Busting Brackets
Fansided

2021 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region roundtable, key questions

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 12, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Mike Smith (12) reacts as he walks off the court with teammates after defeating the Maryland Terrapins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Mike Smith (12) reacts as he walks off the court with teammates after defeating the Maryland Terrapins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
NCAA Tournament Oklahoma State Cowboys Cade Cunningham Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament Oklahoma State Cowboys Cade Cunningham Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Who will be the biggest impact player of this region?

Kay

Cade Cunningham is the popular pick and deservedly so. He is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft as he plays like Grant Hill and shows flashes of James Harden at times. If he can get on a roll and dominate, the Cowboys can surprise some teams in the tournament.

Mumm

Undoubtedly the biggest impact player in the region is Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham. The Cowboys have won eight of their last 10 outings heading into the NCAA Tournament, including six against ranked opponents, on the back of Cunningham.

Overall Oklahoma State has found its identity in the second half of the season and that success has been directly tied to Cunningham’s ability to completely take over games and dominate. As the #1 overall player in the 2020 class, Cunningham already has huge expectations riding on his play but he has more than lived up to them. He has helped to dramatically increase the confidence of his teammates on the court and this team is red hot at the right time of the year.

However, if Cunningham is to foul out or be unavailable for any reason during the tournament, it’s extremely hard to predict what kind of Cowboys team will show up on that day. Oklahoma State could potentially reach the Final Four if things go well, but could also look at a first-weekend exit should his availability change.

Walter-Warner

Yves Pons. Cade Cunningham and Ayo Donsumu are the obvious choices here, but the Tennessee Vols wing is fun because he’s a defense-first player, and defense wins championships, according to the old mantra. Pons rejected NINE SHOTS in the SEC Quarterfinal win over Florida. There are plenty of players in the region who can alter games with their offense, but Pons is the other side of the coin.

Heiser

Easily Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham. He has really stepped up his play over the last couple of weeks and the Cowboys’ ceiling has likewise dramatically increased. Cunningham is the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and OSU will go as far as he takes them. I don’t know if there’s any other team in the tournament field whose Final Four aspirations are so inextricably linked to one person. As such, he’s my biggest impact player.

Diamantis

Cade Cunningham, by far and it’s not even close. Oklahoma State will only go far into this Tournament as long as Cunningham is determined to prove why he is the unquestionable No. 1 pick ahead of this year’s NBA Draft. Just like Ja Morant in 2019, Cunningham will be the one man to carry his team on his shoulders the most out of the rest of the pack.

Home/NCAA Basketball News