March Madness: 10 breakout player candidates in 2019 NCAA Tournament

8. Braxton Key, Guard, Virginia

A junior transfer from Alabama, Braxton Key hasn’t been able to put up huge numbers this season for the Cavaliers.

However, the top-seeded Virginia squad enters the Big Dance with a major chip on their shoulder after losing to a 16 seed last year. They’ll need any production that they can get, and that goes past the typical suspects in Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, and Jack Salt.

A couple of bench players, which was the downfall in the loss to UMBC last year, will have to play well in order to avenge last year’s disaster.

Key is the best bet to do just that.

On most other teams, Braxton Key would be a starter. However, on a deep Virginia team, he finds himself in a role playing spot.

As a player that once averaged 12 points per game, Key has the potential to put up big numbers whenever his name will be called.

And if last year’s adversity was an indicator of anything, his name will need to be called in order for Virginia to avoid last year’s disaster.

Once his name is called, look for Key to play a big role in relieving the efforts of other guards Jerome and Guy. While those two are good bets to produce in big ways, they’ll need a big form of relief if they can’t.

Key has the tournament experience in past years with the Tide, and the past production that makes him a viable candidate to rise as a star this March.