NCAA Tournament 2013: West Region Preview, Schedule, Predictions

Let the Madness officially begin! The NCAA Tournament will kick off this week and expect plenty of madness.

Overall, there is a pretty good chance that a #1 seed will reach the Final Four unless you have a Butler or a George Mason. The West region in 2013 could be the first region where the #1 seeded team falls.

The West contains: a #1 seed in Gonzaga, a solid Ohio State, a tough Wisconsin team, and an Iowa State team that has lost some tough games this season.

Second Round – Thursday, March 21st/Friday, March 22nd

Game 1: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Southern University, March 21st 3:10 p.m. CST (Salt Lake City)
Game 2: No. 8 Pittsburgh vs. No. 9 Wichita State, March 21st, 12:40 p.m. CST (Salt Lake City)
Game 3: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Ole Miss, March 22nd, 11:40 a.m. CST (Kansas City)
Game 4: No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 13 Boise State/LaSalle , March 22nd 2:10 p.m. CST (Kansas City)
Game 5: No. 6 Arizona vs. No. 11 Belmont, March 21st 6:20 p.m. CST (Salt Lake City)
Game 6: No. 3 New Mexico vs. No. 14 Harvard, March 21st 8:50 p.m. CST (Salt Lake City)
Game 7: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Iowa State, March 22nd 8:45 p.m. CST (Dayton)
Game 8: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Iona , March 22nd 6:15 p.m. CST (Dayton)

Third Round – Saturday, March 23rd/Sunday, March 24th

Game 9: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Wichita State, March 23rd at TBA
Game 10: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner
Game 11: No. 6 Arizona vs. No. 14 Harvard, March 23rd at TBA
Game 12: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner

Sweet Sixteen – Thursday, March 28th/Friday, March 29th 

Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner
Game 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner

Elite Eight – Saturday, March 30th/Sunday, March 31st

Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner

Predictions

Note: Do not expect many first round upset from the West region, but expect upsets after that. Wichita State is a team that many people is underrate because they are not a power-conference team. Also, as the tournament goes on, watch out for the #5 Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin played very well in the Big Ten conference tournament. There is a good chance we could see a Big Ten Finals re-match in the Elite Eight.

Projected winning teams are in bold.

Second Round – Thursday, March 21st/Friday, March 22nd

No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Southern University
No. 8 Pittsburgh vs. No. 9 Wichita State
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Ole Miss
No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 13 Boise State/LaSalle
No. 6 Arizona vs. No. 11 Belmont
No. 3 New Mexico vs. No. 14 Harvard
No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Iowa State
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Iona

Third Round – Saturday, March 23rd/Sunday, March 24th

No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Wichita State
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Kansas State
No. 6 Arizona vs. No. 3 New Mexico
No. 10 Iowa State vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Sweet Sixteen – Thursday, March 28th/Friday, March 29th 

No. 9 Wichita State vs. No. 5 Wisconsin
No. 3 New Mexico vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Elite Eight – Saturday, March 30th/Sunday, March 31st

No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @RickyWidmer.

Like the us on Facebook at Writing_Illini.