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NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga, Michigan, Texas Tech and FSU remain in West Region

By Adam Childs

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball aginst Mario Kegler #4 of the Baylor Bears in the second half of the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball aginst Mario Kegler #4 of the Baylor Bears in the second half of the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Mfiondu Kabengele #25 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates after he dunks the ball against the Vermont Catamounts during their first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Mfiondu Kabengele #25 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates after he dunks the ball against the Vermont Catamounts during their first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Key Players

Rui Hachimura – Gonzaga

Hachimura is a national player of the year candidate and has led the Bulldogs in scoring this year. Including the tournament, he has averaged 20.1 points per game. He has struggled a little bit late scoring in single digits in two of his last three games. The Bulldogs need him to be better against the taller Seminoles on Thursday. Hachimura plays mostly inside but can step out and hit the three. He will help stretch Florida State’s defense out to open up the inside.

Brandon Clarke – Gonzaga

Clarke has been solid for the Bulldogs this year averaging just over 17 points per game this year. He exploded for 36 points against Baylor on Saturday to lead all scorers. Clarke does his work inside the arc and he shoots the ball very well. He is shooting 69% for the year and against the Bears, he went 15-18 from the field. He will have a tough matchup with the bigger Seminoles, but if Gonzaga can hit some outside shots to stretch the defense he can be very effective down low.

Ignas Brazdeikis – Michigan

Brazdeikis is the guy everyone loves to hate. He plays hard and doesn’t care what anybody thinks about him. He loves to be hated. But he can back it up. He was Michigan’s leading scorer during the regular season at 15.1 points per game. He struggled against Florida scoring just five points, but he had scored in double-digits the previous ten games. He is the spark plug for this Michigan team and when he gets hot from the outside he is tough to stop. If he doesn’t force his shots and can knock down some threes against Texas Tech Michigan should win.

Zavier Simpson – Michigan

Simpson does not light up the scoreboard but he is arguably the Wolverines most important player. He is one of the best all-around point guards in the country and when he is playing well Michigan is very tough to beat. He has great court vision and rarely turns the ball over. Combine that with being one of the best defenders in the country and he brings a lot to the table. He can score when he needs to, but he is best running the high pick and roll and finding his open teammates. If Simpson doesn’t turn the ball over against Texas Tech the Wolverines have a great chance to win.

Jarrett Culver – Texas Tech

Culver has been great for the Red Raiders as he is averaging just under 19 points per game this year. He can score inside and out and he was the leading scorer for Texas Tech in the first two rounds. He will probably have Charles Matthews guarding him which will be a tough matchup against Michigan. But he has been the go-to guy for the Red Raiders this year and he will need a big game to help them beat the Wolverines.

Mfiondu Kabengele – Florida State

Kabengele is a big sophomore who is averaging 13.3 points for the year but has gone over 20 in both of the first two games in the tournament. He has been up and down this year, but when he is playing well and scoring for the Seminoles they are tough to beat. While he doesn’t shoot a lot from the outside, he is hitting 38% from deep and can be a problem to match up with. Florida State needs his hot tournament to continue.

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