Arizona Wildcats, Gonzaga Bulldogs highlight West Regional semifinalists
- Updated
Cats, Zags could collide again in the Elite 8, but don't count out the Mountaineers and Musketeers.
- Jon Gold
- Updated
Head Coach: Mark Few, 18th year at Gonzaga (500-112 overall, 500-112 at Gonzaga)
Brass tacks: 34-1 overall, 17-1 in WCC
Bona fides: WCC regular season champion, WCC Tournament champion
Signature wins: Nov. 27 vs. Iowa State, 73-71; Dec. 3 vs. Arizona, 69-62; Jan. 14 vs. St. Mary’s, 79-56; Feb. 11 at St. Mary’s, 74-64
Lamentable losses: Feb. 25 vs. BYU, 79-71
Key players: G Nigel Williams-Goss (16.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.8 apg); G Jordan Mathews (10.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg); F Johnathan Williams (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg); C Przemek Karnowski (12.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Strengths: Terrific veteran leadership with a host of transfers, led by Williams-Goss, who came to Spokane from Seattle, where he was a star for the Washington Huskies. … Deep backcourt with several scorers, and a frontcourt led by big man Karnowski. … Very steady under Few, who along with Sean Miller is seeking his first Final Four.
Weaknesses: As usual, the Bulldogs did not play a gauntlet of a schedule, as their best win came against an Arizona team missing Allonzo Trier. … Shoots well from outside, but perhaps not well enough to count on the outside game.
The way to San Jose: The Zags handled 16-seed South Dakota State in a 20-point win, but struggled to get by Northwestern, and a bad call helped put the Bulldogs over the top. Gonzaga also went to the free-throw line 36 times against Northwestern.
- Jon Gold
- Updated
Head coach: Sean Miller, ninth year at Arizona (340-112 overall, 220-65 at UA)
Brass tacks: 32-4 overall, 16-2 in Pac-12
Bona fides: Pac-12 regular season co-champion, Pac-12 Tournament champion
Signature wins: Nov. 11 vs. Michigan State, 65-63; Jan. 21 at UCLA, 96-85; March 10 vs. UCLA, 86-75; March 11 vs. Oregon, 83-80
Lamentable losses: Nov. 25 vs. Butler, 69-65; Dec. 3 vs. Gonzaga, 69-62; Feb. 4 at Oregon, 85-58; Feb. 25 vs. UCLA, 77-72
Key players: G Allonzo Trier (16.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg); G Kadeem Allen (9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.1 apg); G Rawle Alkins (11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Lauri Markkanen (15.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg); C Dusan Ristic (10.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Strengths: Impressive inside-outside balance, with three capable backcourt scorers, and one of the country’s best down-low duos. … Trier’s return gave the Wildcats’ offense an instant boost and turned them into a contender. … Best seasoned depth in Miller’s Arizona tenure, nine-deep, with Chance Comanche, Keanu Pinder, Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Kobi Simmons appearing ready to contribute when called upon.
Weaknesses: The Wildcats are prone to offensive lapses for extended periods, particularly when tempo gets dictated by the opponent. … Miller has struggled in tournament play with rotations and trusting his bench. … Can they get over the Elite 8 psychological humps?
The way to San Jose: The Wildcats had arguably the best opening-round win with a 100-82 smashing of North Dakota, but things were a little tougher in the Round of 32. Saint Mary’s was a formidable foe, but Arizona finally pulled away late in the 69-60 victory.
- Jon Gold
- Updated
Head coach: Bob Huggins, 10th year at West Virginia (813-328 overall, 227-117 at West Virginia)
Brass tacks: 28-8 overall, 12-6 Big-12
Bona fides: Second in Big-12, lost Big-12 championship game to Iowa State
Signature wins: Dec. 3 at Virginia, 66-57; Jan. 10 vs. Baylor, 89-68; Jan. 24 vs. Kansas, 85-69; March 3 vs. Iowa State, 87-76
Lamentable losses: Nov. 25 vs. Temple, 81-77; Jan. 3 at Texas Tech, 77-76; Feb. 4 vs. Oklahoma State, 82-75
Key players: G Jevon Carter (12.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg); G Tarik Phillip (9.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Daxter Miles (9.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg); Nathan Adrian (10.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
Strengths: The Huggins-led squad has a talented and impactful defense that allows just 67 points a game. ... The Mountaineers have several top-25 wins, including wins over Kansas and Baylor.
Weaknesses: The Mountaineers are truly mediocre at the free-throw line, shooting 68 percent. … West Virginia has 10 players scoring more than four points per game, but only two scoring more than 10. … Do the Mountaineers have the firepower to pull this off?
The way to San Jose: After squeaking by Bucknell with an 86-80 opening-round win, the Mountaineers soared to an 83-71 win over Notre Dame in Round 2. Bonzie Colson had 27 points for the Fighting Irish but West Virginia had five players in double-figures. The Mountaineers were in control the whole way after jumping to a 10-0 lead.
- Jon Gold
- Updated
Head coach: Chris Mack, 8th year at Xavier (186-90 overall, 186-90 at Xavier)
Brass tacks: 21-13 overall, 9-9 in Big East
Bona fides: Seventh in Big East
Signature wins: Feb. 4 at Creighton, 82-80; March 9 vs. Butler, 62-57; March 16 vs. Maryland, 76-65; March 18 vs. Florida State, 91-66
Lamentable losses: Dec. 7 at Colorado, 68-66; Feb. 22 at Seton Hall, 71-64; March 1 vs. Marquette, 95-84
Key players: G Trevon Bluiett (18.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.0 apg); G J.P. Macura (14.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 81.0 FT percentage); G Malcolm Bernard (6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Strengths: The Musketeers are one of the best remaining rebounding teams in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 37.4 boards per game. … Bluiett is one of the best two-way players in college hoops, and he could give the Wildcats fits. … They know Sean Miller inside-out.
Weaknesses: Xavier is not one of the best shooting teams left out there, and none of their two big scorers is particularly effective from the field. … Finishing .500 in conference play is not a particularly stand-out résumé. … The Musketeers dropped six straight late in the season, revealing weaknesses all over the court, particularly after the loss of Edmond Sumner.
The way to San Jose: The Musketeers might have the best two tourney wins so far, with a very good win over Maryland and a huge win over Florida State, a 25-point, second-round beatdown that opened many eyes.
- Jon Gold
Head Coach: Mark Few, 18th year at Gonzaga (500-112 overall, 500-112 at Gonzaga)
Brass tacks: 34-1 overall, 17-1 in WCC
Bona fides: WCC regular season champion, WCC Tournament champion
Signature wins: Nov. 27 vs. Iowa State, 73-71; Dec. 3 vs. Arizona, 69-62; Jan. 14 vs. St. Mary’s, 79-56; Feb. 11 at St. Mary’s, 74-64
Lamentable losses: Feb. 25 vs. BYU, 79-71
Key players: G Nigel Williams-Goss (16.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.8 apg); G Jordan Mathews (10.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg); F Johnathan Williams (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg); C Przemek Karnowski (12.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Strengths: Terrific veteran leadership with a host of transfers, led by Williams-Goss, who came to Spokane from Seattle, where he was a star for the Washington Huskies. … Deep backcourt with several scorers, and a frontcourt led by big man Karnowski. … Very steady under Few, who along with Sean Miller is seeking his first Final Four.
Weaknesses: As usual, the Bulldogs did not play a gauntlet of a schedule, as their best win came against an Arizona team missing Allonzo Trier. … Shoots well from outside, but perhaps not well enough to count on the outside game.
The way to San Jose: The Zags handled 16-seed South Dakota State in a 20-point win, but struggled to get by Northwestern, and a bad call helped put the Bulldogs over the top. Gonzaga also went to the free-throw line 36 times against Northwestern.
- Jon Gold
Head coach: Sean Miller, ninth year at Arizona (340-112 overall, 220-65 at UA)
Brass tacks: 32-4 overall, 16-2 in Pac-12
Bona fides: Pac-12 regular season co-champion, Pac-12 Tournament champion
Signature wins: Nov. 11 vs. Michigan State, 65-63; Jan. 21 at UCLA, 96-85; March 10 vs. UCLA, 86-75; March 11 vs. Oregon, 83-80
Lamentable losses: Nov. 25 vs. Butler, 69-65; Dec. 3 vs. Gonzaga, 69-62; Feb. 4 at Oregon, 85-58; Feb. 25 vs. UCLA, 77-72
Key players: G Allonzo Trier (16.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg); G Kadeem Allen (9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.1 apg); G Rawle Alkins (11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Lauri Markkanen (15.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg); C Dusan Ristic (10.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Strengths: Impressive inside-outside balance, with three capable backcourt scorers, and one of the country’s best down-low duos. … Trier’s return gave the Wildcats’ offense an instant boost and turned them into a contender. … Best seasoned depth in Miller’s Arizona tenure, nine-deep, with Chance Comanche, Keanu Pinder, Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Kobi Simmons appearing ready to contribute when called upon.
Weaknesses: The Wildcats are prone to offensive lapses for extended periods, particularly when tempo gets dictated by the opponent. … Miller has struggled in tournament play with rotations and trusting his bench. … Can they get over the Elite 8 psychological humps?
The way to San Jose: The Wildcats had arguably the best opening-round win with a 100-82 smashing of North Dakota, but things were a little tougher in the Round of 32. Saint Mary’s was a formidable foe, but Arizona finally pulled away late in the 69-60 victory.
- Jon Gold
Head coach: Bob Huggins, 10th year at West Virginia (813-328 overall, 227-117 at West Virginia)
Brass tacks: 28-8 overall, 12-6 Big-12
Bona fides: Second in Big-12, lost Big-12 championship game to Iowa State
Signature wins: Dec. 3 at Virginia, 66-57; Jan. 10 vs. Baylor, 89-68; Jan. 24 vs. Kansas, 85-69; March 3 vs. Iowa State, 87-76
Lamentable losses: Nov. 25 vs. Temple, 81-77; Jan. 3 at Texas Tech, 77-76; Feb. 4 vs. Oklahoma State, 82-75
Key players: G Jevon Carter (12.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg); G Tarik Phillip (9.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Daxter Miles (9.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg); Nathan Adrian (10.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
Strengths: The Huggins-led squad has a talented and impactful defense that allows just 67 points a game. ... The Mountaineers have several top-25 wins, including wins over Kansas and Baylor.
Weaknesses: The Mountaineers are truly mediocre at the free-throw line, shooting 68 percent. … West Virginia has 10 players scoring more than four points per game, but only two scoring more than 10. … Do the Mountaineers have the firepower to pull this off?
The way to San Jose: After squeaking by Bucknell with an 86-80 opening-round win, the Mountaineers soared to an 83-71 win over Notre Dame in Round 2. Bonzie Colson had 27 points for the Fighting Irish but West Virginia had five players in double-figures. The Mountaineers were in control the whole way after jumping to a 10-0 lead.
- Jon Gold
Head coach: Chris Mack, 8th year at Xavier (186-90 overall, 186-90 at Xavier)
Brass tacks: 21-13 overall, 9-9 in Big East
Bona fides: Seventh in Big East
Signature wins: Feb. 4 at Creighton, 82-80; March 9 vs. Butler, 62-57; March 16 vs. Maryland, 76-65; March 18 vs. Florida State, 91-66
Lamentable losses: Dec. 7 at Colorado, 68-66; Feb. 22 at Seton Hall, 71-64; March 1 vs. Marquette, 95-84
Key players: G Trevon Bluiett (18.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.0 apg); G J.P. Macura (14.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 81.0 FT percentage); G Malcolm Bernard (6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Strengths: The Musketeers are one of the best remaining rebounding teams in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 37.4 boards per game. … Bluiett is one of the best two-way players in college hoops, and he could give the Wildcats fits. … They know Sean Miller inside-out.
Weaknesses: Xavier is not one of the best shooting teams left out there, and none of their two big scorers is particularly effective from the field. … Finishing .500 in conference play is not a particularly stand-out résumé. … The Musketeers dropped six straight late in the season, revealing weaknesses all over the court, particularly after the loss of Edmond Sumner.
The way to San Jose: The Musketeers might have the best two tourney wins so far, with a very good win over Maryland and a huge win over Florida State, a 25-point, second-round beatdown that opened many eyes.
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