NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga, Michigan headline West Region primer

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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SYRACUSE, NY – FEBRUARY 20: Battle of the Syracuse Orange dunks. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

West Pod A – Salt Lake City, UT

(1) Gonzaga vs. (1) Fairleigh Dickinson/Prairie View A&M

Gonzaga is arguably the best team in the entire country and there should be no reason to pick against them in this one. Aside from the one really off game against St. Mary’s to end the season, the Bulldogs have eviscerated every sub-par opponent that they have faced this season and they will be out to make a statement in the first round. With Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke dominating in the frontcourt and senior leader Josh Perkins dishing in the backcourt, this is a team that needs to be feared. Prediction: Gonzaga.

(8) Syracuse vs. (9) Baylor

Syracuse entered this season as a top-25 team in the country and that is not exactly how the year played out. Baylor, on the other hand, started the season with some very head-scratching losses but turned it on in Big 12 play to land an at-large bid. When on their games, both of these teams can be very difficult to beat but Syracuse’s defense could easily be the X-Factor. Head coach Jim Boeheim seems to always win a game or two in the Big Dance so I am not going to bet against him. Prediction: Syracuse.

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