Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Key sophomores from each reigning regular season champ

By Jason Burgess

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Saddiq Bey #15 of the Villanova Wildcats is defended by Ryan Cline #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Saddiq Bey #15 of the Villanova Wildcats is defended by Ryan Cline #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 24: Nate Hinton #11 of the Houston Cougars celebrates a three pointer shot by teammate Corey Davis Jr. #5 (not pictured) to take the lead during the first half of the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 24, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 24: Nate Hinton #11 of the Houston Cougars celebrates a three pointer shot by teammate Corey Davis Jr. #5 (not pictured) to take the lead during the first half of the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 24, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

America East – Vermont Catamounts

Isaiah Moll 6’6 Forward

Isaiah Moll appeared in 33 games as a freshman which included a couple of starts. The Albany native averaged 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and an assist per game last season. Early in the season, it looked as though could be in for a big year after 12 points and four rebounds in an opening-night win over Boston University. He had 20 points in a win over Towson and 18 more against Dartmouth. As the season went on, his minutes diminished as Vermont prepared for post-season play. This season I expect Moll to have a more consistent role with the Catamounts and proving that he can help anchor their frontcourt with star Anthony Lamb.

American – Houston Cougars

Nate Hinton 6’5 guard

Houston had a dream season in 2018, winning 33 games and reaching the Sweet 16. The Cougars are aiming even higher in 2019, and Nate Hinton, who came off the bench for all but one game as a freshman averaging 19 minutes per game could be an important piece in that quest. The 6’5 guard averaged over seven points and four rebounds last season while shooting 41% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc, so Hinton will need to improve on those numbers but as a freshman, he showed a propensity to show up in big games. He netted 19 points and nine rebounds in their lone regular-season meeting with Memphis and finished the regular season with 16 points and 11 boards in a win over Cincinnati. With the departure of Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis, Jr. the opportunity is there for Hinton to make an even bigger impact in 2019.

Atlantic 10 – VCU Rams

Vince Williams 6’6 Guard

Even though Vince Williams appeared in all 33 games for the Rams as a freshman, his action was limited, seeing about 15 minutes per game. However, in that short time he was productive, with averages of 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds an assist and a steal, shooting over 45% from the field. Williams was one of the glue guys for VCU last season, doing a lot of things that don’t show up on the scoresheet, drawing 38 charges, for instance. With the aggressiveness on the defensive end, the next step for Williams will be growing confidence at the offensive end, and even though the Rams return a big bulk of their production, Williams should take another step forward in 2019.

ACC – Virginia Cavaliers

Kihei Clark 5’9 Guard

The national champs have lost their top three scorers, all guards, to the NBA so Tony Bennett has to fill those minutes and Kihei Clark has the chance to take the bull by the horns for the Cavs next season. The 5’9 guard made 20 starts last season, but despite the nearly 27 minutes he got, the production didn’t necessarily correlate. He averaged 4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting just 35% from the field. He has the ability to do so, as seen in the Sweet Sixteen win over Oregon where he matched season highs in points (12) and assists (6) while adding four assists. Clark will now be looked upon to help replace the three guards that helped lead Virginia to the promised land.

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