The Midwest is home to some of the country’s most prestigious basketball programs, and not a season goes by where the region isn’t represented on the national landscape. For the past two years, the Butler Bulldogs have been the pride of the Midwest, reaching consecutive national title games in the past two seasons. But the Bulldogs haven’t been the only team worth watching around the region.
The Kansas Jayhawk’s and Ohio State Buckeyes are national powerhouses brimming with professional talent, while marquee coaches like Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Wisconsin’s Bo Ryan have kept their programs ripe to challenge for championships as well. This year the Midwestern Gentleman will be keep you up to date with the region’s top contenders by periodically releasing our MWG Top 25, a ranking of the best teams hitting the hardwood across the Midwest. This list may look very different in March, but for now, these are the best basketball teams of the Midwest according to the men at MWG.
MWG TOP 10 Midwest
1. Ohio State Buckeyes – The Buckeyes will be led by the country’s best player and only unanimously selected All-American, Jared Sullinger. This team will be a contender for the national championship, and the favorites in the Big Ten.
2. Kansas Jayhawks – Coach Bill Self has a talented group of players returning to Lawrence this season, but expectations may be tapered this year in comparison to most. Forward Thomas Robinson will be counted on to lead the team along with point guard Tyshawn Taylor. 
3. Xavier Musketeers – The X is once again the class of the Atlantic 10 and a threat to crash the Sweet Sixteen. All-American point guard Tu Holloway gives the Musketeers the firepower to be able to take down any team in the country, while seven-footer Kenny Frease will hold down the fort inside.
4. Wisconsin Badgers – Badgers coach Bo Ryan is still running his flex offense out in Madison, and this year he will have an All-American at the helm as Jordan Taylor returns to challenge the Buckeyes for the top spot in the Big Ten.
5. Michigan Wolverines –Michigan started off slowly last year, but found their stride in March, nearly upsetting Duke in the NCAAs. The Wolverines will have to cope with the early departure of their All-Big Ten point guard Darius Morris, but they will welcome back Tim Hardaway Jr., a rising star who will be ready to take the reins of the team. 
6. Michigan State Spartans – The Spartans wouldn’t usually fall out of the Midwest’s top three teams, but this is a rebuilding year of sorts for Tom Izzo and his team. Coach Izzo will be building this team around one of the country’s most unique talents, forward Draymond Green. The man known as “The Dancing Bear” is a slick-passing floor general from the power forward position in the Spartan offense.
7. Cincinnati Bearcats – The Bearcats play in the rugged Big East, and are always battle tested in time for the postseason. Cincy will feature a plethora of talented guards, but will be anchored by the physically intimidating presence of forward Yancy Gates.
8. Marquette Golden Eagles – Marquette is another Big East program that is always a tough out in March thanks to their scrappy style of play. This year, Buzz Peterson’s bunch will be lead by sharp-shooting Darius Johnson-Odom and the very athletic Vander Blue.
9. Missouri Tigers – Mizzou will be poised to make plenty of noise in the Big 12 this year as they return two all-conference players in Marcus Denmon and Laurence Bowers, and the electrifying Flip Pressey. The Tigers will have the talent to compete for a conference title, and will be very dangerous in March.
10. Purdue Boilermakers – Purdue is the epitome of a blue-collar Big Ten team. Their workmanlike approach to the game will hopefully feature star-crossed forward Robbie Hummel…if he can avoid a third consecutive season ending injury. Â
Cheers…
