2023 March Madness 1st round bracket breakdown: West Region

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 UNC Asheville

UCLA still has a lot of its roster intact from its Final Four run a couple of seasons ago and could do something similar in 2023. You can make the argument the Bruins benefited from a weak Pac-12, but you could have said the same back in 2021. Look for them to go far and potentially represent the West Region.

Keep an eye out for Drew Pember. After starting at the University of Tennessee, the 6-foot-11 forward has emerged as one of the best mid-major players in the country. He was the easy choice for Big South Player of the Year. If UNC Asheville were to make any noise, he would be the catalyst.

Prediction: UCLA

Click here to view the South Region

Click here to view the East Region

Click here to view the West Region