Gonzaga deserved this draw. It was the best team of the entire year, undefeated going to school alone. This should be the easiest road to the last four, and it ensures that. A soft No. 4 seed in Virginia that may not even reach the second weekend. Worst No. 3 in the tournament in Kansas. A second seed in Iowa who will contend with Zag’s athleticism and shot-making. No. 8 Oklahoma could be difficult in the second round. Sunsan can beat anyone as wins over Kansas, Texas Tech, Texas and Alabama, but they enter the tournament after losing five of their last six matches. Keep an eye on Oregon and Dana Altman. No. 7 were under ducks and are known to come out of nowhere to score surprise runs.
Final Four Pick: Gonzaga
Gonzaga received the test that he needed in the title game of the WCC tournament against BYCC and responded by taking out a rally with a 12 point deficit. It cannot run during its four West Regional games. This version of Oklahoma, which is limited to the finish line, will not be enough to challenge in the second round. Virginia, if it can overtake the Crayton / UC Santa Barbara winner, is also dealing with COVID-19 issues and could be shown earlier in the season that it could not match up with the Zags in a 23-point beatdown . Iowa will soon eliminate some degree of danger in elite elite.
Player to Watch: Luca Garza, Iowa
The National Player of the Year front-runner and the Big Ten Player of the Year do it in and out. The 6-foot-11 Garza shoots it at a 40.7 percent clip from 3-point range. He catches 8.8 rebounds, blocks 1.7 and scores 23.7 points per game. He gives Iowa a shot in its first Final Four in 41 years.
Unsung Players: Jacori McLaughlin, UC Santa Barbara
Gauchos’s lead scorer (16.2 ppg) and distributor (5.2 apg) let him go. The senior plays on guard, he goes by you. Give him a place, he will burn you from the deep. The first round meeting against Creighton’s Marcus Zegarowski will be one of the very best player-on-player matchups we see throughout the tournament.
Best first-round matchup: No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Ohio
Virginia will have its hands full with Ohio and big guard Jason Preston, who does everything at a high level, be it scoring, rebounding, defense or playmaking. Ohio nearly upset Illinois in November, and its ball-moving offense ranked 29th in the nation in offensive efficiency and sixth in the nation in assists at 17.9 per game, the Cavaliers’ famed pack- The line will cause problems for the defense.
First-Round Upset Watch: no. 12 UC Santa Barbara no. At 5 kriton
JaQuori McLaughlin is dangerous, a senior who has waited for such an opportunity. UCSB has won 18 of their last 19 matches. On the other hand, Kriton is unreliable. It did not feature the title game of the Big East tournament, losing to heavy Georgetown by 25, and ending the regular season by losing two straight on the road.
Bracketbuster: No. 7 Oregon
Dana Altman has found a way forward this year, reaching the Sweet 16 of the last four tournaments, and has a hungry team that will play in desperation. This transfer is the first tournament for LJ Figuero (St. John’s), Eric Williams Jr. (Duxne) and Eugene Omorui (Rutgers). Oregon does not trust any one player – averaging five ducks in double figures – making them difficult for the game plan.
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