2015 NCAA Tournament South Region: Top 5 Players
By Jacob Rude
The 2015 NCAA Tournament South region looks like a two-team race between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Duke Blue Devils. However, with some special talent spread around the bracket, we look at the five best players that will be featured in the bracket.
1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke Blue Devils
Yes, I’m limiting this to one Duke player like I did with Kentucky. Otherwise, Duke would take at least three of the spots. And if I’m taking one player, I’m taking arguably the best player in the country. Okafor is the shoo-in first pick in NBA Draft and he’s earned it.
No player in the country has the array of post moves that Okafor has. In fact, only a select few people in the NBA have a set of moves that would rival Okafor. Be prepared to be dazzled by him in the low block if you haven’t already watched him this season (and even if you have).
2. Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Wiltjer comes into this season laughing in the face of the Kentucky Wildcats, where he transferred from after the 2012-13 season. Now, with the Bulldogs, he brings them a superstar presence and offers a player who can take over the game.
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Wiltjer will have the chance to not only play some of the best teams, but make a name for himself on the national stage. With the possibility looming of beating the Blue Devils to make the Final Four, he may be a household name by the end of March.
3. Georges Niang, Iowa State Cyclones
Ask any Iowa State fan and they’ll tell you his injury in the tournament last year was the reason they bowed out of the tournament. This year, he’s just as important and possibly even better. His 15.5 points are a step down from last year, but his 5.4 rebounds and 40.2% three-point shooting are both up from last year.
His ability to stretch defenses not only is a reason he’s so successful, but why the Cyclones are successful. He opens up driving lanes, forces big men to uncomfortable positions around the perimeter, and is integral in the Cyclones’ potential Final Four run.
4. Delon Wright, Utah Utes
Maybe one of the best players you haven’t heard of this year, mainly because the West coast and Pac-12 plays games so late at night (otherwise referred to as East Coast bias by west-coasters). Wright had a decent shout for Pac-12 player of the year with his 14.9 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 37.1% three-point percentage.
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With him, Utah finished 2nd in the regular season Pac-12 race and were a Joseph Young three-point game-winner at the buzzer. If you’re looking for a Steph Curry-like player who can take over a game, Wright fits the profile to a “T”.
5. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown Hoyas
You can make the argument (rather easily) that Georgetown was over-seeded, but you can’t make the argument that Smith-Rivera isn’t one of the best players in this region. His 16.2 points per game lead the team in scoring, as does his 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and he’s third on the team in rebounds. On top of it all, he’s a marksman from deep, burying 39.5% of his three-pointer this year.
In a bracket where many fans and pundits are predicting their an upset loss to Eastern Washington, beware of the talents of Smith-Rivera, who could will his team past the Eagles and ruin many, many brackets along the way. Be prepared for a potential second-round battle between Wright and Smith-Rivera.