NCAA tournament Elite 8 preview: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Xavier

USA TODAY Sports breaks down the West Regional final. 

No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Xavier 

Time, TV: 6:09 p.m. ET, TBS

► Why Gonzaga (35-1) will win: If the Bulldogs aren’t hitting shots — and they haven’t for much of this tournament — they get it done with great rim protection from their trio of bigs and a versatile wing in 6-9 Johnathan Williams, who could very well be matched up on Xavier sharpshooter Trevon Bluiett. Gonzaga’s defensive rating — 86 points allowed per 100 possessions — is the best in the nation after allowing West Virginia to shoot 26.7%. Another effort like that, and it won’t matter what Gonzaga does on offense — they’ll make the first Final Four in school history.

BRACKET: Track the tournament 

► Why Xavier (24-13) will win: Xavier is in the Elite Eight because it has outplayed three higher-seeded teams. It might take some help from Gonzaga, but with all the pressure on the Zags to finally deliver a Final Four, Xavier is going to play loose and confident and might have an even better combination of shooters. One thing to watch is that Gonzaga has not been effective from the three-point line. If Gonzaga also stagnates and the game comes down to making shots, Xavier has a very plausible path to victory.

NCAA TOURNAMENT ELITE 8 TEAMS