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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LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 16: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against George Conditt IV #4 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half of the game on January 16, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Iowa State defeated Texas Tech 68-64. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 16: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against George Conditt IV #4 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half of the game on January 16, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Iowa State defeated Texas Tech 68-64. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Atlantic Sun – Liberty Flames

Darius McGhee  5’9 Guard

McGhee appeared in all 36 games for the Flames who took home the Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament titles. He averaged nearly eight points per game, pulled down 2.7 rebounds, but shot just 38% from the field and 32% from three-point land, where 74% of his shots came from.  McGhee showed glimpses of what he could do in his first season, as highlighted in the second-round loss to Virginia Tech in the NCAA Tournament where he scored a team-high 15 off the bench. If he can refine his shot and spend more time inside the arc, where he made over 56% of his shots (38 for 67) he could be a key factor for a Liberty team that needs to replace Lovell Cabill, Jr.

Big 12 – Texas Tech Red Raiders

Kyler Edwards 6’3 guard

The national runners-up have reloaded for the upcoming season, but a big key in Lubbock could be Kyler Edwards who returns after scoring a modest five points and two rebounds in 18 minutes as a freshman. The Red Raiders have had a lot of roster turnover since losing to Virginia, so Edwards will be looked upon to bring some leadership and take on an increased role, and for a guy who doesn’t lack in confidence who ended the season on a high note, scoring 12, his second-highest total on the season, against Virginia, a big jump can be expected.

Big East – Villanova Wildcats

Saddiq Bey 6’8 Forward

Villanova failed to make it out of the first weekend for the first time in recent memory, but rest assured, nothing is wrong with Jay Wright’s Wildcats. Villanova will once again battle for Big East supremacy in 2019, and a key reason should be the continued emergence of Saddiq Bey who started 29 games as a freshman. The 6’8 forward averaged over eight points and five rebounds per game, shot 45% from the field and 37% from downtown in his first season. He recorded two double-doubles as a freshman, the first came against DePaul in January and the second helped lead Villanova to a victory over Seton Hall in the Big East final, that is a statistic that Bey should see a big jump in during his sophomore season and that is something that should excite Wildcats’ fans.

Big Sky – Montana Grizzlies

Mack Anderson 6’9 Forward

Big things were expected from a veteran Montana team after an excellent 2017, and even though they won 26 games and made the NCAA Tournament, those expectations were dampened a bit when they lost leading scorer and rebounder Jamar Akoh just 15 games into the season. Looking ahead to 2019, the Grizzlies will have to replace a lot of production as they return just three of their top eight scorers from last season. One player who might be expected to fill some of that void is forward Mack Anderson who saw very limited action as a freshman, just eight minutes per game, Anderson was thought to be one of the better recruits in the Grizzlies’ class, and in time he could be a very good player in the Big Sky. Well, 2019 is Anderson’s chance to show that he is the kind of recruit the Grizzlies hoped he could be.

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