The hardest (and easiest) region in the men's NCAA Tournament

With Selection Sunday coming to a close, the men's NCAA Tournament’s field of 68 is set. However, the selection process isn’t always even as some teams will have a tougher time achieving their one shining moment.

Which region will produce the most battle-tested team, and which one features the easiest path?

Hardest region: East

Reason: Experience and red-hot teams

For being the No. 1 overall seed, Duke didn’t get rewarded as it may have to face a pesky TCU squad in the Round of 32. The Horned Frogs are very capable of playing up to their opponent, having defeated Florida and Wisconsin and given Michigan a run for its money.

Past that, the East region features a host of legendary coaches with multiple years of experience in the tournament, including St. John’s Rick Pitino, Kansas’ Bill Self and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo. The Red Storm may have been under-seeded after claiming their second consecutive Big East title, while the Jayhawks possess one of the country’s best players when healthy in guard Darryn Peterson.

Some of the lower seeds are entering the tournament with incredible momentum as well. Seventh-seeded UCLA won six of its last eight games, which included victories over Illinois and Michigan State. Eleventh-seeded USF just wrapped up an 11-game winning streak by claiming the American championship, and the Bulls will square off with six-seeded Louisville, which will be a much improved team if star Mikel Brown Jr. returns from injury in time.

Aside from the geographical challenges, this likely has Duke wishing it wound up on the opposite side of the bracket.

Easiest region: West

Reason: Weak bottom half and banged-up teams

On the other hand, No. 1 seed Arizona received a more favorable draw in the West Region. Eight-seeded Villanova suffered a late, devastating injury to forward Matt Hodge, while Mountain West teams have struggled in postseason play, resulting in a smooth road to the Sweet 16 for the Big 12 champions.

Sure, the Wildcats may have to play a tough Arkansas or Wisconsin team, but the bottom half of the West Region isn’t as strong. Six-seeded BYU lost a key piece of its offense in guard Richie Saunders, and three-seeded Gonzaga has proven to be vulnerable after dropping a game to lowly Portland in February, albeit while dealing with injuries.

Seventh-seeded Miami and 10th-seeded Missouri were hanging around the bubble for much of the season, so there don’t seem to be many high hurdles for two-seeded Purdue to leap over. All this is to say it would be shocking if the Wildcats and Boilermakers don’t meet in San Jose for the regional final.