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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 Boise State Broncos forward Abu Kigab Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament Boise State Broncos forward Abu Kigab Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Pod

(1) Gonzaga vs. (16) Georgia State

Virginia is the lone one seed to ever lose in the round of 64 and before I go on I would like to assure you that that fact is likely to remain after Thursday and Friday. The Cavaliers, like the Zags, were the top overall seed. And it’s also worth noting that the Panthers (and subsequently Few and GU) might have a legitimate gripe with the committee for giving them this draw as a 16 seed out in Portland. KenPom is not the end all be all of basketball analysis but it’s worth mentioning that there are five teams ranked lower than them that are also in the tournament.

Additionally, that ranking does not fully take into account that Georgia State is finally healthy. They were picked to win a competitive Sun Belt to start the season but key losses and a COVID pause threw their season out of wack. They’ve lost just one game since the beginning of February. With that said, Gonzaga is Gonzaga. While the margin of victory may be slimmer than what the seedlines suggest, the scoring and caliber of athletes on the Bulldogs should win out here.

Expect Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren to cause matchup nightmares as the Panthers try to pack the paint while still closing out on the perimeter (Georgia State ranks 342 in the country in three-point defense). The Zags defense should have little issue with the Panthers’ lackluster interior offense as well.

Prediction: Gonzaga

(8) Boise State vs. (9) Memphis

This will be the game to watch of all first-round games in this region. Boise State has been one of the steadiest teams in the country with Leon Rice’s squad playing a stifling brand of defensive basketball, surrendering the 13th fewest points to opponents per game. Hardaway’s Tigers have turned a corner and become a tough defensive matchup themselves with Duren and company becoming one of the best shot-blocking teams in the country. Memphis gets out in transition often because of their adept skills with that rim protection and also providing a top 20 steal rate to boot.

What may be the difference-maker is that, unlike Memphis, Boise State takes care of the basketball. The Broncos are not elite ball protectors, but they may look like it in comparison to the Tigers’ volatile turnover issues. Memphis does not have a true point guard on their roster and rank dead-last in steal rate on offense and 352nd in the country in overall turnover percentage. While the shine of Memphis may have diminished, what an opportunity for the Broncos’ Tyson Degenhart to enter the national conversation as a lethal scorer.

Prediction: Boise State

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