West is best

Handicapping the matchups in the toughest region

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Could someone explain to me how the West Regional has four teams that stayed in the top 10 almost all season? Why, with Arizona, Kansas, Duke and Notre Dame, this is a better quartet than ... the 2000 Final Four.

Here's my take on Thursday night's games at the Pond:

Arizona vs. Notre Dame

On Wednesday, Irish point guard Chris Thomas swore up and down that he wouldn't turn this into a mano-a-mano showdown with Arizona's Jason Gardner. Then Thomas proceeded to tell us about growing up in Indy as "the next Jason Gardner." Then he told us his exact high school record against Gardner's school (3-1). Then he told us about their heated one-one-one battles at last summer's Nike camp. Then he told us it was OK if Notre Dame lost "as long as I get mine" against Gardner.

Thomas didn't actually say that last part. But if he succumbs to the pull of Gardner-Thomas V, the Irish are in trouble. I think they're in trouble, anyway. Notre Dame has had a heck of a tournament to get here, but the Irish are bound to die by the 3 at some point, and I suspect Arizona's tough perimeter defenders will make that happen.

The key, as Irish coach Mike Brey pointed out, is for Notre Dame to stay in the game when Arizona has its inevitable second-half run. Gonzaga managed to do so even after the Wildcats went up by eight last Saturday, which means Notre Dame will need Thomas to manage the tempo as well as the Zags' Blake Stepp did (and throw in a few longballs while he's at it). Easier said than done.

Kansas vs. Duke

When the subject of Jayhawks forward Nick Collison came up on Wednesday, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was emphatic: "I think he's the best player in the United States." Could be, could be. And Collison will get a chance to prove it against the Blue Devils, who should struggle against his talent, floor movement and smarts down low.

The other big matchup is on Duke's offensive perimeter. Kansas has had occasional trouble defending the outside, and the Blue Devils (especially J.J. Redick and Daniel Ewing) are excellent at stretching the defense with their long-range shooting. And if Chris Duhon is hitting from beyond the arc, well, this could be a tough night for the Jayhawks.

While talking to Collison on the phone Wednesday night -- for an hour, no less; god bless Big Sloppy, a reporter's dream -- we discussed how Wayne Simien's injury absence has changed the way opponents defend Kansas. "Some teams won't guard Jeff [Graves] or Aaron [Miles] as much, and they'll sag in on me and face-guard Kirk [Hinrich]," Collison told me. "That's what Arizona did to us in the second half" of its huge January comeback in Lawrence -- and it's a good bet that Duke will try to do the same.

Still, there's a reason why Duke is wearing the dark unis for the first time in ages. I think Kansas' seniors will make the big plays when necessary and set up a regional final against Arizona (one that I suspected would be the national-title game back in October).

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