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2022 NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga, Duke, Texas Tech, Arkansas and UConn headline West Region

By Tuck Clarry

Feb 5, 2022; Provo, Utah, USA; The Gonzaga Bulldogs gather as a team to celebrate the victory over the Brigham Young Cougars 90-57 at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2022; Provo, Utah, USA; The Gonzaga Bulldogs gather as a team to celebrate the victory over the Brigham Young Cougars 90-57 at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Tournament Davidson Wildcats Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament Davidson Wildcats Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams to watch in the West

Favorite to win: Gonzaga

The Bulldogs are the number one overall seed and for good reason. They’ve proven throughout the year that while this team lost three fantastic guards in Corey Kispert, Joel Ayayi, and Jalen Suggs, they are just as talented albeit less experienced. With hiccups against Duke and Alabama, the Zags showed vulnerabilities, but this is a drastically different team. The three-point shooting has become a reliable threat for the team and Chet Holmgren has blossomed into the potential overall pick that many lauded him prior to the season.

They are the lone team in the country ranked in the top 10 in both adjusted defense and offense in KenPom and play at a tempo that punishes teams that do not take care of the basketball or shoot at a high percentage. A team that ranks second in both effective field goal and 2-point percentage and first in both defensive effective and 2-point percentage is a team worthy of being the favorite.

Sleeper pick: Texas Tech

The Red Raiders have been a team on a mission the entirety of this season. The chip on Mark Adams’ team shoulder after head coach Chris Beard left for his alma mater has been massive and a team comprised of predominantly upperclassmen has the poise and discipline to be an absolute buzzsaw grinding through the tournament.

They rank first in KenPom in adjusted defense and for good reason with their stifling “No-Middle” style. Texas Tech will drag whoever they play down to their pace and style of play and they have enough offensive weapons like Bryson Williams and Kevin Obanor to outlast their opponent. If this team is able to find their stride they are one of the most dangerous teams in the country.

If the slipper fits: Davidson

There are two key components to having a Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament. One, top-tier shooting, and two, competent and experienced guard play. Bob McKillop’s Wildcats has both in spades this season. The team is eighth in the country in three-point shooting, 14th in effective field goal percentage and takes great care of the basketball ranking 15th in the nation in turnover rate on offense.

They have four shooters that average 40% or better from three with over 80 attempts apiece on the season, and their leading three-point shooter in terms of attempts, Hyunjung Lee, is shooting 38.8% on over 6 attempts per contest. If the shots are falling for Davidson, the bottom half of the bracket is on upset alert.

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