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Bracketology 2023 projected field: Arizona, Tennessee rise to top of field

By Jason Burgess

Mar 17, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of the March Madness logo at center court before the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of the March Madness logo at center court before the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bracketology Oumar Ballo #11 of the Arizona Wildcats (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Bracketology Oumar Ballo #11 of the Arizona Wildcats (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

West Region (Las Vegas)

(1) Arizona vs. (16) Northwestern State
(8) Iowa vs. (9) Boise State
(5) Auburn vs. (12) Charleston
(4) Kansas State vs. (13) UC Santa Barbara
(6) Rutgers vs. (11) Pittsburgh/Kentucky
(3) Gonzaga vs. (14) Bradley
(7) Illinois vs. (10) Memphis
(2) Kansas vs. (15) Montana State

The West Region has a new team at the top, with the Arizona Wildcats jumping up to the top-seed line. The 18-3 Wildcats are 10th in the NET and have seven quad 1 wins and two of their three losses are also currently in the first quadrant. They are 14th in both offensive efficiency and effective field goal percentage, and their 12th-ranked two-point percentage is thanks to the dominant frontcourt and leading scorers, Azoulas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo. Their results so far have them as a top-five in the metrics and the future ones see them just outside the top 10.

The No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in this region are as tough as any other regions in the bracket with defending champ Kansas and the runner-up from two years ago Gonzaga are waiting in the wings. By the time Selection Sunday rolls around the Jayhawks and Bulldogs could be No. 1 seeds in their own right, but in this iteration of the bracket, the two teams that have combined for 11 quad 1 wins so far this season are ready to make sure Las Vegas is their town.

The team to watch in this region is the No. 13 Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara. The 17-3 Gauchos have lost just once, a one-point loss to UC-Riverside earlier this month. Sophomore Ajay Mitchell has been one of the best sophomores averaging 15.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting nearly 51% from the field. The Gauchos like to play inside the three-point line with the 26th-best two-point percentage on offense (55%) and the 37th-best two-point defense at 45.8%.

They like to play at a slower pace and average only 70 points per game so for the Gauchos it’s important to limit possessions, which they do, and be efficient on offense, which they also are, ranking 39th in effective field-goal percentage.

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