North Carolina was a big winner.
It landed the last No. 1 seed in a region with a No. 4, Alabama, that enters the tournament trending in the wrong direction, and a No. 2, Arizona, that has shown major slippage.
This region does feature high-end talent, from seventh-seeded Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II to No. 3 Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter to No. 6 Clemson center PJ Hall.
The double-digit seeds are dangerous, in particular Mountain West Conference Tournament champion New Mexico at No. 11, 29-win Grand Canyon at No. 12 and back-to-back CAA champion Charleston at No. 13.
This region has the most potential for volatility.
Luke Barrett #33 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels reacts in the final seconds of the championship game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Getty ImagesBracket Buster
No. 11 New Mexico: Elite guard play with Jamal Mashburn Jr. and Jaelen House, quality bigs in JT Toppin and Nelly Junior Joseph and a hot team coming off the Mountain West Conference title. The Lobos were significantly underseeded.
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First-Round Upset Watch
No. 13 Charleston over No. 4 Alabama: The Crimson Tide are limping into the tournament, losing four of their last six games. Their defense is a problem that is not going away. Charleston, which nearly upset tournament runner-up San Diego State last year in the first round, can exploit that.
Best First-Round Matchup
No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon has beaten San Diego State and played South Carolina tough, so the stage won’t intimidate the Lopes. Saint Mary’s stifling defense against explosive wing Tyon Grant-Foster and high-scoring Grand Canyon will be a fun chess match.
Tyon Grant-Foster shoots over Texas-Arlington guard Akili Vining (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Western Athletic Conference tournament. APUnsung Player
Jarod Lucas, Nevada: When the 6-foot-4 senior lets it go, it looks like it’s going in every time. He shoots nearly 40 percent from distance on six attempts per game and is an 89.9 percent free-throw shooter.
Player to Watch
DaRon Holmes II, No. 7 Dayton: A do-it-all forward who scores (20.4 ppg), rebounds (8.4 rpg) and play-makes (2.6 apg) at a high level. Has the size and strength to own the paint, but can also play on the perimeter, which is what makes him an appealing prospect at the next level.
Jarod Lucas drives against the Colorado State Rams during the first half at Moby Arena. Michael Madrid-USA TODAY SportsThe Post’s Pick
Saint Mary’s
There will be carnage at both ends of this region, teams you did not expect to see in the second weekend. New Mexico pulls off upsets of Clemson and No. 3 Baylor. No. 9 Michigan State takes down North Carolina in the second round. Nevada, the 10th seed, gets past Arizona as well. It opens it up for Saint Mary’s, which if not for finding itself in Connecticut’s region last year, would’ve at least made the Sweet 16. In an unpredictable regional final, the Gaels take down Richard Pitino and the Lobos.
