NCAA Tournament: Purdue, Ja Morant and Virginia among early winners

NCAA Tournament 2019: Purdue, Ja Morant and Virginia among early winners

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates a layup against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: Aubrey Dawkins #15 of the UCF Knights dunks the ball against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Aubrey Dawkins

The final winner from the first round of the NCAA Tournament is Aubrey Dawkins, the junior forward from the University of Central Florida. You probably know Dawkins as the UCF player who had a last second chance to tip the ball in at the end of the game against Duke, in order to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. I cannot begin to imagine what was going through his head and how he was feeling, but in his post-game interview he handled the entire situation with such composure.

Even though Dawkins said that moment would stick with him for the rest of his life, he was able to show his character which goes a long way for NBA teams. And I have not even mentioned the fact that Dawkins tallied a remarkable 32 points in that second round match up with Duke. If he was not on NBA teams’ radars prior to this game, well he definitely is now.

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Dawkins also has the option to return to UCF for his senior season next year to improve and possibly take another shot at a run in the NCAA Tournament. However, next year the Golden Knights would be without their seven-foot six-inch unit of a basketball player, Tacko Fall.

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