We’ve watched brilliance unfold over recent months as another college basketball season has flashed by before our eyes. Suddenly the NCAA Tournament is upon us and the destinies of so many players, coaches, and teams will unfold in the next three weeks.
Those players will determine their destinies with their play these coming weeks and we could see a lot of excitement from the East Region. Duke enters the field as a major favorite, but don’t act like the high-profile offenses from Alabama, Arizona, or Wisconsin won’t factor into who makes the Final Four.
With that in mind, we’re looking at the most important players from this regional. Keep in mind, this isn’t specifically the best players or the highest scorers but those who’ll factor most into how this region progresses.
A former top recruit, Bittle is a 7-footer who has been a major addition on the court this season for the Ducks after missing most of last season. He’s put up 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds and helped Oregon make a smooth transition into the Big Ten, earning the 5-seed in the East. He’s a playmaker who can step outside and hit long-range shots and is just a week removed from a 36-point effort against Washington in the regular season finale.
Earlier in his career Omier was the Sun Belt Player of the Year at Arkansas State before helping Miami to the Final Four as a junior. The final leg of his career has seen him average 15.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, establishing himself as the Big 12’s best rebounder in his fifth straight season averaging a double-double. Baylor has slid under the radar this season but still have potential at a 9-seed. They’ll need efficient play from Omier if they’re going to make a difference in this region.
Now the two-time WCC Player of the Year, Marciulionis is a talented guard originally from Lithuania who’s really adhered himself at Saint Mary’s. He averages 14.3 points and 6.1 assists per game and is having his most productive year as a senior, getting the Gaels this 7-seed and great position in the Big Dance. Marciulionis has had a few tough games down the stretch but he affects the game in many ways as a scorer and distributor and will be one major part of the puzzle for the Gaels this March.
One of Duke’s highly touted freshman recruits, Knueppel has had a remarkably strong season with the Blue Devils. He puts up 14.4 points and 4.0 rebounds a game while making 39% of his 3-pointers. While he doesn’t get the same praise as another name later on this list, Knueppel has really been an important cog for the Blue Devils. He was a major reason for their ACC regular season and tournament titles and has had at least 17 points in five straight outings.
After he was a bench piece his first two seasons, Saunders has taken on a major role with the Cougars as a junior and was one of the Big 12’s best players. This fantastic jump forward as a junior saw him average 16.0 points and 4.4 rebounds while knocking down 43% of his long-range attempts. BYU had a resilient season under a first-year head coach, grabbing a 6-seed while doing legitimate damage in a tough Big 12. Obviously Saunders played a major role in that as BYU’s leading scorer and he’s a threat to really go off in any of these matchups.
Among the best underclassmen in the country, Hubbard has really shined during his time at Mississippi State. The sophomore guard averages 18.7 points and 3.2 assists and was one of the top scorers in an SEC full of offensive talent. He’s had six games this season where he’s scored at least 25 points, including twice in the month of March. With solid shooting figures and great talent, he’ll shoulder the load for a Bulldogs team that could surprise after holding their own in the SEC this season.
Earlier in his career Love helped lead North Carolina all the way to the national title game before becoming an All-American while at Arizona. His fifth collegiate season has seen him put up 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while helping the Wildcats to a great first season in the Big 12. The number took a slight step back from last year but Love is a major playmaker and just hung 27 points on a very strong Texas Tech squad last week.
There might not be a single player who’s exploded more onto the scene than Tonje has done this season. A former Colorado State starter, he joined Wisconsin after an injury-riddle year at Missouri and has truly shined, averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists with the Badgers. Tonje has been the total package, making just under 40% of his 3-pointers and affecting the game in a myriad of ways, leading Wisconsin to this region’s 3-seed in the process.
Sears starred at Ohio as an underclassman before becoming an All-American with Alabama, but he’s looking to make an even bigger impact in his fifth season. After leading the Crimson Tide to last year’s Final Four he’s been just as grand this season, averaging 18.7 points and 4.9 assists on one of the nation’s best offensive units. The shooting figures are really down for Sears but he can still light up the scoreboard in a hurry, with a 30-point effort against a great Florida team just a few weeks ago.
Quite possibly the nation’s best player, Flagg was named ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year and has truly lived up to his potential as the top freshman recruit. The Duke star puts up 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game and has the makeup of a future star in the NBA. He injured his ankle during the ACC Tournament last week but should be good to go these next few weeks. His presence is of vital importance for any run that the Blue Devils will make, even beyond this East regional.