The Houston Cougars enter the men's 2023 NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 team in the country and one of the heavy favorites to cut down the nets. But an injury to star guard Marcus Sasser has the Cougars suddenly in a precarious position, and leaves the Midwest Region of the bracket even more up for grabs. 

Sasser may be able to play when Houston tips off in tournament action, but there's plenty of talent in the Midwest. No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Xavier, and No. 4 Indiana are all powerhouses in their own right, to say nothing of the potential upsets lurking in the lower seeds. 

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The Cougars could be difficult to stop if they're at full strength, especially with the Final Four essentially amounting to home games in Houston. But they'll have to get out of the Midwest first, which is much easier said than done.

Before you lock in your bracket, here's everything you should consider about the Midwest Region.

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