NCAA Tournament Preview: West Region

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What the West Region lacks in star power, it makes up for with excellent team play. Of the 15 players mentioned in the USA Today All-American team, the West Region is represented by just two: a second-teamer (Trevon Bluiett) and a third-teamer (Luke Maye). The three- and four-seeds, Michigan and Gonzaga, are egalitarian in nature, while Keita Bates-Diop of the Ohio State Buckeyes or possibly Mike Daum of South Dakota State may be the best individual talents. In terms of NBA talent, Michael Porter Jr. represents the best bet for a lottery pick in the region, but he will be playing in just his third game of the season due to a back injury.

THE FAVORITES

No. 1 Xavier Musketeers

Seniors Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura have played in the NCAA Tournament in each of their previous three seasons with the Musketeers. This year, they added regular season Big East champions to their many accolades. Xavier was unable to beat Villanova and lost to Providence twice, but they are a solid team up and down the lineup. Bluiett and Macura are excellent two-way wings, Kerem Kanter gave the team a low-post presence, and the team has solid role players such as Naji Marshall, Kaiser Gates, and point guard Quentin Goodin.

No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels

The defending national champions did not rest on their laurels in 2017-18. They were arguably the second best team in the ACC behind Virginia and won two of three games against Duke. Luke Maye developed from a role player into the team's star with 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. Maye's offense was complemented by Joel Berry, the Most Outstanding Player of last year's Final Four. In the ACC tournament, Theo Pinson stepped up as a jack-of-all-trades player. Pitt transfer Cameron Johnson and Kenny Williams provide more support from the wings.

No. 3 Michigan Wolverines

Things looked a little dire after the Wolverines were taken to overtime by Iowa in the Big 10 Tournament. Michigan prevailed and that game was not indicative of the last two months of Michigan basketball. The Wolverines earned their Big 10 Tournament championship by beating both Michigan State and Purdue. Moritz Wagner and Duncan Robinson are new age Pittsnogles as stretch forwards for coach John Beilein. Muhammed-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Charles Matthews provide support from the backcourt. Michigan advanced to the Sweet 16 last year.

No. 4 Gonzaga Bulldogs

The West Regional also hosts last year's runner up. Gonzaga lost five of its top six scorers from last year's squad, but dominated the WCC once again. The home loss to St. Mary's on Jan. 18 could have been worrisome, but the Zags did not lose again and won 14 games in a row. Only three of those wins were by single digits. According to KenPom, the Bulldogs were top-17 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The team did not necessarily have a go-to scorer, although sophomore Killian Tillie averaged 24.0 points on 77.8 percent from the field in the WCC Tournament. Gonzaga had six players average between 13.5 and 9.5 points on the season.

CINDERELLA WATCH

No. 10 Providence Friars

The Friars lead the field in wins over one-seeds. They beat Xavier twice and Villanova once. Arizona State was second with wins over Kansas and Xavier before Pac 12 competition caught up with them. The Friars are a veteran crew filled with long wings. Alpha Diallo developed into fine scorer and provided 19.3 points in the run to the Big East final in which all three games went into overtime. Kyron Cartwright and Rodney Bullock have played in the NCAA Tournament in each of their seasons with the Friars. The Friars have only won one game in the last five tournaments, but have a decent shot at beating inconsistent Texas A&M.

No. 11 San Diego State Aztecs

At one point in the Mountain West schedule, the Aztecs dropped six of eight games. The last loss on Feb. 10 by 25 points to Nevada seemed to galvanize the team. They rolled off nine straight wins and beat Nevada twice in their run to the MWC tournament championship. Like many teams in the West Region, the team has a number of potential scoring options. Forward Malik Pope led the squad with 12.9 points, but there were four other double-digit scorers including freshman Jalen McDaniels who led the team with 7.5 rebounds. The Aztecs will have to control Houston guard Rob Gray to get to the second round.

BIGGEST BUST

No. 3 Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines were solid throughout the season and had a great run in the Big 10 Tournament, yet there is something that isn't completely trustworthy about the team. Coach John Beilein's teams play up to their seed in most tournaments and have won at least one game in the last four tournaments in which they appeared. They missed the 2015 tournament. Maybe it is the game against Iowa or the fact that there is no clear lead scorer. Or it could be because their primary ball handler, Zavier Simpson, shoots just 51.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Wolverines may not survive the first weekend.

FIRST-ROUND UPSET

No. 12 South Dakota St. over No. 5 Ohio State – The Buckeyes faltered down the stretch and lost three of their last five games. One of the two wins was a double-overtime squeaker over Indiana. While they are fortunate not to have to meet Penn State again, the Jackrabbits are an experienced Big Dance squad who has a star in Mike Daum (23.8 points, 10.4 rebounds). South Dakota State has played in the last two NCAA Tournaments and Daum had 17 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Gonzaga last season.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Trevon Bluiett, G, Xavier – In each of his four seasons with Xavier, Bluiett has improved. He was excellent as a junior and improved from the field as a senior. Bluiett opened the season with five straight 20-point games and scored 20 or more in five of his last seven games, including a season-high 37 in the win over Seton Hall on Valentine's Day. In last year's run to the Elite Eight, Bluiett averaged 21.3 points. It would be a great sendoff for Bluiett to advance to the Final Four for the first time.

SWEET 16 PICKS

No. 1 Xavier Musketeers

Xavier won't be the first one-seed to lose in the first round, but interesting challenges await them on Sunday. The team could get a look at freshman phenom Michael Porter Jr. and a large Missouri team or Florida State, which also has plenty of size. The Musketeers have too much balance to lose to either squad.

No. 2 North Carolina

Hopefully the Tar Heels were not scarred by their loss to Wofford on Dec. 20 and do not have problems with Garrison Mathews and the Bisons in the first round. Texas A&M has size and Providence has history beating top teams, but North Carolina showed a lot in their run to the ACC Tournament final.

No. 4 Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Zags will have to deal with a solid defensive squad in UNC-Greensboro, which limited its opponents in the SoCon tournament to 53.3 points. A second round game against Ohio State could be in the offing with a Killie vs. Bates-Diop meeting being a highlight. Gonzaga is experienced and excellent.

No. 11 San Diego State

Here is the West Region's Cinderella. The Aztecs caught fire and have the balance and defense to knock off Houston. Coach Brian Dutcher spent nine seasons on the Michigan bench as an assistant to Steve Fisher, so he may have an idea or two of how to beat the Wolverines.

FINAL FOUR PICK

No. 1 Xavier Musketeers

The Musketeers have the most NCAA Tournament wins -- 27 -- without reaching the Final Four. They have advanced to the Elite Eight three times under three different coaches (Thad Matta, Sean Miller, Chis Mack last season). They may have a chance to avenge the loss to Gonzaga in the last year's Elite Eight if the seeds hold, a game against North Carolina in the Elite Eight would be excellent.