[Regional Breakdowns: East | South | Midwest | West]
Now that the 2024 Men's NCAA Tournament spots are official, we break down each team in the bracket heading into March Madness. Here's what you need to know about the Western Region.
No. 1 North Carolina (+1300 to win national title)
North Carolina, which features All-ACC center Armando Bacot and ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, returns two starters from a team that reached the 2022 national title game but missed out on the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Ta. The roster has since undergone a major shake-up as head coach Hubert Davis restructured through the transfer portal.
Caleb Love, who was transferred to Arizona last offseason, is gone. The Tar Heels added former Stanford forward Harrison Ingram and Notre Dame guard Cormac Ryan last offseason, and both entered the starting lineup and made a big impact on a much-improved team.
A former five-star prospect, Ingram has developed into a do-it-all player, averaging 12.1 points, nine rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. A streak specialist, Ryan is averaging 12.1 points and shooting 34.1 percent from 3-point range on 5.8 per game. But perhaps the most impactful addition is freshman Elliott Cadeau, a pass-first point guard and the driving force behind North Carolina's offense.
2nd place Arizona (+1200)
Arizona has one of the best inside-out duos in college basketball in All-Pac 12 center Umar Barro and Pac-12 Player of the Year Caleb Love. Baro, a 7-foot, 260-pound center, is a nightmare opponent, averaging a double-double of 13.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
Love averaged a career-high 18.1 points after transferring from North Carolina State. When he's hot, he's one of the most dangerous scorers in the nation. He has been good throughout his career, but this season he shot a career-high 42.1% from the field.
Love's backcourt includes All-Pac-12 guard Pere Larsson, who has been a steady force against the inconsistent Love, averaging 12.8 points and shooting 53% from the field and 43% from 2.8 from 3-point range. are recorded. If Love gets his heat up and maintains it, he could lead Arizona to the Final Four and beyond.
3rd place Baylor (+3500)
The Baylors have grown into a consistent force under Scott Drew, winning the 2021 National Championship and making their fourth consecutive NCAA appearance as a top-three seed. This year's team is not as strong defensively as the 2021 title team, but it is offensively powerful. The Bears average 80.5 points per game and rank sixth in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency.
Big 12 Freshman of the Year Ja'Kobe Walter is a breakout candidate to take center stage in the tournament. The 6-foot-5 guard led the Bears with 14.2 points per game and shot 34% from 3-point range on 6.2 per game. They are joined in the backcourt by All-Big 12 point guard Ray J. Dennis. He arrived immediately this season after transferring from Toledo and led Baylor's offense with 13.3 points and 6.8 assists per game. All-Big 12 forward Jalen Bridges will lead the frontcourt.
No. 4 Alabama (+3500)
As long as Alabama is on the court, there will be no low-scoring games. The Crimson Tide leads the nation with 90.8 points per game and ranks second in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency. He ranks 346th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 81.1 points per game. This equates to his KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency rank of 112. Fasten your seat belt.
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All-SEC guard Mark Sears is the driving force behind the offense, taking over the torch from last year's SEC Player of the Year and current Charlotte Hornet Brandon Miller. The senior is averaging 21.4 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 43.1% on 5.4 3-pointers per game. He is one of five Alabama players averaging at least nine points per game.
5th St. Mary's (+6600)
St. Mary's made it to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, this time defeating longtime rival Gonzaga to become the WCC champion. Saint Mary's defeated Gonzaga in two of three games this season, including the WCC Championship Game.
The Gaels boast three All-WCC First Team selections in sophomore guard Aidan Mahaney, senior center Mitchell Saxen and Augustus Marchilionis, who was named WCC Player of the Year as a junior. Marciulionis, a 6-4 guard, averages 12.4 points, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals, is active on both ends of the floor and sets the tone for a team that ranks 16th in adjusted defensive efficiency by KenPom. ing.
No.6 Clemson (+15000)
After a 9-0 start, including wins over fellow tournament teams Alabama and South Carolina, Clemson rose from the unranked preseason rankings to 13th in the nation by December. A tough start to the conference saw the Tigers fall back down the rankings, losing four of five games in the ACC.
However, strong performances, including a road win over North Carolina, placed them in fifth place in the ACC standings and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament. All-ACC first-team forward P.J. Hall will lead the Tigers. The 6-10 senior is a talented 3-point shooter who averages 18.8 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game and shoots 31.6% on 4.8 attempts per game. If Clemson breaks through in the second weekend, Hall will be the reason.
No.7 Dayton (+15000)
Dayton qualified from the Atlantic 10 after an unexpected quarterfinal loss to sixth-seeded and eventual champion Duquesne in the conference tournament. He earned that bid thanks to a high-powered offense that ranks 18th in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency and a resume that includes Quad 1 wins over St. John's, SMU and Cincinnati.
The Flyers will go as far as Daron Holmes II can win the A-10 Player of the Year award. The junior forward is averaging 20.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 38.5 percent from 3-point range. If Dayton makes it past the second round, it has a chance to make a name for itself on the national stage.
No. 8 Mississippi (+10000)
Mississippi State is a strong defensive team that can win on any given night. The Bulldogs finished ninth in the SEC, with two wins over No. 2 seed Tennessee and one win over No. 4 seed Auburn. If the offense can match a defense that ranks 20th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency, it will be a threat to cause an upset.
It all depends on how well All-SEC selections Tru Smith (15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds per game) and Josh Hubbard (17.1 points per game, 35.8% success rate from 3-point distance) can produce offensively. It's on. SEC All-Defensive Team forward Cameron Matthews (9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2 steals, 0.7 blocks per game) is the cornerstone of the defense.
9th Michigan State University (+10000)
After starting 9-6 in Big Ten play, Michigan State slumped, losing five of its last seven games, including the conference tournament, and finishing 10-10. This is not the best way to participate in the NCAA Tournament. But if the Spartans can get back on track, they'll be a threat to make some noise.
Michigan State has an elite defense, ranking No. 8 in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency. He is a high-end defender who boasts strong guard play, led by All-Big Ten selection Tyson Walker, and averages 18.4 points per game, 1.9 steals, and a 3-point shooting percentage of 37.2%. And of course, the Spartans are led by a coach named Tom Izzo. He's been here before and led Michigan State to eight Final Four appearances and a national championship.
No. 10 Nevada (+15000)
Nevada is a balanced team that ranks in the top 40 in KenPom's adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. The conference, which sent six teams to the NCAA Tournament, has three All-MWC players. Second-team selections Keenan Blackshear (15.1 points, 4.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds per game) and Jarrod Lucas (17.8 points per game, 39.7 percent 3-point percentage) lead the way.
Tre Coleman (1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks per game) was named to the MWC All-Defensive Team and anchors the defense. Nevada had an impressive record, winning 10 of the final 11 games of the regular season before suffering a blowout loss to No. 2 seed Colorado State in the MWC quarterfinals.
No. 11 New Mexico (+12500)
New Mexico State, another representative of the Mountain West, advanced to the conference tournament championship and secured a spot. New Mexico State was never left out of the dance, defeating Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State in four consecutive days to win the title.
The Lobos had a strong resume by the time they earned the automatic bid, boasting a NET ranking of No. 22, including five Quad 1 wins. They have him ranked 23rd in his KenPom rating and in the top 41 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Three players were named to the All-MWC team (Donovan Dent, JT Toppin, and Jalen House), and Toppin was named Newcomer of the Year. This is a strong resume for the No. 11 seed.
No. 12 Grand Canyon (+30000)
The Antelopes retained their serve in the WAC Tournament, winning two games as the No. 1 seed and securing the championship and automatic bid to the conference. The bid is the second consecutive year and third in four seasons since making its NCAA Tournament debut in 2021, the first season under head coach Bryce Drew.
WAC Player of the Year Tyion Grant-Foster will lead the way and fill out the box score. The 6-7 senior guard is averaging 19.8 points, six rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He joins senior forward Gabe McGlothan (13 points, 7.3 rebounds per game) on the All-WAC first team.
No. 13 Charleston (+100000)
Charleston is back in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row after a drought that saw them make just one appearance in the past 22 tournaments. After posting a 15-3 regular season record, they dominated the CAA and won the conference tournament as the No. 1 seed.
The Cougars enter the NCAAs on a 12-game winning streak and will rely on an offense that averages 80.5 points per game and ranks 58th in KenPom-adjusted offensive efficiency to upset Alabama in the first round. The match promises to be a high-scoring match. CAA forward Ante Brzovic leads the way with an average of 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
No.14 Colgate (+200000)
Colgate finished the regular season in first place with a record of 16 wins and 2 losses, putting them on the path to winning the Patriot League tournament. Sophomore guard Braden Smith averaged 12.5 points, 5.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game and won the conference Player of the Year award.
This tournament bid is Colgate's fourth consecutive year under head coach Matt Rangel.
15th Long Beach State (+100000)
Long Beach State finished the regular season in fourth place in the Big West with a record of 10 wins and 10 losses. However, they upset the party in the conference tournament with three straight wins, including a victory in the championship game over UC Davis. In the semifinals, they defeated regular season champion UC Irvine.
All-Big West selection Abubakar Traore leads the way with 12 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
No.16 Howard (+200000)
Howard finished the regular season in third place in the MEAC, then won three straight in the conference tournament to secure the championship and automatic bid. All-MEAC first-team forward Bryce Harris leads the way with 16.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
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No.16 Wagner (+200000)
Wagner had an undefeated record (7 wins, 9 losses) in the NEC regular season and finished in 6th place. However, they secured three wins in the conference tournament, including over No. 1 seed Central Connecticut and No. 2 seed Merrimack, earning them the automatic bid. This is Wagner's second NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2003.
