2026 NCAA Tournament Preview: West Region

Let’s preview the West Region.

Best First Round Matchups

#8 Villanova vs. #9 Utah State (Friday, approx. 4:10 PM ET – TNT)

All of the 8/9 matchups are expected to be dogfights, but none feature a more balanced collection of talent than the West Region’s. Kevin Willard has quickly righted the ship at Villanova and got the Wildcats into the Tournament in his first season with the team, ending a two-year drought. Mountain West champs Utah State are built more like a Power conference squad than a mid-major, though, and aren’t an easy draw.

The injury to forward Matt Hodge at the beginning of the month was devastating for Villanova, who lost their best player with some size and now relies on a smaller lineup. The Aggies have some depth and size which may give the Wildcats trouble in this one, and two excellent guards in MJ Collins and Mason Falslev.

#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 High Point (Thursday, 1:50 PM ET – TBS)

This figures to be one of the most explosive matchups of the First Round, with both the Badgers and Panthers ranking within the top 40 in average points per game. While Wisconsin isn’t horrible from a defensive efficiency perspective, it has produced some concerning performances on that side of the ball this season. In High Point’s case, quite simply defense is optional (except when it comes to steals, where it leads the nation).

It feels likely that a household name will emerge from this one, given the possibility of offensive fireworks. Look to sparingly used Chase Johnston for High Point, who could be this year’s version of Jack Gohlke. For Wisconsin, Nick Boyd has ice in his veins and is the clear option for the Badgers when they need a clutch basket.

Team That Could Make a Run

Arkansas

In last year’s Tournament John Calipari’s squad was the only double-digit seed to make it to the second weekend. This year, the Razorbacks could be poised to make an even deeper run, and despite the higher seeding in 2026 it still feels like it would be a bit of a surprise were Arkansas to make it deep into the Big Dance.

Part of that surprise has to do with the path, which may include difficult matchups including Wisconsin in the Second Round, top-seeded Arizona in the Sweet 16 and whatever may come later on. But the Razorbacks proved what experts already knew last week in the SEC Tournament – there is a ton of firepower on this squad that has as much raw talent as any of the top seeds, and they’re rounding into form at the perfect time of year. A trio of young guards in SEC Player of the Year Darius Acuff, Jr., fellow freshman Maleek Thomas and sophomore Billy Richmond III may turn back time to the days when Calipari was regularly causing nightmares for opposing coaches with a fresh-faced lineup.

Buyer Beware

Gonzaga

While the metrics would suggest that defense does matter quite a bit in college basketball, it’s football where the popular phrase about that side of the ball is often muttered with positive inflection. The Bulldogs are built a bit differently than Mark Few teams of the past, relying on an elite defense in a year where Gonzaga ranks its lowest in KenPom’s offensive efficiency ranking (No. 27) since 2014.

The defensive prowess of the Bulldogs will be put to the test early and often, getting placed in a region with BYU (No. 10), Purdue (No. 1), Arkansas (No. 5) and Arizona (No. 6) in terms of offensive efficiency. With so many strong offenses littered throughout this group, it just doesn’t seem likely that Gonzaga’s approach this season is well setup to make a deep run in the Tournament unless it is shooting lights out.

Remember The Name

Darius Acuff, Jr., Arkansas

We’ve waxed poetic about Acuff, Jr. at least once already throughout these Tournament previews, and we’ll do it one more time with some focus. There is stiff competition for this title, but Acuff is certainly in the conversation for being the most electric freshman in the country. A walking bucket averaging nearly 23 points per contest, he has the ability to score from all areas of the court, whether it be midrange floaters, drives to the basket off the dribble or from three to four feet behind the three-point arc.

The 6’3” guard assumed the role of leader for Arkansas quickly, and there’s no doubt who wants to have the ball in his hands when the Razorbacks need a basket. He’s gone off on a couple of occasions already this season (49 points in a loss to Alabama, 37 points against Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament) and March tends to provide the platform for these types of players to put on a show.

AJ Dybantsa, BYU

The super freshman appears bound for a lottery pick later this year in the NBA Draft (maybe?), but college basketball fans have been privileged to watch this guy play all season and will have at least one more opportunity on the big stage. The Cougars have been about as inconsistent as any team in the country, but Dybantsa has been rock solid, leading the country with 25.3 PPG.

The loss of Richie Saunders puts a lot more pressure on Dybantsa to perform in order for BYU to be successful, but he appears to have taken it in stride, continuing to put up good numbers and refusing to go down quietly in games such as the one against Houston in the Big 12 Tournament last week. It may not be an extended stay in the Big Dance for the Cougars, making it all that more important not to miss BYU’s First Round matchup against Texas.

Around The Corn’s Picks

First Round

#1 Arizona over #16 Long Island

#9 Utah State over #8 Villanova

#5 Wisconsin over #12 High Point

#4 Arkansas over #13 Hawai’i

#6 BYU over #11 Texas

#3 Gonzaga over #14 Kennesaw State

#10 Missouri over #7 Miami (FL) (upset alert)

#2 Purdue over #15 Queens

Second Round

#1 Arizona over #9 Utah State

#4 Arkansas over #5 Wisconsin

#3 Gonzaga over #6 BYU

#2 Purdue over #10 Missouri

Sweet 16

#1 Arizona over #4 Arkansas

#2 Purdue over #3 Gonzaga

Elite 8

#1 Arizona over #2 Purdue