West coast basketball has been weak this past decade. Not this year! Houston Baylor (Tex) UCLA Gonzaga (Wash. state)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_NCAA_Basketball_Tournament
1939, first tournament.
2021:
7 of final 8 teams were east of Mississippi.
Michigan lost. A few years, west had 3 of final 4. 2021: First time with all 4
Michigan would’ve easily beat UCLA if they had Isaiah Livers available...should’ve beaten them anyway but a few players choked. Next year Michigan will be even better with the #1 recruiting class in the nation coming in!
Very unusual year with COVID messing with ability to practice, etc. The teams that have more 4 year players to where lack of practicing together had less of an effect than teams put together with mostly new players “One and dones” seemed to be better this year.
Houston and Baylor - Two old Southwest Conference teams from Texas, amazing.