Bracket Breakdown: West Region

Later today, we'll begin rolling out our Tidbit previews of each team/first-round matchup, but to kick us off, we're gonna look at each region. Here's the Midwest region.

Best Storyline: Is Mike Krzyzewski a great leader of men, a great basketball coach or — oh gosh — both? Worst Storyline: If Illinois upsets Virginia Tech, they'll face SIU (Bruce Weber's former team) and then potentially Kansas (coached by toupeed former Illini coach Bill Self). This is, of course, our favorite storyline, but ours, and ours only. (And Illinois is gonna lose anyway. But you knew that.) Everybody's Favorite Upset: VCU over Duke. Obviously. Odd Fact: One team in this bracket has lost a top player for possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms. Can you guess which state they're from? (Hint: Vermont didn't make the tournament.) Most Handsome Man: Jamie Dixon, trailed tightly by Tubby Smith. Most Skipable First-Round Game: Virginia Tech-Illinois (except for us, of course).

And, some predictions from around the Internets:

• Dick Vitale: UCLA. • Jay Bilas: Kansas. • Andy Katz: UCLA. • Stuart Mandel: UCLA. • Dennis Dodd: UCLA. • DEADSPIN: Kansas. Our favorite bracket, and we think Bill "Savalas" Self finally sneaks in the Final Four.

Please, give us more Illini insults in the comments. We guess you just like to make your editor cry.