West Region preview: Can Wisconsin hold off the bracket-busters?
The Favorite
Wisconsin earned its first No. 1 seed in school history after topping Michigan State in overtime to win the Big Ten championship. The work the Badgers put in during overtime - holding the Spartans scoreless while dropping 11 points of their own - was indicative of why Wisconsin has been a national title contender all season.
The Badgers have led a steady road to their 30-3 record thanks to their ability to sink baskets and play stingy defense, every loss they suffered was by less than 10 points. Ranking 22nd nationally in field-goal percentage, Wisconsin is sure to dominate the West Region, armed with three players averaging better than 12 points: Frank Kaminsky (18.2), Sam Dekker (13.2), and Nigel Hayes (12.1).
The Contenders
Arizona
Arizona quietly dominated the Pac-12 all the way to a conference title. The Wildcats have been overlooked because they don't have the star power of past seasons, but they get the job done with their 20th-ranked scoring offense, filling the basket to the tune of 76.4 points per game. Despite lacking a true big man to provide an extra boost on defense, the Wildcats promise opponents an onslaught of buckets, especially from freshman standout Stanley Johnson, who has a penchant for double-digit scoring.
North Carolina
North Carolina may have dropped the ball in the ACC tournament final, but the Tar Heels shouldn't be overlooked. They shoot 47.5 percent from the field and have four players putting up more than 10 points per game: Marcus Paige (13.9), Brice Johnson (13.2), Kennedy Meeks (11.7) and Justin Jackson (10.4). Ranking second nationally in rebounds and assists, North Carolina has every ingredient necessary for victory.
The Sleepers
Ohio State
Ohio State may be a lower seed, but the Buckeyes are good. Don't let a disappointing regular season loss to No. 1 seed Wisconsin distract from freshman D'Angelo Russell's raw skill, paired with senior Shannon Scott's aggressive play.
Harvard
With this being Harvard's fourth consecutive trip to the Big Dance, the Crimson are old pros. At this stage, Harvard knows how to capture its best win and, with top-performer Wesley Saunders at the helm, has the potential to shake up the region.
Player to watch
Wisconsin F Frank Kaminsky
Frank the Tank has put Wisconsin on his back the past two years. Despite appearing to be in store for a major regression this season, he's stepped up to be a major leader for the Badgers. Wisconsin as a whole is a good team, but is pushed over the top by Kaminsky's scoring, rebounding and shooting efficiency - he hits at a 55.6-percent clip from the field.
The central force of the team, the other Badgers players seem to feed off his energy. If Kaminsky has a bad game, it could throw the whole team's chemistry off.
Upset special
No. 12 Wofford over No. 5 Arkansas
Wofford has lost only two games since the calendar hit 2015 and are poised to take advantage of a shaken Arkansas team coming off an SEC tournament loss to Kentucky.