2016 West region champions – Oklahoma

How they got here:

The Sooners reached their first Final Four since 2002 with an impressive 80-68 victory over Oregon in the Elite Eight. Before taking down the top-seeded Ducks, Oklahoma beat CSU-Bakersfield in the second round, VCU in the third round, and Texas A&M in the Sweet Sixteen. It was not an easy task for the Sooners to reach the Final Four. In the first round, they struggled against CSU-Bakersfield early, but eventually managed to pull away. The VCU Rams were a tough matchup that posed a threat to Oklahoma’s run. The Sooners had a 44-31 lead going into halftime, but VCU stormed back in the second half, outscoring them 50-41. The Rams came close to upsetting No. 2 Oklahoma but just fell short of victory, 85-81. In their Sweet Sixteen matchup against Texas A&M, the Sooners easily dispatched the Aggies, winning 77-63. Moving on to the Elite Eight, the Sooners led the Ducks by 18 points after the first half (a surprise to many) and eventually went on to win.  

Player to watch:

Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield has been a star on this Oklahoma team all season long, and he isn’t disappointing in the tournament. Hield has averaged an impressive 25 ppg in the regular season (second in the nation), and 29 ppg in the postseason. In the game against Oregon in the Elite Eight, Hield was hot from the field, ending up with 37 points, and he was a jaw-dropping 8-for-13 from behind the arc. In the game against VCU, Hield wound up with 26 points and shot 55 percent from the field. Even against tough competition, Hield has a tendency to shine, and when he gets going, there’s no stopping him. Villanova is another great team and if the tournament has been going the way it has for Hield, this game will be no different for the future NBA lottery pick. As a 6’4”, 214-pound guard, Hield overpowers most of his matchups and has the ability to score from anywhere on the court.

How they can win it all:

The Sooners definitely have a shot at bringing home the title to Norman, Oklahoma. This team is not just comprised of Buddy Hield. Guards Jordan Woodard, Isaiah Cousins, and forward Ryan Spangler have averaged double-digits in scoring all season long, with Cousins and Woodard leading the team in assists and rebounds, respectively. While Hield carried the team in their game against Oregon, Woodard and Cousins added 13 and 11 points, respectively. To reach the championship game against North Carolina or Syracuse, the Sooners will have to get through Villanova. Villanova is on a roll, recently defeating top-seeded Kansas, 64-58, busting many brackets in the process. The Sooners were fortunate to play the Wildcats already this season in non-conference play, winning easily 78-55. It may not be as easy this time to defeat the Wildcats, but with the way the Sooners are playing, they can get through anyone.