NCAA Basketball: Top 25 international players of 2019-20 season
By TJ Miller
19) Marcus Carr (Canada) – Minnesota
I have no idea if Minnesota will end up making the NCAA Tournament, but I won’t be mad if they do. There are worse things than getting to watch the duo of Marcus Carr and Daniel Oturu. Although the Gophers were recently on the wrong end of a last-second loss to Maryland, Buckeye fans are sure to recall Carr’s three-point dagger in the closing seconds back in January.
The sophomore guard has really balled out all season long. Car is one of five players in the country averaging at least 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds. He also has one the purest looking shots in the Big Ten. Right now the Gophers have fallen off the middle Big Ten blob a bit. Nevertheless, Carr has the ability to motor Minnesota to three or four more wins. Honestly, you never know. Just a few more wins could have the Gophers dancing.
18) Nate Darling (Canada) – Delaware
Nate Darling of the Delaware Blue Hens. Now that has a ring to it. After spending his first couple of seasons at UAB, Darling has found himself a home at Delaware, which is closer to his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. While Darling has been fantastic this season, the Blue Hens have been up and down throughout the year. An 8-0 start showcased Darling’s impressive play: He averaged 22. 5 points while shooting 50 FG% and 47.6 3PT%.
Then Delaware suffered a rough 3-7 stretch. Darling still averaged 16.7 points over these 10 games, but he wasn’t quite as efficient from the field (36.5 FG%). As the season rolled along Darling and the Blue Hens got back their groove. Delaware has won 8 of its last 11 games to put itself in a slugfest for a top-three finish in the CAA. Darling is averaging 24.9 points and has managed to knock down 45 threes the stretch. Delaware already has its first 20 win season since 2014 so maybe Darling can keep the Blue Hens hot.