NCAA Basketball: Previewing the 2017 PK80 Motion Bracket

Players to Watch

This section will look at one player on each team that will be worth keeping an eye on this week.

Marvin Bagley, Duke

One of the top players in all of college basketball, Marvin Bagley is must-watch television. He is an explosive athlete and a polished basketball player. When healthy, he is practically a guarantee to put up 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game. He is nearly impossible to cover inside and makes Duke even more dangerous than they have been in the past.

Bryce Canda, Portland State

Now a sophomore, Canda is off to a solid start for Portland State. He was a double-digit scorer at 10.2 points per game last season but it looks like he is taking a major jump this season. Through three games, Canda is at 17.7 points per game while shooting an efficient 48.8% from the field. He is also rebounding the ball well at 7.7 boards per game while flashing some playmaking ability.

Kelan Martin, Butler

The senior leader and star player of the Bulldogs, Kelan Martin is an elite scorer. He has struggled in each of the past two games, but you can expect him to get back on track soon. Martin can score by attacking the basket, running in transition, catch-or-shoot, or by using his 6’7″ frame to pull up from anywhere. If Martin gets hot, it is danger time for Butler’s opponents.

Mohamed Bamba, Texas

Another top recruit in this year’s class, Bamba is an elite big man. He can run the floor with the best of them, has solid touch on a jumper, and can control the paint. After his first two collegiate games, Bamba is averaging 14.0 points and 9.0 rebounds while swatting 4.5 shots per game. He can be a force inside and is a difficult matchup for anyone.

Egor Koulechov, Florida

A transfer student from Rice, Koulechov might not be a name you have heard before. No worries, you will hear his name called many times throughout this tournament. He is an elite scorer and adds a different dimension to Florida that they didn’t have last season. In his first three games with the Gators, Koulechov is averaging 20.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while splashing home 9-of-20 (45.0%) 3-pointers.

Reid Travis, Stanford

Reid Travis is one of the more underrated players in the entire country. He can be a 20 points per game scorer for Stanford and is the leader on the court. In addition to his scoring, Travis is a very solid rebounder at 8.9 per game last season (6.8 in four games so far this year). Travis is the type of player who can light up the scoreboard if he isn’t being checked.

Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State

One of the few major returners from years past for Ohio State, Bates-Diop is showing his worth early in his senior season. In the Buckeyes’ first three games, he is showing tremendous growth from the past. He is averaging 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while shooting efficiently from both inside and outside the arc.

Johnathan Williams, Gonzaga

One of the returning seniors for head coach Mark Few, Johnathan Williams is a team player who fits incredibly well in the Gonzaga scheme. He has averaged over 10 points per game in each of the last two seasons and he is at 11.0 per game in the first few games of this season. In addition, he is one of the top rebounders on the team at 7.3 per game in the early going. His efficiency can take a jump, but that will come with time.