Five Players You Will Get to Know During the NCAA Tournament
By Matt Haley
Every college basketball season there are stars across the country that due to the school they play for or region they are in we are not able enjoy watching them play during the regular season. Some of these players may provide us with one of those moments that we remember forever. I remember sitting in my parents living room the day we all got to know Bryce drew when he hit the miracle shot to beat ole miss off the in bounds play called PACER. For the next three weeks we will develop a relationship with these players that may only last a game, but their play will last forever in this drama filled time we call March Madness. The following are a five players that could give us a few shining moments as the march to the final four begins Tuesday night. I am positive there are more, but we will have to wait to see who they will be.
#3 Doug McDermott: Creighton
Creighton’s Doug McDermott is a 6’7 player who can rebound and score with the best in college basketball. McDermott scores 23ppg and averages 8 rpg. What is impressive about McDermott’s scoring is that is he shoots 61% from the floor and 49.5% from behind the three point line. McDermott shows up when it counts as the forward poured in 33 points in the tournament championship final that vaulted Creighton into the tournament. HAn interesting storyline will be how McDermott matches up with UNC’s front line if Creighton can move past Alabama.
#44 Andrew Nicholson: St. Bonnaventure
Andrew Nicholson average over 21 ppg in the Atlantic 10 tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament. The 6’9 forward can beat you inside and out and shoots the basketball at a high percentage. The Bonnies take on Florida State in the first round, and the seminoles are known for giving big men a hard time inside. Nicholson will have a tough time getting good looks at the basket, but the Bonnies will do everything they can give the big fellow a chance to shine against FSU.
#5 Kevin Jones: West Virginia
The mountaineer senior is the epitome of a four year college player who progresses each year. Jones has incread his production and improved his all around game to lead the Mountaineers into the NCAA tournament. Jones is a slashing guard who can beat you in transition, off the bounce and through posting up. The key to slowing down the 6’8 forward is to turn him into a long range jump shoot as he is just shooting 27% behind the arc. Inside the arc he is deadly shooting the basketball at 51% clip. The match up with Gonzaga will be an exciting game where many experts are picking Jones and the mountaineers to beat Gonzaga.
#1 Mike Glover: Iona
Mike Glover averages 18.5 ppg without taking or making any threes. The 6’9 senior is about as efficient as you can get from a player as he shoots 64.5% from the floor averages over 9 rpb, but if the forward does have a weekness it is shooting free throws. The senior struggled to a 65% success rate at the charity stripe. In order to move on from Dayton and be seen by a more national audience Iona is going to need a star performance from Glover.
#32 Drew Gordon New Mexico
After leaving UCLA after his sophomore season Drew Gordon has thrived under Coach Steve Alfrord. The senior is averaging 13 ppg and 10 rbg to lead the Lobos into the tournament. Gordon is not a flashy guy who is going to garner a lot of attention, but he is very efficient shooting 53.7% from the field and making his free throws a 73.4% rate. The Lobos have a very good team and could make some noise in the west region.
There will be plenty of players to add to this list, but these are just a sampling of some players you may here the announcers refer to often as you enjoy the best week of college hoops.
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