Nothing compares to March Madness in the entire scope of college athletics and perhaps in all of professional sports. The perfect offseason pits these 68 teams together as they fight for supremacy and to make history. The South Region is a clear example of that, boasting the two teams from last year’s national title game along with some significant talent up and down. With this in mind, we’re going to look at these squads and figure out just who we believe are the most important players in determining who is going to the Final Four out of the South.
10. Emanuel Sharp (Houston)
As has been the case during their recent rise to prominence, Houston has always had impressive talent in the backcourt and Sharp is a major piece of that equation. He’s currently averaging 15.3 points per game and is the Big 12’s best free throw shooter. Sharp earned his place on both First Team All-Big 12 and the league’s All-Defense team and unquestionable plays a role in Houston’s dominance on both ends of the court. Another deep Tournament run depends on Sharp’s effectiveness, especially on defense.
9. Boogie Fland (Florida)
Earlier in the year Florida was really struggling until the backcourt figured it out. As such, Fland remains a major area of importance, as the sophomore just averaging 11.6 points and 3.4 assists this season. You could make an argument that half a dozen Florida players belong on this list, but we’re considering Fland’s raw talent and playmaking ability here. If he can find his stride during this Tournament then maybe he can have a similar impact that Walter Clayton Jr. had during that title run last year.
8. Paulius Murauskas (Saint Mary’s)
Year two in Moraga was another stellar effort from Murauskas, who has Saint Mary’s dancing yet again. The WCC Player of the Year averaged 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game and is the big reason why the Gaels tied for the regular season title in the WCC and scooped up a 7-seed in this event. He’s a solid scorer, great defender, and did just drop 27 points in the WCC Tournament a few weeks ago and is exactly the type of mid-major star who can lead his team to a win or two in March.
7. Pryce Sandfort (Nebraska)
There’s a ton of pressure on Nebraska basketball but Sandfort remains cool and collected with his program on the brink of history. The Iowa transfer helps lead a Cornhuskers program looking for the first NCAA Tournament win in program history by averaging 17.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. There have been times where Sandfort just takes over, like his 32-point effort at USC a few weeks ago. Nobody’s expecting 30 a night out of him, but his 40% mark from outside the arc makes him a player to watch and perhaps the most important piece in Nebraska finally getting a win or two.
6. Thomas Haugh (Florida)
As we mentioned earlier, Florida has a very talented lineup full of important pieces but we’re looking at Haugh as a difference maker in the frontcourt. He excelled off the bench during Florida’s title run last season and now averages 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in the starting lineup. Haugh has long-range ability, defensive prowess, and is a complete playmaker on the court for the Gators. Regardless of any shooting woes for this team, another potential deep Tournament run depends on Haugh on this frontcourt every night.
5. Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt)
Last season Tanner was a very useful guard off the bench but he’s really exploded onto the scene as a sophomore with the Commodores. Averaging 19.2 points and 5.3 assists per game, he’s not just an important scorer but a major presence and reason for Vanderbilt’s success both early and down the stretch. He had several great showings in the final weeks of the season, including a 34-point game against Ole Miss, and is the one player who can lead this 5-seed towards a legitimate postseason run.
4. Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)
After being named MVC Player of the Year last season, Stirtz followed Ben McCollum to Iowa and has been just as effective in the Big Ten. One of the nation’s most prominent scorers, he’s putting up 20.0 points and 4.5 assists per game this season, making 38% of his 3-pointers. Stirtz clearly earned All-Big Ten honors with his fantastic player and Iowa really needs him playing at a high level, much like when he led Drake a Tourney upset last season.
3. Kingston Flemings (Houston)
One of the nation’s most talented freshmen, Flemings is somebody who’s going to attract a lot of attention from the other teams in this region. He’s averaging 16.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists and has developed into quite the scorer and distributor for the Cougars as the season has gone on. While Houston has a number of important players, including one we previously mentioned, they really need Flemings to make the same kind of impact as a Jamal Shead or LJ Cryer in recent seasons.
2. Henri Veesaar (North Carolina)
The news isn’t particular great in Chapel Hill with Caleb Wilson out for the season, but that’s exactly why Veesaar is important and much needed for the Tar Heels to make an impact. The Arizona transfer has been a major presence here, producing 16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game on the year. Now they’re leaning even more heavily on him and he’s rising up to the challenge with that 28-point, 17-rebound effort in their ACC Tournament loss to Clemson last week. Veesaar needs to be even more productive and explosive if the Tar Heels are going anywhere in the Big Dance this year.
1. Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
Nobody really knew what Illinois had in Wagler at the beginning of the season and the freshman was just seen as another potential cog in Brad Underwood’s machine. Instead, he’s become a significant playmaker, averaging 17.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Wagler had that unforgettable 46-point performance at Purdue earlier in the year but has cooled off down the stretch. If Illinois can make a legitimate run as the 3-seed they’re going to need Wagler as the star force leading this efficient offensive attack.