Gonzaga earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region despite losing to Saint Mary’s in the WCC tournament final. Rui Hachimura is averaging 20.1 points for the Zags, who have four players averaging double figures.
Florida State lurks in this corner of the bracket as " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">a dangerous No. 4 seed, No. 6 seed Buffalo is a popular dark-horse pick, No. 3 seed Texas Tech probably features the best player in the region in future NBA top-10 pick Jarrett Culver, and No. 2 seed Michigan has a way of making deep runs under coach John Beilein.
1. GonzagaRecord: 30-3Nickname: BulldogsConference: West CoastPlayer to Watch: Rui Hachimura (20.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG)
16. Fairleigh DickinsonRecord: 20-13Nickname: KnightsConference: NortheastPlayer to Watch: Darnell Edge (16.4 PPG, 46.9% 3-PT)
16. Prairie View A&MRecord: 22-12Nickname: PanthersConference: SWACPlayer to Watch: Gary Blackston (15.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG)
8. SyracuseRecord: 20-13Nickname: OrangeConference: ACC (at-large)Player to Watch: Tyus Battle (17.2 PPG)
9. BaylorRecord: 19-13Nickname: BearsConference: Big 12 (at-large)Player to Watch: Makai Mason (14.6 PPG, 3.3 APG)
5. MarquetteRecord: 24-9Nickname: EaglesConference: Big East (at-large)Player to Watch: Markus Howard (25.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.0 APG)
12. Murray StateRecord: 27-4Nickname: RacersConference: Ohio ValleyPlayer to Watch: Ja Morant (24.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 10.0 APG)
4. Florida StateRecord: 27-7Nickname: SeminolesConference: ACC (at-large)Player to Watch: Mfiondu Kabengele (12.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG)
13. VermontRecord: 27-6Nickname: CatamountsConference: America EastPlayer to Watch: Anthony Lamb (21.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG)
6. BuffaloRecord: 31-3Nickname: BullsConference: MACPlayer to Watch: CJ Massinburg (18.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.0 APG)
11. Arizona StateRecord: 22-10Nickname: Sun DevilsConference: Pac-12 (at-large)Player to Watch: Luguentz Dort (16.1 PPG)
11. St. John'sRecord: 21-12Nickname: Red StormConference: Big East (at-large)Player to Watch: Shamorie Ponds (19.5 PPG, 5.2 APG, 2.6 SPG)
3. Texas TechRecord: 26-6Nickname: Red RaidersConference: Big 12 (at-large)Player to Watch: Jarrett Culver (18.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG)
14. Northern KentuckyRecord: 26-8Nickname: NorseConference: HorizonPlayer to Watch: Drew McDonald (19.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG)
7. NevadaRecord: 29-4Nickname: Wolf PackConference: Mountain West (at-large)Player to Watch: Jordan Carolina (17.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG)
10. FloridaRecord: 19-15Nickname: GatorsConference: SEC (at-large)Player to Watch: KeVaughn Allen (12.0 PPG)
2. MichiganRecord: 28-6Nickname: WolverinesConference: Big Ten (at-large)Player to Watch: Ignas Brazdeikis (15.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
15. MontanaRecord: 26-8Nickname: GrizzliesConference: Big SkyPlayer to Watch: Jamar Akoh (15.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG)