We’re going to be going region-by-region for our Power Rankings for this year’s NCAA March Madness Tournament, and along the way, we’re going to give each region a nickname. The West is the “Region of Backcourts.” We all know that guard play wins games in March, and this region has some of the best. Jaden Bradley, Braden Smith, Darius Acuff, Nick Boyd, Tre Donaldson, Mason Falslev, and Rob Wright all call this region home.
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1. Arizona
I continue to doubt this team, and all they have done is just continue to keep winning. I do worry about the lack of high-end NBA talent, I worry about the lack of 3-point shooting, and I worry about the scar tissue of this program in big games. But none of that stopped them from winning the Big 12 tournament, thanks in large part to a buzzer-beater from Jaden Bradley.
2. Purdue
The AP Preseason #1 team finally started to play like it in the Big Ten Tournament. This tournament is going to be the swan song for Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, and I sure am not going to bet against that dynamic duo in that situation.
3. Arkansas
Darius Acuff. Yes, Darius Acuff. He’s next in the long line of great guards to play for John Calipari, and the Razorbacks’ fate in this tournament is going to depend on how long he can carry them.
4. Wisconsin
The Badgers are one of the most low-floor, high-ceiling power-5 teams in this bracket. They have lost to USC and Oregon, but beaten Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue. They have one of the nation’s best backcourts with Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, but getting Nolan Winter back healthy would be key in making a deep tournament run.
5. Gonzaga
The Zags are coming into the tournament with an unknown status on starting big man Braden Huff. They rate very highly on KenPom, largely because they beat the brakes off of lesser teams in the WCC. I’m not feeling a deep run unless they can get Huff back healthy.
6. Miami
This Miami team is a tough matchup – Tre Donaldson and Malik Reneau may be enigmatic, but they bring plenty of experience, whereas Shelton Henderson brings youthful energy. Zone usage by the Hurricanes may trip up a better opponent.
7. Texas
The Longhorns got in the bracket by the skin of their teeth, but they’re certainly in position to make some noise now that they are here. An isolation-heavy offense means that if you don’t have someone who can guard Tramon Mark, Dailyn Swain, or Matas Vokietaitis, they can make it a long night for you.
8. NC State
The Wolfpack are limping into the tournament as losers of 6 of their last 8, but don’t be fooled – this team has a lot of talent. If they are to be victorious, it’ll be because of the Quadir Copeland-Derrion Williams pick-and-roll with all of their shooters spaced around it. I have concerns about rebounding and matchups against size.
9. BYU
Simply put, this team has not played up to its seed since the injury to Richie Saunders. Who can blame them? They will go as far as Rob Wright and AJ Dybantsa can carry them. Dybantsa in particular has the potential to put on a show and become a March legend.
10. Utah State
The Aggies rate well on KenPom, but only have one win over a team in the field of 68 (VCU). Drake Allen, Mason Falslev, and MJ Collins form one of the most potent and most experienced backcourts in the bracket, and they’ve recently gotten more from Adlan Elamin and Zach Keller in the frontcourt.
11. Missouri
A team that looked safe in the bracket became one that had to sweat a little bit on Selection Sunday, thanks to ending the season with 3 straight losses. Mark Mitchell does not play an aesthetically pleasing form of basketball, but it is effective, especially if the opponent does not have a natural matchup for him.
12. Villanova
I honestly don’t understand what this team did to be seeded 8th. They only own 1 win over a team in the KenPom top-50, and that was an overtime victory over Wisconsin. They really are “bottom of the Big East merchants” this season. But in any given game, Duke Brennan can dominate the glass, and Tyler Perkins and Devin Askew could get hot.
13. High Point
The Panthers profile as a team that should dominate their own league, but may find a hard time winning a game against a power-5 opponent. They rely on their speed, length, and athleticism to overwhelm lesser SoCon opponents, but they will be at an athletic disadvantage in the first round of this tournament. Can coach Flynn Clayman dial something up to give his team an edge?
14. Hawaii
If you have never watched Hawaii play, it’s a very unique experience. They completely neglect the concept of “help defense,” which is something so basic and fundamental that it’s taught at an early age. But most of the time, it works. They have legitimate size with Gytis Nemeiksa and Isaac Johnson, and will not get bullied down low.
15. Kennesaw State
The Owls were arguably one of the teams hit the hardest by the midseason release of the gambling probe, as their best player, Simeon Cottle, was named in the files and has not played since. It makes it more impressive that the Owls were able to win the CUSA Tournament and punch their ticket to the dance for the 2nd time in 4 years.
16. Queens
The dance debutant Royals can really score, ranking 77th nationally in offensive efficiency, but also really give it up on the other end, ranking 322nd in defensive efficiency. No matter the result, their first-round game should feature plenty of scoring.
17. Long Island
They own one of the coolest stadium traditions with “fins up” and one of the highest-profile head coaches in Rod Strickland, but that’s not anything that will win you an NCAA Tournament game. Expect a quick exit for a team that ranks 216th on KenPom entering the tournament.
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