Out of all of the conferences in this year’s tournament the West is probably the most top heavy. Yes there may be an undefeated team in this plus a few former Cinderella Stories but this is why they play the games, to whom we will be discussing?
Gonzaga Bulldogs: This might as well be the best team Mark Few has ever coached. Yes, that’s a strong statement about a program that had several first-round picks on the same team in 2018-19, two seasons after losing to North Carolina in the national title game in 2017, the Bulldogs have unleashed a group with volumes of talent, depth and efficiency. An undefeated team entering the tournament isn’t often but these guys aren’t the same guys that choked in years past. Jalen Suggs is a projected top-five pick, and he can be the best player on the floor whenever he wants to be. Corey Kisper, the West Coast Conference Player of the Year who has made 44% of his 3-point attempts as well is also leading the charge. To be honest they are either completing the NCAAs first unbeaten season since 1976 or they will lose in the 2nd Round. Time will tell with that story.
Iowa Hawkeyes: Any team that has momentum going into the playoffs has to be taken seriously. The Hawkeyes finished 7-1 in their last eight games of the Big Ten season, a stretch that included a sweep of Wisconsin and a road win over Ohio State. Luka Groza is playing with a huge chip on his shoulder since he didn’t win the Wooden Award last year but also because they play in the high powered BIG10. The bad news? The injury bug has arrived: Jack Nunge (CRACK!) is out for the season and his void is truly missed. But that just means Joe Wieskamp & Co. have to play at a higher level which they did throughout the Big Ten tournament and of course the whole season. If they can keep it up they have a chance at catching Gonzaga.
Kansas Jayhawks: Back in January, Kansas didn’t look like a typical Kansas team. Bill Self had not yet found the right rotation and a team that had lost Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike from last season’s squad clearly hadn’t filled that void. But then February arrived and the Jayhawks seemed to make a conscious choice to use elite defense to pull them through the final stretch of the season and it worked. The Jayhawks turned back into THE JAYHAWKS! A team that has had plenty of experience in March Madness and also has David McCormack, who averaged 16.7 PPG in his past four games coming back from COVID. What they truly need is to avoid an early exit considering that will likely face Iowa in the Sweet 16.
Virginia Cavaliers: The Defending National Champions are trying to reclaim their title with coach Tony Bennett trying to prove that 2019 was no fluke. They secured the ACC’s regular-season title based on winning percentage with the league’s imbalanced schedule due to COVID-19. But the latter is also the reason the Cavs had to exit the ACC tournament after a positive test forced their withdrawal. At that point, Virginia’s season was in jeopardy, but the Cavs are here. Led by Sam Hauser and Jay Huff, Virginia boats some of the most underrated talents in the country. But this team doesn’t have the level of talent that guided the program to its first national title two years ago, so it will have to do it with balance and depth.
Creighton Blue Jays: Everything seemed uncertain when Greg McDermott apologized for racially insensitive remarks he made after a recent game, subsequently earning a one-game suspension. With McDermott back for the postseason — even with the Blue Jays’ run to the title game in the Big East tournament — the scrutiny around his comments could intensify the spotlight on the program. Ever since then Marcus Zegarowski has taken off and become the star that this team needs. Other than him there aren’t really any big names on the team but they have plenty of depth which is another solid way to succeed in March.
USC Trojans: The Mobley Dynasty has consumed USC whole. While a portion of America was asleep this season, Evan Mobley was going to work on the West Coast. The freshman has been a force this season. The mobile 7-footer averaged 16.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.1 APG and 2.9 BPG entering a Pac-12 tournament semifinal matchup against Colorado. With a frontcourt anchored by him and his brother, 6-10 Isaiah Mobley, opposing teams have made just 42.4% of their shots inside the arc against them, a top-five mark nationally. With the talents of those 2 being a main reason for their success USC will look dangerous if the depth shows up as well.
Oregon Ducks: Well another team in this tournament that is a tale of 2 teams. Dana Altman’s squad has endured a long pause and multiple injuries. N’Faly Dante (8.2 PPG) suffered a torn ACL in December and Will Richardson (11.5 PPG) missed a significant stretch with a hand injury. But a now-healthy Oregon team has five players — Eugene Omoruyi (16.8 PPG), Chris Duarte (16.8 PPG), LJ Figueroa (12.2 PPG), Eric Williams Jr. (10.4 PPG) and Richardson — who are all averaging double figures and connecting on at least 36% of their 3-point attempts for the Pac-12 regular-season champ. When they are firing on all cylinders they are tough to beat, if not mediocrity. What will the results be this time?
Oklahoma Sooners: OU’s Lon Kruger joins Tubby Smith as one of two coaches who’ve led five different programs to the NCAA tournament. That demands an adaptability that Kruger displayed with an Oklahoma team that beat Kansas, swept West Virginia and bested Alabama in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Austin Reaves (17.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.7 APG) is a star, but 6-foot-9 Brady Manek finding his rhythm from the perimeter — he has made 36% of his 3-point attempts overall but only 31% of those shots in league action — will create space for everyone on the floor. They will need playmaking from their guards if they want to stand any chance at beating Missouri in the 1st Round.
Missouri Tigers: Missouri’s résumé largely hinged on big non-conference wins against Oregon, Wichita State and Illinois to overcome a rocky finish in SEC action. After a 68-65 win over Alabama on Feb. 6, the team recorded a 3-6 record in its nine games prior to the NCAA tournament. In four of those losses, Missouri gave up 80 points or more. The Tigers have not been able to recapture the efficiency they used to pick up significant wins earlier in the season. Dru Smith (14.1 PPG) and Xavier Pinson (14.1 PPG) are key players for Cuonzo Martin’s squad. We all know what the Tigers can do, they can beat you with speed size and talent. But can they do it long term? That’s the question everyone is asking!
VCU Rams: This team is a defensive powerhouse on the verge of eruption. Maybe you haven’t heard of Nah’Shon Hyland (19.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 37% from the 3-point line), the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. That could change soon if VCU’s bubbly journey to the field of 68 includes a win or two. A top-10 mark in defensive efficiency, however, might not be enough to overcome this group’s knack for committing turnovers. The Rams finished with a 7-2 record in their last nine regular-season games before the Atlantic 10 tournament. If they play mistake free during the tournament they have a chance.
Drake Bulldogs: This squad went from a title favorite back to reality in a span of a few games. After an 18-0 start (9-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference), Drake finished the season with a 7-4 record in its final 11 games. Leading scorer ShanQuan Hemphill (broken foot) missed three of those losses. Roman Penn (broken foot), the team’s No. 3 scorer, was out for two of them. Losing a pair of key players who combined to average 25.3 PPG only increased the pressure on Joseph Yesufu, who has logged at least 39 minutes in five consecutive games. But Hemphill could return for the NCAA tournament. That would help everyone. Honestly for them they get to play a team that always has underachievers in March.
Wichita State Shockers: That team just happens to be these guys. Gregg Marshall’s preseason departure after allegations of verbal and physical abuse opened the door for Isaac Brown, who won AAC Coach of the Year despite starting the season with the interim tag. Wichita State minimized turnovers and played hard, counting on guys such as Tyson Etienne to help the Shockers win the league’s title. They slid into the field, but they’ve already exceeded expectations. Can they do it again by winning a game? Against a dark horse like Drake I honestly don’t know?
UC Barbara Gauchos: JaQuori McLaughlin is the 6-4 point guard and leader of this group. He has made 39% of 3-point attempts and averaged 16.2 PPG for a team that has lost one game since Dec. 28. He has also helped this team control the ball (17% offensive turnover rate) with a 2.5 assist-turnover ratio. The Gauchos have made 58% of their shots in transition, an “excellent” mark especially at the rate he is on. The rough part for you guys is the machine known as Creighton, and they want heads after their loss to Georgetown.
Ohio Bobcats: Jason Preston’s emergence has been the catalyst for the success this Ohio team has had in Jeff Boals’ second season. With Preston on the floor, the Bobcats have made 58% of their shots inside the arc. Preston, a 6-4 guard with legit NBA dreams, is one of five players on this Ohio team averaging double figures. The Bobcats lost at Illinois by two points in November. It also put up 101 points on Cleveland State, the Horizon League champion. Ohio is dangerous. (YoYo Sound) That is until they have to play the defending champion, “well it’s been nice knowing ya.”
Eastern Washington Eagles: After a 3-6 start, Eastern Washington has gone 13-1 since Jan. 21. Tanner Groves, a 6-9 center, has averaged 16.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG and 1.0 BPG. He has also improved as a shooter, connecting on 36% of his 3-point attempts in Big Sky action. It will be important for head coach Shantay Legans’ squad to keep Groves on the floor. He has fouled out in four games this season. Why does that matter? Because this is a SmallBall offense with the potential of raining in several 3s. But how will they stack up against Kansas? Not good at all!
Grand Canyon Antelopes: Bryce Drew figured a move from Valparaiso to Vanderbilt was the next step for his career, but he finished 21-43 in his final two seasons before he was dismissed. After a year in TV, he accepted the Grand Canyon gig this year and didn’t waste any time leaving his mark. The Antelopes were the Western Athletic Conference’s No. 1 defensive team. Drew relied on Denmark native Asbjorn Midtgaard, a 7-foot Wichita State transfer, to ensure that efficiency. He has averaged 14.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG and 1.3 BPG this season. This is a team that needs a few more years to get higher in the seedings if anything.
Appalachian State Mountaineers: When Dustin Kerns’ squad was 13-11 overall and 7-8 in league play at the end of the regular season, a conference tournament championship seemed unlikely. But March doesn’t always make sense. Standout Michael Almonacy averaged 21.7 PPG and went 20-for-39 from 3 as the Mountaineers rallied to win the Sun Belt tournament championship, knocking off top seeds Georgia State and Texas State. The fact that they got in the tournament instead of Duke and Penn State is insane but that is just me.
Norfolk State Spartans: Norfolk State returns to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012, when it upset 2-seed Missouri in the first round. That version of the squad was ranked slightly higher this year, but this team has made 37.4% of its attempts from the 3-point line versus 31.5% for the 2011-12 group. Still, the 2011-12 team had Kyle O’Quinn, who played eight seasons in the NBA. But Devante Carter, the team’s top scorer this season, is averaging 15.5 PPG almost identical to Quinn’s output nine years ago. Nice story but it’s all for naught.
The NCAA Tournament has returned and the games will be epic and more insane than ever! Lets see the Bracket!
| Winners | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Sweet 16 | Elite 8 | Final 4 | National Championship |
| Midwest | Illinois Houston West Virginia Oklahoma State Tennessee Syracuse Clemson Loyola Chicago | Loyola Chicago Houston West Virginia Tennessee | Loyola Chicago Houston | Houston | ||
| South | Baylor Ohio State Arkansas Purdue Villanova Texas Tech Virginia Tech Wisconsin | Baylor Ohio State Texas Tech Villanova | Villanova Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State | |
| East | Michigan Alabama Texas Florida State Georgetown Michigan State Maryland LSU | Michigan Alabama Texas Florida State | Michigan Alabama | Alabama | ||
| West | Gonzaga Iowa Kansas Virginia Creighton USC VCU Missouri | Gonzaga Iowa Kansas Virginia | Gonzaga Kansas | Gonzaga | Gonzaga | Gonzaga |
Bragging Rights Sports 