It’s like Christmas in March! There’s no better day in sports than Selection Sunday when we finally have a bracket in hand (or on a screen) and can begin to predict how the madness will unfold. This year’s NCAA Tournament field is as balanced as ever with each region stocked with teams that can make a Final Four run.
The West region is as formidable as any of the four, so let’s take a deeper look.
Power Watch
The region has arguably the two hottest teams in college basketball, Florida and St. John’s; they are seeded first and second, respectively. Florida has won 12 of its past 13 games, including six in a row. In that winning streak, each opponent was in the top 26, per KenPom.com. The Gators dominated the SEC Tournament, beating Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee by an average of 15 points on their way to the title.
St. John’s has won 19 of its past 20 and nine in a row. The Johnnies have been machine-like with their defensive intensity and ability to put opponents away down the stretch. “There’s no panic in this stock market,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said after the Red Storm beat Marquette in the Big East Tournament semifinals on Friday night. “(Our) guys don’t panic.”
Players To Watch
G Walter Clayton Jr., Florida, 6-foot-3 senior (17.4 points, 4.4 assists).
F RJ Luis Jr., St. John’s, 6-foot-7 junior (18.4 points, 7.2 rebounds).
C Derik Queen, Maryland, 6-foot-10 freshman (16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds).
F JT Toppin, Texas Tech, 6-foot-9 sophomore (18.1 points, 9.2 rebounds).
C Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, 7-foot-2 senior (17.6 points, 10.0 rebounds).
Under the Radar
Liam McNeeley (14.5 points, 6.1 rebounds): Two-time defending champion UConn is led by this 6-foot-7 freshman forward, who was injured for part of the season. Still, McNeeley was the Big East Freshman of the Year and is a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Nique Clifford (19.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists): Colorado State’s 6-foot-6 senior guard is a star on an under-the-radar team. Clifford has led the Rams to 10 consecutive wins, culminating in a Mountain West Tournament championship. He averaged 25.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the tourney.
Bennett Stirtz (19.1 points, 5.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds): The 6-foot-5 junior guard led Drake to a 28-3 record and the No. 11 seed in the region. Stirtz should have the opportunity to put up good numbers in a first-round matchup with an offense-minded Missouri team.
Jeremiah Fears (17.0 points, 4.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds): Oklahoma’s 6-foot-4 freshman guard has been a surprise standout all season. He arrived on campus as a fringe top-50 prospect. Now, he’s a possible projected lottery pick.
Matchups We Want To See
St. John’s vs. Florida. This would make for a dream matchup in the regional final, as it would present a riveting contrast of styles. The Red Storm are ranked 1st in defensive adjusted efficiency per KenPom.com, while Florida ranks 1st in offensive adjusted efficiency. Moreover, Clayton, Florida’s leading scorer, played for Pitino at Iona. Pitino knows what makes Clayton click — as well as what may cause him to struggle.
UConn vs. Florida. A matchup between the two-time defending champions and one of the favorites to dethrone them would be must-watch TV. One would expect a high-scoring matchup and one or two classic Danny Hurley meltdowns.
Best Storyline
How about a second-round matchup between Rick Pitino and either John Calipari or Bill Self? Calipari would be preferable because of the Kentucky connection and previously rumored animosity, but either outcome would create a coaching matchup between titans of the profession, with Pitino having the perceived upper hand. The only thing standing in the way would be tournament newcomer Omaha pulling off a monumental first-round upset of the Red Storm.
Bracket Buster
With all due respect to Florida and St. John’s, Colorado State is the hottest team in the West Region. The Rams are more than capable of beating a hobbling Memphis squad (Tyrese Hunter’s status for the NCAA Tournament is unknown because of a foot injury) in the first round and giving the Maryland-Grand Canyon winner all it can handle for a possible Sweet 16 berth.
The Pick
St. John’s over Florida. They say defense travels and wins championships. Well, the Johnnies have the best defense and likely the best coach in the sport. They will be able to muck up any game against any opponent, and that includes a scary-good Florida team. Offensively, St. John’s has more talent than it is given credit for, despite the poor shooting statistics. Luis, a Miami native, and 6-foot-9 junior forward Zuby Ejiofor (14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds) were first-team All-Big East selections, while 6-foot-6 senior guard Kadary Richmond (12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists) was a second-team pick.
Most important: St. John’s has proven to be unflappable in big moments throughout the season, playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden and New York City. It would only be right for Pitino and the Johnnies to continue the dream season and end up in San Antonio.
