Busting Brackets
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NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga, Michigan headline West Region primer

By Lukas Harkins

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 11: Rui Hachimura #21 and Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Pepperdine Waves at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Waves 100-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 11: Rui Hachimura #21 and Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Pepperdine Waves at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Waves 100-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 20: Howard of the Golden Eagles attempts. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 20: Howard of the Golden Eagles attempts. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Players to watch in the West Region

Markus Howard, Marquette: One of the most dangerous scorers in the entire nation, Markus Howard is the type of player that can take over at any moment. He might not be the tallest player on the floor but this guard can absolutely fill up for Marquette. Howard is an elite-level 3-point shooter who only needs a centimeter to get his shot off. In addition, there are few better in the nation at drawing contact and reaching the free throw line.

Ja Morant, Murray State: Everyone should know Ja Morant’s name at this point in time. Easily the most famous mid-major player in the country this season, Morant is a future NBA lottery pick who can get to the basket and finish at will. He is remarkably quick, can finish through (or over) traffic, and always seems to get his teammates involved. Morant barely sneaked into the NCAA Tournament by winning the OVC Tournament but he is certainly worth watching.

Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga: Brandon Clarke is the best player on the best team in this region. I know many might disagree with that statement but I believe it to be the truth. On the offensive end of the floor, Clarke is an absolute nightmare with his abilities to put the ball on the deck, post up, or stretch the floor out to 3-point range. in addition, though, he is a terror on the defensive end as a big man who can quickly rise to swat away shots around the rim while also bringing some positional versatility in Gonzaga’s defensive frontcourt.

C.J. Massinburg, Buffalo: Massinburg has captured the nation’s attention on a couple of occasions already in his Buffalo career. First, he helped take the Bulls past Arizona in a monster upset win in the NCAA Tournament just one year ago. Then, in the opening week of this season, the junior guard exploded in an extremely exciting performance against West Virginia as Buffalo pulled off the road victory. Now, he is back for more in the Big Dance and is the kind of scorer that everyone needs to watch out for.

Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s: An elite scorer out of the Big East, Shamorie Ponds has been an elite player for all three of his college seasons to date. Yet, this is just his first NCAA Tournament appearance and you can be sure that he will want to make it count. Ponds can score from just about anywhere on the floor and is also an opportunistic defender. When it comes down to crunch time, there aren’t many players in the country that I would rather have.

Jordan Poole, Michigan: Michigan has a few players that could make this list but I lean in favor of choosing Jordan Poole. An ultra-confident scorer who has taken his game to the next level this season, Poole can score at all three levels and features plenty of size on the wing. A potential NBA Draft pick down the road, Poole is a smooth athlete that is exciting to watch due to his infectious attitude.

Anthony Lamb, Vermont: One of the nation’s hidden gems, Anthony Lamb is a terror to defend. He can score at all three levels and brings plenty of size to the table as well. Due to the fact that he plays in the America East, not many might be familiar with his name but it is time to get acquainted. Lamb averaged 21.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season while notching the AEC Player of the Year award.

Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech: One of the only consistent offensive threats on the Texas Tech roster, Jarrett Culver is the No. 1 reason why this team has Final Four potential. A future NBA player, Culver is an electric scorer at all levels and is also a lockdown defender. The Red Raiders are an elite defensive unit but Culver is someone that every defense needs to be ready to cover.

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