Sportz Assassin's West Region Preview

TEAM TO BEAT: Gonzaga. The Zags are attempting to be the first team since Indiana in 1976 to finish the season as undefeated national champions. This is a legit national title contender and should be the overwhelming favorite. They deserve this.

TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE REGION: Gonzaga. Looking at the region, I can only see a few teams capable of beating the Bulldogs ... and they won't reach those teams until the regional final. 

TEAM TO WATCH FOR (LESS THAN A NO. 3 SEED): USC. I'm not in love with the Trojans, but they are very tall and athletic and certainly can topple a COVID-reeling Kansas and cause Iowa some trouble.  

YOUR CINDERELLA: Ohio. Ohio will go up against a Virginia team that had to drop out of the ACC tournament due to COVID protocols. Who knows how ready the Cavs will be to play on Saturday. They would then get either a Creighton team that can be erratic (I can still hear that thud from the Big East title game) or a UCSB squad they're capable of beating. The Bobcats' Jason Preston is a stud who I hope gets a few games in the dance to show his stuff.   

WORST SEEDING ERROR: Missouri. Let me start off by saying that the committee wasn't bound by some of the issues they come upon in regards to seeding. The geographic restrictions they run into can cause some seeds to bounce around, but with the entire tournament being played in Indiana certainly helped. I'm going with Missouri here just because I feel that they could be flip-flopped with Oklahoma -- not that it would matter.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Iowa. Home court isn't really an issue with everyone playing in Indianapolis, but Iowa is a big contender that is closest to Nap City. That could really help up against Kansas or Gonzaga. 

MUST WATCH GAME: Oklahoma vs Missouri. Both of these teams have beaten some great squads and have shown they can be very dangerous in this tournament. They've also let a few slip away. Watch for Austin Reaves to have a big game.

MUST WATCH (POTENTIAL) SECOND ROUND GAME: Kansas vs USC.  Kansas has had COVID issues of late, but if they are all in then the matchup between David McCormack and USC's Evan Mobley should be great.