WEST REGIONAL PREVIEW

WEST REGIONAL PREVIEW

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are the top dog in the West Region. Is this finally the year Mark Few gets them to the Final Four? Only time will tell. There's always one region that totally blows up and makes actually no sense. I think this is the probably region most likely to do just that.

                                                                  WEST REGION
                                                           1)   Gonzaga
                                                           2)   Arizona
                                                           3)   Florida State
                                                           4)   West Virginia
                                                           5)   Notre Dame
                                                           6)   Maryland
                                                           7)   St. Mary's
                                                           8)   Northwestern
                                                           9)   Vanderbilt
                                                         10)   VCU
                                                         11)   Xavier
                                                         12)   Princeton
                                                         13)   Bucknell
                                                         14)   Florida Gulf Coast
                                                         15)   North Dakota
                                                         16)   South Dakota State

                                                                    ROUND OF 64
#1 Gonzaga over #16 South Dakota State
      Gonzaga does NOT become the first one seed to lose in the first round. They take care of former Iowa State assistant T.J Otzelberger's squad.

#8 Northwestern over #9 Vanderbilt
      The Wildcats get their first ever tournament win over an overrated Vanderbilt team.

#5 Notre Dame over #12 Princeton
       I really really like Princeton, but I like Notre Dame just a bit more. The Irish are clicking at the right time and are for my money, the third best team in the ACC.

#4 West Virginia over #13 Bucknell
       I badly wanted to pick an upset in this one because West Virginia's playing style tends to struggle to translate over into the tournament, but I think they have enough to get out of the first round

#6 Maryland over #11 Xavier
      The Terrapins have underachieved this year, but Melo Trimble is really good. Xavier is too dinged up.

#14 Florida Gulf Coast over #3 Florida State
        The Eagles are a really good 14 seed. This is a very athletic team. I have not been sold on Florida State all year. I think they show me why in Orlando.

#10 VCU over #7 St. Mary's
       Some people have been really high on St. Mary's this year. I am not one of them. I like Mo Allie-Cox and VCU to advance.

  #2  Arizona over #15 North Dakota 
       If there is going to be a 15 seed knock off a 2 seed, this is pry the one, but I don't see it happening. Arizona is too much for the Fighting Hawks.

                                                                    ROUND OF 32
  #1 Gonzaga over #8 Northwestern
      I could see Northwestern pulling off the upset over top seeded Gonzaga, But I'll take Nigel Williams-Goss and Przemek Karnowski to advance to the Sweet 16.

  #5 Notre Dame over #4 West Virginia
     Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers meet a squad that can contain Press Virginia. I really like how Bonzie Colson and Steve Vasturia are playing for Notre Dame. Irish advance to the Sweet Sixteen

  #6 Maryland over #14 Florida Gulf Coast
    Maryland is just a bit too talented for FGCU, they punch their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen

  #2 Arizona over #10 VCU
      This isn't Shaka Smart's VCU squad. I like Allonso Trier and Lauri Markannen in this one.

                                                                   SWEET SIXTEEN
  #5 Notre Dame over #1 Gonzaga
       There will be at least one top seed go down before the Elite Eight and I think it's Gonzaga. Like I said, Notre Dame is playing good. They matchup with Gonzaga well.

  #2 Arizona over #6 Maryland
        Maryland probably has no business being in the Sweet Sixteen, Arizona takes care of business and advances to the Elite Eight.

                                                                   ELITE EIGHT
   #5 Notre Dame over #2 Arizona
        Mike Brey finally gets Notre Dame to a Final Four after falling in the Elite Eight two years in a row. This is a very balanced Notre Dame team and Arizona has struggled under Sean Miller to get past the Elite Eight.