March Madness 2014: Top 10 Players in the NCAA Tournament
The premier collegiate basketball tournament in the United States, NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, determines the national college basketball champion from among the major sporting colleges in the country every year. Held under the auspices of the NCAA, the single elimination tournament held each spring features sixty-eight top college teams in the country. The tournament is usually played in March and as such, is informally called March Madness or the Big Dance.
The exciting event is underway. Day One of March Madness was insane. There were 4 upsets, 3 overtimes and one buzzer beater. And to say this was only the start! Fans, including myself, are anxiously waiting for what could turn out to be an exciting year.
My post today will take a look at ten of the most outstanding players who will, in my opinion, make a major impact on who comes out on top. They are in no particular order but each one may be better than the other.
1. Aaron Gordon:
Having led the Wildcats into the tournament, the big man from Arizona will have to live up to his top-five-draft-pick billing. This means he will have to improve certain areas of his game, like free throw conversions.
2. Andrew Wiggins:
One of the favorites to be the number one pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the top college basketball recruit of 2013 has the ability to turn a game around single handedly. Since his partner Joel Embiid is injured, Wiggins will have to stand out to ensure the Jayhawks win.
3. Doug McDermott:
Hands down the most prolific scorer of this generation, he is nearly impossible to stop when he is in form. McDermott can singlehandedly win it for Creighton and it will be interesting to see if he can add the NCAA title to his already impressive resume.
4. Gary Harris:
Representing Michigan State, one of the favorites to win the title, Gary Harris needs to put in big performances for the team to ensure that they go the distance. The team plans to pass the ball to their main man when its crunch time. And if Harris delivers, then they could well be the next champions.
5. Jabari Parker:
One of the most consistent players on the Duke roster, Parker has to be their best player. This means that Parker needs to attack more and should not settle for his signature jump shots. Variety will be the name of the game.
6. Julius Randle:
Although Andrew Harrison is arguably the most important player in the Kentucky team, he needs to be supported by their best player, Julius Randle. If Randle utilizes his talent fully, then the duo will be very difficult to stop.
7. Kyle Anderson:
The most integral part of the Pac-12 tournament winning team, Anderson can lead the Bruins to victory in the NCAA Championship as well. But he needs to make sure he brings his A-game, and is able to control the game for UCLA.
8. Marcus Smart:
One of the most dangerous teams in the tournament, simply because of their unpredictability, Oklahoma State has the potential to go all the way. However, their star player Marcus Smart needs to put an MVP worthy performances to make it possible. If that happens, Smart could very well find himself as the top five pick in the draft.
9. Nik Stauskas:
The Big 10 Player of the Year needs to retain his impressive form if the Wolverines plan to make a deep run in the tournament. Stauskas has shown that he has the ability to shoot from a distance. Michigan’s main man needs to cover every inch of the court to finish the tournament on a high.
10. TJ Warren:
Considered to be a first round draft pick in 2014, Warren is right up there with Doug McDermott (though McDermott currently averages two points more than him). But Warren is still a sophomore and can improve his game. He has single handedly carried North Carolina State in the tournament and if Warren fires, then the team can very well lift the coveted trophy.
So this concludes my list of top NCAA Tournament players with a short insight. Please share your views and let me know if I’ve missed anyone.
Image Courtesy: By Bryan Horowitz (Flickr: Andrew Wiggins) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By Bryan Horowitz (Flickr: Jabari Parker) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By Acdixon (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
By Bagumba (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By Adam Glantzman (flickr user Adam Glanzman) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons