SWEET DREAMS
Dillon Brooks and the Oregon Ducks launch NCAA Sweet 16 tonight. Players to watch,
The two biggest upsets of the NCAA tournament this March — Wisconsin knockout out Villanova and South Carolina stunning Duke — both were fuelled by game-changing performances. Sweet 16 veterans Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes spearheaded the way in the ’Nova upset, and Sindarius Thornwell carried the Gamecocks past Duke. With that in mind, it could be that the key to a Sweet 16 victory might be the product of a clutch individual performance. Here’s a look at one player in each matchup — from the underdog team, according to Las Vegas odds — who could lead his respective team to the Elite Eight, and further.
TYLER DORSEY, OREGON
Dillon Brooks is the team’s All-American, but Dorsey saved the Ducks from a second-round upset against Rhode Island with 27 points, which he scored in pivotal stretches to either initiate Oregon’s run or stop Rhode Island’s. Oregon is a No. 3 seed but is going up against the hottest team in the tournament in narrowly favoured Michigan on Thursday (7 p.m.), and the Ducks — still adjusting to the loss of starter Chris Boucher — might need Dorsey again.
JEVON CARTER, WEST VIRGINIA
The main ingredient for the Mountaineers against top-seeded Gonzaga on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) will undoubtedly be their full-court pressure defence. But a big part of the recipe will be accuracy from beyond the arc, where West Virginia is shooting 52 per cent — the best of any remaining team. Carter led that effort in win against Notre Dame with 24 points on five three-pointers. Carter isn’t exactly a breakout scorer, but he doesn’t have to be for the Mountaineers. He just has to hit clutch shots in crunch time.
CALEB SWANIGAN, PURDUE
Two national player of the year candidates square off in the matchup against top-seeded Kansas on Thursday (9:30 p.m.): Swanigan and Kansas’ Frank Mason III. Opposing coaches can tell you how hard Swanigan, at six-foot-nine and 250 pounds, is to prep for. Against Iowa State, Swanigan came up big when Purdue needed it most. He must be doubleteamed in the paint for opponents to avoid an easy basket. So the sophomore’s passing and his interior presence could be the difference-maker for the Boilermakers down the stretch.
TREVON BLUIETT, XAVIER
Xavier, the only double-digit seed remaining, has rediscovered its swagger after a slump during the regular season as a result in part of losing point guard Edmond Sumner to injury. Bluiett had 29 points in the second round to help the Musketeers throttle Florida State. In Round 1 he had 21 as the Xavier bounced Maryland. The Musketeers will need more of the same to get past Arizona on Thursday (10 p.m.).
ANDREW CHRABASCZ, BUTLER
Coach Chris Holtmann describes the six-foot-seven senior forward as the glue. He helps facilitate the offence at the top of the key, while scoring on a variety of jump hooks and hustle plays. On defence, he’s similar to a middle linebacker in football with his talking and reading. Top-seeded North Carolina has plenty of size down low, and for the Bulldogs to have any chance on Friday (7 p.m.), Chrabascz is the key guy on both ends.
SINDARIUS THORNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA
He’s having the best tournament of any player so far, scoring 29 points in a first-round win against Marquette and then contributing 24 points and 11 rebounds in the monstrous upset of title favourite Duke in the second round. The six-foot-five guard gets to the basket at will and has a knack for either starting a run for the Gamecocks or silencing another team’s run with his clutch playmaking in crucial momentum points. If the South Carolina is going to beat Baylor on Friday (7:30 p.m.), Thornwell will lead it.
BRONSON KOENIG, WISCONSIN
Mr. Clutch. Koenig was hampered with four fouls in the game against Villanova, but he still came up big with dagger three-pointers to help the Badgers take down the tournament’s top overall seed. In the first round, Koenig’s 28 points — off five triples — were the driving force in catapulting Wisconsin past a really good Virginia Tech team. Going up against defensively sound Florida on Friday (10 p.m.), Koenig’s leadership and tenacity as a four-year starter with Final Four experience should be a difference-maker.
MALIK MONK, KENTUCKY
Throughout the season, Monk has done one thing exceptionally well: Score. Whether it was his 47-point performance in a major win vs. North Carolina (Dec. 17) or a 33-point outing in a payback win against Florida (Feb. 25), Monk’s ability to take over a game has been huge for the Wildcats. Monk showed the same playmaking ability on the defensive end against Wichita State in the second round. Going up against a high-octane offence in UCLA on Friday (9:30 p.m.), Monk will have to score and defend to help the Wildcats advance.