seeding is the first priority for the Selection Committee each year. For instance if there are four clear-cut No. 1 seeds but two of them are from East Coast, one is from the South and the other is from the West Coast - an East Coast team might wind up as the top seed in the Midwest Region. Typically, though - the Midwest is represented at the top of the bracket by a team geographically close to the Midwest. For instance, Purdue was the top seed last year, Kansas was the top seed in 2017 and 2018 and Wichita State was the 1 seed in 2014. UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham is the current chairman of the Div. I men’s basketball committee.
Midwest Region: A Historical Overview
The Midwest Region is one of the four regions in the NCAA Tournament, each vying for a spot in the Final Four. Over the years, the Midwest Region has produced numerous memorable moments, Cinderella stories, and eventual national champions.
NCAA Champions from the Midwest Region
There have been 10 NCAA champions from the Midwest Region since 1990, tied for the second most. The South Region has produced 10 title teams and the East Region has also had eight teams win it all in that time. Prior to Kansas winning in 2022, you'd have to go back to 2013 when Louisville won it all. The "glory years" for the region came in the 2000s when teams from the Midwest won three titles in a row. The Florida Gators won in 2006 and 2007, and then Kansas cut the nets in 2008.
Here is a list of March Madness champions by region and seed going back to 1990:
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| Year | NCAA Champion | Region | Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UConn | East | 1 |
| 2023 | UConn | West | 4 |
| 2022 | Kansas | Midwest | 1 |
| 2021 | Baylor | South | 1 |
| 2020 | Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Virginia | South | 1 |
| 2018 | Villanova | East | 1 |
| 2017 | North Carolina | South | 1 |
| 2016 | Villanova | South | 2 |
| 2015 | Duke | South | 1 |
| 2014 | UConn | East | 7 |
| 2013 | Louisville | Midwest | 1 |
| 2012 | Kentucky | South | 1 |
| 2011 | UConn | West | 3 |
| 2010 | Duke | South | 1 |
| 2009 | North Carolina | South | 1 |
| 2008 | Kansas | Midwest | 1 |
| 2007 | Florida | Midwest | 1 |
| 2006 | Florida | Midwest | 3 |
| 2005 | North Carolina | East | 1 |
| 2004 | UConn | West | 2 |
| 2003 | Syracuse | East | 3 |
| 2002 | Maryland | East | 1 |
| 2001 | Duke | East | 1 |
| 2000 | Michigan State | Midwest | 1 |
| 1999 | UConn | West | 1 |
| 1998 | Kentucky | South | 2 |
| 1997 | Arizona | South | 4 |
| 1996 | Kentucky | Midwest | 1 |
| 1995 | UCLA | West | 1 |
| 1994 | Arkansas | Midwest | 1 |
| 1993 | North Carolina | East | 1 |
| 1992 | Duke | East | 1 |
| 1991 | Duke | Midwest | 2 |
| 1990 | UNLV | West | 1 |
Memorable Upsets in the Midwest Region
The Midwest Region is known for its unpredictable nature, often featuring stunning upsets that defy expectations. Call this the "feast or famine region" when it comes to upsets. In 2015, for instance, the region did not have a single first-round upset. The next year in 2016, a 15 knocked off a 2 seed, a 12 beat a 5, an 11 toppled a 6, a 10 beat a 7 and a 9 upended an 8. Middle Tennessee was the 15 seed in the Midwest in that crazy tournament six years ago. They toppled No. 2 seed Michigan State. In the past 22 years, there have also been two 14 seeds that have shocked the world. Mercer took down No. 3 seeded Duke in 2014 and No. 14 Ohio upset No. 3 Georgetown in 2010. The Midwest region has been kind to Ohio as two years after the Bobcats beat the Hoyas, they knocked off Michigan as a 13 seed.
Here is a list of upsets in the Midwest since 2000:
- 2025: No. 12 McNeese State over No. 5 Clemson
- 2024: No. 11 Oregon over No. 6 South Carolina
- 2023: No. 9 Auburn over No. 8 Iowa, No. 11 Pittsburgh over No. 6 Iowa St., No. 10 Penn State over No. 7 Texas A&M
- 2022: No. 12 Richmond over No. 5 Iowa, No. 11 Iowa State over No. 6 LSU, No. 10 Miami over No. 7 USC, No. 9 Creighton over. No. 8 SDSU
- 2021: No. 12 Oregon State over No. 5 Tennessee, No. 11 Syracuse over No. 6 San Diego State, No. 10 Rutgers over No. 7 Clemson
- 2019: No. 11 Ohio State over Iowa State, No. 9 Washington over No. 8 Utah State
- 2018: No. 11 Syracuse over No. 6 TCU
- 2017: No. 11 Rhode Island over No. 6 Creighton, No. 9 Michigan State over No. 8 Miami
- 2016: No. 15 Middle Tennessee over No. 2 Michigan State, No. 12 Little Rock over No. 5 Purdue, No. 11 Gonzaga over No. 6 Seton Hall, No. 10 Syracuse over No. 7 Dayton, No. 9 Butler over No. 8 Texas Tech
- 2015: None
- 2014: No. 14 Mercer over No. 3 Duke, No. 11 Tennessee over No. 6 UMass
- 2013: No. 12 Oregon over No. 5 Oklahoma State
- 2012: No. 13 Ohio over No. 4 Michigan, No. 12 South Florida over No. 5 Temple, No. 11 North Carolina State over No. 6 San Diego State, No. 10 Purdue over Saint Mary’s
- 2011*: N/A
- 2010: No. 14 Ohio over No. 3 Georgetown, No. 10 Georgia Tech over No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 9 Northern Iowa over No. 8 UNLV
- 2009: No. 13 Cleveland State over No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 12 Arizona over No. 5 Utah, No. 11 Dayton over No. 6 West Virginia, No. 10 USC over No. 7 Boston College, No. 9 Siena over No. 8 Ohio State
- 2008: No. 13 Siena over No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 12 Villanova over No. 5 Clemson, No. 11 Kansas State over No. 6 USC, No. 10 Davidson over No. 7 Gonzaga
- 2007: No. 11 Winthrop over No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 9 Purdue over No. 8 Arizona
- 2006: No. 12 Montana over No. 5 Nevada, No. 11 UW-Milwaukee over No. 6 Oklahoma
- 2005: No. 12 UW-Milwaukee over No. 5 Alabama, No. 11 UAB over No. 6 LSU, No. 9 Nevada over No. 8 Texas
- 2004: No. 12 Pacific over No. 5 Providence, No. 10 Nevada over No. 7 Michigan State, No. 9 UAB over No. 8 Washington
- 2003: No. 13 Tulsa over No. 4 Dayton, No. 9 Utah over No. 8 Oregon
- 2002: No. 12 Creighton over No. 5 Florida
- 2001: No. 10 Butler over No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 9 Charlotte over No. 8 Tennessee
- 2000: None
In 2011, the NCAA Div. 1 men’s basketball tournament did not feature a traditional Midwest Region. It instead had an East, West, Southeast and Southwest Region.
Recent Midwest Regional Finals
The 2025 Midwest Region champion will be crowned this weekend in Indianapolis. Top sports betting sites have Elite Eight odds available now. Houston (+550) is among the favorites at March Madness odds to win the championship. Check out Midwest Region Final odds for the Tennessee Volunteers vs. Houston Cougars. This year’s Midwest Regional final will occur at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Below, we will examine Midwest Region odds and March Madness odds for the Elite Eight round of this year's NCAA Tournament. The Midwest Region final game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, March 30. 2. Tennessee vs. 1. Houston | Sunday, March 30 (Indianapolis, IN) Sunday's Midwest Region final pits the No. 1 Houston Cougars (33-4) vs. No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers (30-7). Houston opened as a -4.5 favorite with a game total of 123.5. ET (CBS). 1 seed and defeated No. 2 Tennessee in the Midwest Final. It marked the first time since 1980 that Purdue advanced to the Final Four. The Boilermakers played UConn in the national championship game but lost 75-60. Two years ago, No. 5 Miami was the big story out of the Midwest Region last spring as they punched their ticket to the Final Four. The great run included an 89-75 victory over No. 1 Houston in the Sweet 16. Eventual champion UConn knocked out the Canes in the national semifinal. No. 1 Kansas lived up to its top billing in the Midwest Region in 2022 as the Jayhawks took down No. 10 Miami, 76-50, in the Regional Final. While the Kansas win was expected, the earlier Midwest Region rounds included several upsets. Iowa State, an 11 seed, advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins over No. 6 LSU, 59-54, and Wisconsin, a 3 seed, 54-49. And it's hard to ignore the Miami Hurricanes who advanced to the Elite Eight by upsetting No. 7 USC, 68-66, and No. 2 Auburn, 79-61. This set up a rare 10 vs. 11 regional semifinal between Miami and Iowa State, with the Canes winning, 70-56. Houston, a 2 seed, won the Midwest Region in 2021 as it toppled Oregon State, 67-61, in the Regional Final. The biggest upset in the Midwest in 2021 came in the second round when Loyola-Chicago cast its upset magic upon the 1 seed in the region, Illinois. Auburn, the 5 seed, emerged as the Midwest Region champ in 2019, beating Kentucky 77-71 in OT in the Regional Final. What the Tigers accomplished three years ago was mighty impressive considering they had to topple traditional college basketball powers like Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky along the way. The Jayhawks, Tar Heels, and Wildcats all had better seeds than Auburn.
Host Cities and Venues
The NCAA is responsible for choosing host sites for preliminary and final rounds of predetermined championships across Divisions I, II and III. The Association chose over 240 host sites for preliminary and final rounds of predetermined championships across Divisions I, II and III, primarily for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. The NCAA received more than 1,200 bids from member schools, conferences, cities and sports commissions across 47 states and Washington, D.C., all competing to host predetermined rounds for 87 of the NCAA’s 90 championships. “The enthusiasm and interest from around the country to host NCAA championships continues to be a testament to the quality of our events,” said Lynda Tealer, NCAA senior vice president of championships. “For this cycle we incorporated more data into the process to help our sport and oversight committees through the evaluation and selection of sites as we had so many quality venues and locations looking to host during these two seasons. Forty states plus the District of Columbia were selected to host at least one NCAA championship event, with Florida garnering the most with 22. The Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will stretch across the country hosted by 25 cities in 18 states for the 2027 and 2028 tournaments. Two of the most frequent hosts are in this two-year rotation. Kansas City is hosting the 2027 Midwest Regional, which will increase its total of 137 tournament games, currently tied for second all-time with Dayton, Ohio. The University of Dayton will continue to host the NCAA First Four through 2028, as it has served as the site for the start of the Division I men’s basketball tournament since 2001. New York’s Madison Square Garden will host the 2027 East Regional, marking its 13th regional to tie Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium as the most frequent regional host venue in tournament history. Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles round out the 2027 regional hosts.
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"We are thrilled to bring the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship to so many terrific cities and hosts from all four corners of the country and points in between,” said JoAn Scott, the NCAA’s vice president of men’s basketball. “These 25 cities have previously been awarded the rights to host the tournament more than 300 times, accounting for more than 1,300 tournament games played in these locations. Another focus of the site selection is the announcement of the 2027 and 2028 regional sites for the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. Two sites were chosen for each year, continuing the format shift adopted for the 2023 tournament. Las Vegas and Philadelphia will host in 2027, while Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., will host in 2028. This will be the first time that the women’s basketball championship has been in Las Vegas since the 1991 West Regional and first time in Washington since 1997. It will be Washington’s first time serving as a regional host. Philadelphia will be hosting its first regional since 2011 and fifth overall, but it’s the first women’s basketball tournament action at the Wells Fargo Center since it hosted the 2000 Women’s Final Four.
“The selection of Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland, and Washington, D.C., to host the 2027 and 2028 regional championships underscores the remarkable growth of the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship,” said Lynn Holzman, vice president of women’s basketball. “These cities, recognized as epicenters of the sport, have a proven track record of hosting successful events and possess the necessary infrastructure to support the expanding championship and its two-site regional format. A notable highlight of the bid selection process has a pair of Division I championships moving from arenas to stadiums. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in 2028. The 2020 event was scheduled to be held at the same venue before being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship will head to San Antonio to play in the Alamodome in 2026, returning for the third time after a 15-year hiatus since the last visit in 2011. Division II will hold both basketball Elite Eights at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2027 and 2028. Division II football will remain in McKinney, Texas, where the championship game has been hosted every season since 2018. The Stagg Bowl, Division III’s football championship game, will return to Salem, Virginia, where Salem Stadium will host the game for the 27th time in January 2027, while Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, will host in 2028 for the third time. In 2028, the Men’s Frozen Four returns to Chicago’s United Center for the second time. The event’s top two arena attendance records of 19,783 and 19,626 were set there in 2017. In 2027, it will return to the nation’s capital for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in the more than 75 year history of the Men’s Frozen Four. The Women’s Frozen Four will return to Duluth, Minnesota, for the fifth time in 2027 and makes its debut in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 2028. The Divisions I, II and III Men’s Lacrosse Championships will take place in Philadelphia for the ninth time in 2027 at Lincoln Financial Field, while returning to Foxborough, Massachusetts, in 2028 for the seventh time at Gillette Stadium. The Division I Women’s College Cup will take place in Missouri for the first time when the new CPKC Stadium in Kansas City hosts in 2025, replacing the previously awarded bid to Sacramento. Men’s and Women’s College Cups will continue to take over Cary, North Carolina, returning in 2026 and 2027. WakeMed Soccer Park has hosted the College Cup 19 times since 2003 with 11 editions featuring the women and eight for the men and have upcoming hosting duties for both men and women in 2024 and men’s soccer in 2025. The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, will continue to host the Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships through 2028.
The following is a list of venues that have hosted the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Venues that have not yet hosted, but have been officially announced as future tournament sites, are also included. KFC Yum! Hosts: Big East Conference and St. AMF Mt. Ivey M. Exactech Arena at Stephen C. Jon M. Ronald B. James M. James M. E.B. St. Hosts: University of Missouri, Columbia, and St. The Palestra in Philadelphia While the First Four format began in 2011, the tournament previously featured an Opening Round with "play-in games" in twelve editions. In 1983, there were four games in the Opening Round with two games in Philadelphia and two games in Dayton. In 1984, there were five games in the Opening Round with three games in Philadelphia and two games in Dayton. From 1985 to 2000 there were 64 teams in the tournament and no play-in games. This list includes sites which hosted preliminary games equivalent to the current First and Second Rounds. The 1951 tournament was the first tournament to have a game at a site other than the regional or national championship sites. From 1953 through 1974, the tournament had between three and six sites host first round games, with the winners progressing to the regional semifinals at the regional sites. In 1975, the tournament expanded to 32 teams and eliminated byes for top seeds, to accommodate the additional games eight sites hosted first round games. St. Donald L. E. A. KFC Yum! Hubert H. St. St. St. Jon M. Between 1939 and 1951, the Regional Championships were the National Semifinals, with the winners advancing to a separate site. From 1952 to the present, the Regional Championships are the national quarterfinals with the winners advancing to the Final Four. St. KFC Yum! E. Hubert H. St. St. St. St. St. Jon M. Between 1939 and 1951, the National Semifinals were hosted at the Regional sites and the National Championship game was hosted at a separate site. For those years, this list only includes the host of the National Championship game. St. Hubert H. St. St. St. Jon M. ^ a b c The initial round of the 1951 tournament is considered the First Round despite being a round of 16 teams. The tournament expanded in 1951 to 16 teams but retained the two-region structure with the two regional champions meeting for the national championship game at a separate site. The NCAA's 1951 bracket names the round of 16 as the First Round, the round of 8 as the Regional Semifinals, and the round of 4 as the Regional Finals. All games of the West Region were played in Kansas City.
The Midwest Conference (MWC)
The Midwest Conference (MWC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in the Midwestern United States in the states of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The organization of the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) was conceived at a meeting at Coe College on May 12, 1921. Charter members were Beloit College, Carleton College, Coe College, Cornell College, Knox College (Illinois) and Lawrence University. Ripon College joined the conference in 1923, followed by Monmouth College in 1924, Grinnell College in 1940 and Lake Forest College in 1974. Illinois College and St. Norbert College joined in 1982 and Carroll University followed in 1992. Carleton withdrew following the 1982-83 academic year. St. Olaf College also competed in the conference from 1952 to 1974, as did the University of Chicago from 1976 to 1987. Coe and Cornell withdrew following the 1996-97 academic year with Cornell rejoining the league starting in the 2012-13 year. Macalester College joined as a football-only member starting in 2014. The MWC split into North and South divisions for football, men's and women's tennis, baseball, and softball from 2012 through 2016. Divisional play ended with the departure of Carroll after the 2015-16 school year,[1] and resumed for football only with the addition of the University of Chicago as an affiliate member for the 2017-18 season.[2] St.
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