NCAA Basketball: 5 underrated mid-major players in 2018-19

By Zac Voynow | Jan 9, 2019

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Justin Wright-Foreman #3 of the Hofstra Pride drives to the basket past Devontae Cacok #15 of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game tournament at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Francis Alonso #10 of the UNC-Greensboro Spartans handles the ball in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Francis Alonso, UNC Greensboro

Francis Alonso is the best player on UNC Greensboro, which is a team that’s currently rolling in the best two-year span in school history. UNCG is in the Southern Conference, which may find itself being one of the best mid-major conferences of the season when all is said and done. The Spartans are currently 14-2, with their lone losses coming on the road at Kentucky and LSU.

Leading this strong UNCG team is Alonso, a 6’3″, 185-pound senior. Alonso is averaging 18.4 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.9% from the field, 39.3% from three and 90.4% from the free throw line. Alonso is a combo guard who usually plays the shooting guard position. He does one thing, but he does it exceptionally well. He puts the ball in the basket as well as anyone in the Southern Conference.

Alonso is the guy that UNCG gives the ball in late game situations. He makes the winning plays, whether that’s him shooting a three, driving to the rim, or finding an open teammate due to his presence with the basketball. Led by Alonso, I believe UNCG will surprise some people and defeat Furman in the Southern Conference championship game, thus going to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row.

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