NCAA Tournament Preview: West Region

No. 1 Oregon - The last three seasons, the Ducks have made the NCAA Tournament and won at least one game. They ran into Wisconsin the last two seasons and were ousted by the Badgers. Expectations will be higher for the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament champions. Forward Dillon Brooks (16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists) is a legitimate star, who can do it all, including hit tough shots. The Ducks have plenty of rim protection in springy Chris Boucher (12.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 blocks) and Jordan Bell (1.7 blocks in 20.2 minutes). Freshman Tyler Dorsey and Elgin Cook provide scoring and perimeter defense.

No. 2 Oklahoma - The Sooner balloon rose unimpeded through November and December. It took a triple-overtime Jayhawk pin to let some of the air out of the unparalleled Oklahoma perimeter attack. The team beat all non-Jayhawk opponents on its homecourt, but lost five games on the road when the threes did not fall. Buddy Hield is the headliner with 25.0 points and 4.0 3-pointers on 46.4 percent from long range. His backcourt mates, Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard, are also excellent. Add forward Ryan Spangler and defensive ace Khadeem Lattin and you have one of the best starting units in the nation. The team cannot tolerate a long distance drought or foul trouble, but it can score against almost any opponent.

No. 3 Texas A&M - Other than a mysterious four-game losing streak to start February, the Aggies had an outstanding season. They defended the homecourt against Kentucky (before losing to the Wildcats in the SEC tournament final) and won eight straight after the losing streak. Jalen Jones and Danuel House give the team two go-to scorers, and the pair combined for better than 30 points per game. Tyler Davis and Tonny Trocha-Morelas provide size, while guards Alex Caruso and Anthony Collins give the team speed and ball handling. They have a variety of avenues to victory and will be a tough out.

No. 4 Duke - The Blue Devils' problem was evident early in the season. In the Champions Classic against Kentucky, it didn't look like the team could defend very well. While it had several quality wins (at North Carolina, home games against Louisville and Virginia), this issue never really went away. Losing Amile Jefferson to a foot injury did not help. Duke can outscore many opponents with the dangerous wing combo of Grayson Allen (21.6 points) and Brandon Ingram (16.8 points). Matt Jones joined Allen and Ingram in hitting better than 40 percent of his 3-pointers. The question will be who can step up and help provide some stops.

CINDERELLA WATCH

No. 13 UNC-Wilmington - The Seahawks will be a fashionable pick for those who remember that Duke crashed out of the tournament two years ago after being dismissed by Mercer. UNC-Wilmington is led by 6-foot-5 junior guard Chris Flemmings, who scored at least 20 points seven times and averaged 16.1. Junior point guard Denzel Ingram provided 12.5 points and 3.4 assists, while 7-footer C.J. Gettys provides size in the paint. This team can keep pace with Duke and has enough depth to provide big problems for the Blue Devils.

No. 12 Yale - The Bulldogs won't be able to stand up to Baylor in terms of physicality or tournament experience, but Baylor can beat itself and the Bulldogs can help that process. Sophomore guard Makai Mason and senior forward Justin Sears make an enviable 1-2 scoring combo. Both players averaged 15.8 points, while Brandon Sherrod provides even more interior scoring with 12.5 points. The team will rely on Mason more because Jack Montague was expelled. This is Yale's first Big Dance since 1962 (when the dance was considerably smaller with 25 teams).

BIGGEST BUST

No. 4 Duke - What separates the good Duke teams from the not so good? As noted above, it is the ability to defend. Last year, coach Mike Krzyzewski could put Justice Winslow on any opponent and that was that. Winslow is not walking through that door! Duke did not suffer any debilitating losses in the non-conference, but couldn't come up with big stops against a number of ACC opponents. Every potential Blue Devil opponent has had plenty of success, so it wouldn't be shocking for a repeat of 2014.

FIRST-ROUND UPSET

No. 12 Yale over No. 5 Baylor - A bracket picker can come up with reasons to support any of the 12 seeds. One is surely going to win. Why not Yale? The Bears probably remember last year enough when they coughed up a game against Georgia State, but they may still be looking past the Yalies. The Bulldogs can slow the Bear attack and force Baylor to operate from the halfcourt. Yale has only lost once since Dec. 30 and could send Baylor out early again.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Buddy Hield, guard, Oklahoma - Is it fair to compare Hield to Stephen Curry? Of course not, but like the NBA MVP, Hield can score points in big bunches, which make no lead safe. The 6-4 senior hit at least five 3-pointers in 12 games. His offensive game is not a one-trick pony because he can attack the basket and converted 89.5 percent of his free throws. He also will want to redeem himself from his worst performance of the season (six points in the loss to West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament Friday). Look out, West Region!

SWEET 16 PICKS

No. 1 Oregon - The Ducks simply have too much athleticism and skill for their first-round opponent, and either St. Joe's nor Cincinnati (which should be one of the best first-round games). The Hawks do not match up well against Oregon. Cincinnati would slow the pace, but do not have enough offensive juice.

No. 2 Oklahoma - Even if they do not play their best game in the first round, the Sooners will not have much trouble with Cal State Bakersfield. In the second round, it will be either the Glove Jr. or the post-Havoc Rams. Neither team has enough wing power to slow the Oklahoma guards.

No. 3 Texas A&M - We may have had a preview of the Round of 32 game on Nov. 25 when the Aggies beat Texas in the Battle 4 Atlantis. House scored 19 points and Jones was still coming off the bench after sitting out the first four games of the season. The Longhorns have progressed since that point, but not enough to avenge the loss.

NO. 13 UNC-Wilmington - Chalk, chalk, chalk ... upset! Every few years there is a battle of double-digit seeds to make the Sweet 16. That could happen in the West if Baylor and Duke both lose. The Seahawks could stake advantage and join the big boys with a successful first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL FOUR PICK

No. 2 Oklahoma - An Elite Eight game against the Ducks would be one of the most intriguing matchups of the tournament. Oregon has better presence in the paint and a great player in Brooks. If the Big Dance is about star power, then Oklahoma will win. Hield is a major star and has enough support to lead Oklahoma back to the Final Four for the first time since 2002 (and third time in school history).