No school has repeated as men's NCAA Tournament champion since the Florida Gators did so in 2007, and the 2023 NCAA Tournament Selection Committee certainly made it very tough on defending Big Dance champion Kansas by placing the Jayhawks in the West Region. The West includes the likes of No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 UConn, all formidable teams. Four of the top nine favorites at Caesars Sportsbook to cut down the nets on April 3 at NRG Stadium in Houston reside in the West.

Since 2002, when KenPom began tracking it, 19 of the 20 national champions have finished in the top 25 in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. Kansas doesn't meet this criteria currently, but UConn and UCLA do.

Only two of the 14 defending champions since Florida have even reached the Sweet 16. In each of the past five tournaments, the reigning winner lost in the first or second round.

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Kansas was in position to earn the No. 1 overall seed entering the weekend but was routed by Texas in the Big 12 Tournament title game, handing that top seed to Alabama. Perhaps that's a good thing, as the No. 1 overall seed hasn't won the title since Louisville cut down the nets in 2013.

Hall of Fame coach Bill Self missed the Big 12 Tournament with health issues but should be ready for the Big Dance. One Jayhawks injury to note: Senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. missed the conference tournament final with an injury. He's expected to be ready this weekend.

Before you lock in your bracket, here's everything you should consider about the West Region.

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