March Madness prediction: Gonzaga will outshine Coach K, Duke in West Region

A star-studded conflict of the very best school groups is about to unfold in aptly dubbed "Area of Stars."
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The most effective staff (No. 1 Gonzaga), arguably the 2 finest NBA prospects (Chet Holmgren and Paulo Banchero) and the very best story (No. 2 Duke in coach Mike Krzyzewski’s closing season). The West Area is the Area of Stars.

It’s too dangerous the regional closing isn’t in Los Angeles, as a result of a showdown between Duke and Gonzaga can be made for Hollywood. The draw isn’t essentially straightforward for both, nonetheless. Gonzaga may get a reside No. 9 seed within the second spherical if uber-talented Memphis wins its first recreation. Bodily Texas Tech within the Candy 16 is just not a great matchup for Duke, which has performed gentle of late.

Bracket Buster: Alabama

The Crimson Tide can attain the Closing 4. It already beat Gonzaga, Tennessee, Baylor, Arkansas and Houston. It’s a matter of which Alabama staff reveals up, as a result of this group additionally misplaced to Iona, Georgia, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. There isn’t a much bigger boom-or-bust staff in the whole match.

First-Spherical Upset Watch

No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Vermont

Arkansas was practically upset by Colgate within the first spherical a yr in the past en path to the varsity’s first Elite Eight berth since 1995, and this yr’s opponent is best. If 28-win Vermont can preserve the sport at its much more methodical tempo, sharpshooting duo Ryan Davis and Ben Shungu will give Eric Musselman and Co. suits.

The Crimson tide is slated to achieve the ultimate 4 of this years March Insanity after beating a number of different groups.

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Regardless of Paolo Banchero’s fame beginning to dim, he's nonetheless thought-about a participant to observe.

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No. 7 seeded Michigan state is slated to play No. 10 Davidson which is about to be among the best matches of the season.

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Finest First-Spherical Matchup

No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Davidson

Tom Izzo in opposition to Bob McKillop is pretty much as good because it will get within the first spherical, two teaching giants within the sport matching wits with two groups which have proven flashes of huge potential. It’s too dangerous the 2 faculties couldn’t borrow two gamers from the Warriors — well-known alums Draymond Inexperienced and Steph Curry — for this one.

Unsung Participant: G JD Notae, Arkansas

His growth as Mr. Every part for the Razorbacks — their main scorer, distributor and finest perimeter defender — keyed their second-half run as a four-seed after a shaky begin to the season.

Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs walks on the court docket in the course of the championship recreation of the West Coast Convention basketball match.

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JD Notae (proper) has change into Arkansas’ main scorer, distributor and finest perimeter defender — keyed their second-half run as a four-seed.

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No. 13 Vermont is slated to play No. 4 Alabama and will upset the whole bracket in the event that they play it proper.

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Participant to observe: F Paulo Banchero, Duke

Amid Duke’s uneven end to the yr, Banchero’s star has barely dimmed. He hasn’t taken over video games. The load of expertise, although, within the 6-foot-10 wing remains to be clear each time he touches the ground. Don’t depend out a monster match as a reminder.

The Put up’s Decide: Gonzaga

Don’t overthink it — I didn’t. Gonzaga is the one staff within the nation with an offense and protection each ranked within the prime 10 in effectivity. The 7-foot Holmgren, a shot-blocking dynamo and gifted athlete, often is the No. 1 choose within the 2022 NBA Draft and he's surrounded by elite school expertise in Drew Timme, Andrew Nembhard and Julian Strawther. Memphis isn’t disciplined sufficient to hold with the Zags for greater than a half, No. 5 Connecticut proves to be too offensively restricted within the Candy 16, and Duke, which can barely get to the regional closing after surviving Texas Tech, received’t have a lot left in a lopsided Elite Eight conflict.