NCAA Tournament 2021: Gonzaga, Iowa, and Kansas headline West Region

Favorite to win West Region – Gonzaga Bulldogs

All No. 1 seeds would be normally the favorite, but there’s literally no reason why not to expect the Bulldogs to come out of this region. They’ve already beaten the three next best teams in the regular season, each by double figures. The No. 5 seed Creighton Bluejays have been having their own issues and just got blasted by Georgetown in the Big East title game. Barring the pressure getting to the unbeaten Bulldogs, they’ll be heavy favorites to get to the Final Four, no matter who the opponent is in their path.

Biggest Sleeper – Oregon Ducks

The Pac-12 has been underwhelming all season, evident by the Oregon State Beavers beating three of the league’s four at-large teams to steal a bid. But the Ducks, when not dealing with injures and covid pauses, does have 20 wins on the season and the Pac-12 Player of the Year Chris Duarte. He and forward Eugene Omoruyi each averaged 16.7 ppg and is part of a heavy upperclassmen rotation. If they can get past Iowa in the Round of 32, Oregon could make an Elite 8 run and give Gonzaga a potential fight.

Potential Cinderella – UC-Santa Barbara

The Ohio Bobcats also could fit this spot but the Gauchos are a team that has power conference tournament. Former Oregon State guard Jaquori McLaughlin is this season’s Big West Player of the Year, averaging 16.2 ppg and 5.2 apg. 6’9 forward Amadou Sow is a three-time all-conference performer, while Miles Norris, Ajare Sanni, and Josh Pierre-Louis are key rotational contributors.

This team has plenty of talent and experience to make a run as a 12 seed and is taking on a Creighton team that doesn’t have much size. And with potentially Virginia up next in the Round of 32, there’s a real pathway for UC-Santa Barbara to get to the Sweet 16.