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Vanderbilt Basketball: Road to the NCAA Final Four

By Matt Green

Mar 4, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores guard Riley LaChance (13) and forward Jeff Roberson (11) celebrate during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium. Vanderbilt won 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores guard Riley LaChance (13) and forward Jeff Roberson (11) celebrate during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium. Vanderbilt won 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 7, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Saint Mary’s Gaels center Jock Landale (34) dribbles the basketball against Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) during the first half in the finals of the West Coast Conference tournament at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 7, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Saint Mary’s Gaels center Jock Landale (34) dribbles the basketball against Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) during the first half in the finals of the West Coast Conference tournament at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

(2) Arizona or (3) Florida State or (7) Saint Mary’s

Arizona (30-4)

As the 2-seed, the Pac 12 champions are the most likely team to make it to the Elite Eight in the West region. Sean Miller has led Arizona to the Elite Eight three times since he got to Tucson, but last year they were bounced in the first round.

Allonzo Trier led the Wildcats with 17.2 points per game this season.

Florida State (25-8)

The Seminoles have quite the resume.

They rank no. 13 in the RPI and went 11-4 against the RPI top 50. The ACC was as good as it’s ever been in 2016-17, and Florida State was the second best team in the conference in the regular season.

Dwayne Bacon led the Seminoles with 16.9 points per game.

Saint Mary’s (28-4)

The Gaels are one of my sleeper picks to make a run in the tournament this year, but it won’t be easy. If they can get past VCU in the first round, they’ll likely have to play Arizona in the second round.

Saint Mary’s is always a tough out in the tournament. Randy Bennett has been there for 16 years now, and this is the sixth time he’s led them to the tournament.

Jock Landale led the Gaels with 16.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

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