Royals star’s bracket has Iowa State winning the men’s NCAA Tournament

The Iowa State men’s basketball team rolled over two Texas-based schools over the weekend en route to the Big 12 basketball tournament title at the T-Mobile Center.

Those wins over Baylor and Houston apparently made an impression on one Texas native: Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

The NCAA shared a look at a tournament bracket that was filled out by Witt, who finished seventh in American League Most Valuable Player voting a year ago.

Witt picked Iowa State to win the national championship by defeating Gonzaga in the title game. The Cyclones, the No. 2 seed in the East Region, haven’t made the Final Four since 1944 when eight teams made the tournament.

Gonzaga, the fifth seed in the Midwest Region, beat Kansas in a second-round game in Witt’s bracket. The Bulldogs then would beat Purdue and Creighton to get to the Final Four. Witt has Gonzaga beating Houston before falling to the Cyclones.

Here is Witt’s bracket.

Another baseball star also is bullish on the Cyclones’ chances: Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II.

Harris, who was last season’s National League Rookie of the Year, has Texas Tech beating North Carolina in the final. That should make Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes happy.

The Cyclones are in the Final Four of Harris’ bracket, and he has Kansas advancing to the Elite Eight.

Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday has three Big 12 teams in the Final Four: Iowa State, Houston and Kansas. Holliday, the son of former Cardinals star Matt Holliday, sees the Jayhawks cutting down the nets after beating North Carolina, which would be a sweet tournament for Jayhawks fans.