NCAA Bracket 2015: West Virginia Is The #5 Seed In The Midwest Region, To Face Buffalo

The Big 12 Tournament likely didn't play out exactly how Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers drew it up, but this season is not over. Quite the contrary as WVU found out on Selection Sunday where the Big Dance takes them.

After polishing off a 23-9 season (10-8 in the Big 12 conference, arguable college basketball's best), the Mountaineers are headed to the Midwest Region where they'll be a #5 seed. The Mountaineers will open NCAA Tournament play on Thursday against the #12 seed Buffalo. Joining the two in the Midwest Region are the #1 seed Kentucky Wildcats, the winner of the play-in game between Manhattan and Hampton as the #16, #8 seeded Cincinnati, #9 seeded Purdue, #4 seeded Maryland, and #13 seeded Valparaiso. The winner of WVU-Buffalo will face the winner of Maryland and Valparaiso.

This West Virginia team might make some noise if they can keep the shooting percentages and rebounds up while maximizing the amount of possessions. Having senior guards Juwan Staten and Gary Browne would go a long way in keeping the Mountaineers alive in the tournament.

Here is West Virginia's's entire draw: