Busting Brackets
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Conference USA Basketball: Wild conference tournament approaches

By Jason Burgess

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: C.J. Burks #14 and Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: C.J. Burks #14 and Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd shoots against Markis McDuffie #32 of the Wichita State Shockers in the first half during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd shoots against Markis McDuffie #32 of the Wichita State Shockers in the first half during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Players to watch in the Conference USA Tournament

SR Ahmad Caver – Old Dominion

2018-19 stats: 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists

Caver is second on the team in scoring at 16.9 per game, but he leads the team in assists and steals with 5.4 and 1.5, respectively. Despite the fact that he is just 6-foot-2, he is third on the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.4 per game. Caver gets his points by being a volume shooter, leading the team in both three-point and field goal attempts while shooting just 30.7% from beyond the arc and 39% overall.

FR Charles Bassey – Western Kentucky

2018-19 stats: 15 points, 9.9 rebounds

The highly-touted freshman that found himself in Bowling Green, KY has certainly delivered for head coach Rick Stansbury. Bassey leads a quartet of Hilltoppers in double-figures with 15 points per game. The 6-foot-11 big man also leads the team with 9.9 rebounds, more than double the next best rebounder, and swats 2.4 shots per game. He has also registered 15 double-doubles and has averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds against top-seeded ODU.

SO Jhivvan Jackson – Texas-San Antonio

2018-19 stats: 22.4 points, 4 rebounds, 2.4 assists

The sophomore guard is one of the hidden gems in college basketball. The 6-foot-0 guard is averaging 22 points per game and has hoisted up 281 3-point field goals on the season, making 35% of those shots. Last season, the Roadrunners were the fifth seed in the tournament, but Jackson missed postseason play with an injury. He’s healthy now and Jackson can flat-out take over a game. He had 46 points in an overtime game with Western Kentucky.

SR Brian Beard Jr. – Florida International

2018-19 stats: 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 3 steals

Beard is the most important player for a Golden Panthers’ team that finished 10-8 in the conference. He leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals with 17, 6, and 3. He has the ability to get to the rim and by virtue, the free throw line, attempting 202 on the year. He put up 28 points and 10 assists in a one-point loss to Old Dominion.

SR Jon Elmore – Marshall

2018-19 stats: 19.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Elmore led the Thundering Herd to an upset of Wichita State in last year’s NCAA Tournament and leads the team in scoring (19.9) and assists (4.9) this year. His numbers are down a bit from last season, but Elmore is one of the best players in Conference USA and it wouldn’t surprise many if he led Marshall on another run to defend their title.