The Field and Key Players
This year the Battle 4 Atlantis is going to live up to their lofty expectations and have one of the best tournament fields of any of the multi-team events. Teams from the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Missouri Valley, Pac 12, Big East, Atlantic 10, and Big 12 make up this year’s field.
Defending national champion Baylor Bears, Arizona State Sun Devils, Syracuse Orange, and the VCU Rams make up one part of the bracket and the other part of the bracket is Loyola Chicago Ramblers, Michigan State Spartans, Auburn Tigers, and the UConn Huskies make up the rest of the field. It’s a deep field with a lot of opportunities to bolster your resume.
Key Players
Aher Uguak – Loyola Chicago Ramblers
The senior big man is currently leading the Ramblers in scoring and he does so much more than score. He leads the Ramblers on the defensive end and is the emotional leader for the team. He was named on the all-defensive team last season and was extremely efficient from the floor. He has filled in for the irreplaceable Cam Krutwig admirably. This is the perfect stage for the country to learn about Uguak.
Gabe Brown – Michigan State Spartans
The senior forward has been the guy on offense through the first three games for the Spartans. The forward is an extremely efficient scorer who is going to hit two or three threes a game. He can also go to work inside the paint for the easy baskets. Brown is a great free throw shooter and is on pace for his best rebounding season for Michigan State. The forward fits in well with Michigan State and what they are trying to do on the defensive end so he rarely leaves the floor.
Jabari Smith – Auburn Tigers
The top-ranked freshman in the tournament, as Smith was the number four recruit in the country. The Tigers start two 7’0” and both can take over a game. Smith is averaging 16 points per game to go along with nine rebounds. The freshman can step out and hit threes as he currently has made 5 of his 8 attempts from deep. He also protects the rim should be a lottery pick in the NBA who is going to have a huge impact on this tournament.
Adama Sanogo – UConn Huskies
Sanogo played a little bit last year when he committed to UConn but never reached his lofty expectations. With a full offseason under his belt, the big man is currently playing like one of the best overall players in the country. He is shooting 80% from the floor overall, averaging 20 points and 7 rebounds per game. He does foul and turns the ball over a lot but that should not take away from the fact that he has dominated the basketball games he has played in this year and that is likely going to continue in this tournament. He is hard to guard.
Buddy Boeheim – Syracuse Orange
The Boeheim brothers handle most of the scoring for the Orange, but the younger Boeheim is the star of the show for Syracuse. He takes most of the shots for the Orange and almost half of those are from three. Boeheim shoots about 40% from deep over his career, so he will hurt teams if he is left open. Syracuse is going to get him a touch on almost every possession down the floor, so opponents are going to need to find him on the floor. He can put up points quickly.
Hason Ward – VCU Rams
The Rams have struggled on the offensive end through the first three games. VCU is really feeling the loss of star Bones Hyland to the NBA and they are still adjusting on the offensive end. Ward is the big man and can score from inside the arc and outside as well. His biggest asset may be that he is averaging about four blocks per game through the first three contests. The Rams have been good on the defensive end and Ward is a big part of that. If he can continue this and the offense can get it figured out the Rams could be a dangerous team as the year goes on.
LJ Cryer – Baylor Bears
Cryer doesn’t start but he does come in and do nothing but score points and score them quickly. The sophomore guard is just another player in the long line of ridiculous shooters that Baylor has had over the years. The guard is a guy who can help stretch a game and even though he doesn’t start he plays a ton and is going to be on the floor in crunch time. Cryer is more than just a three-point shooter he is on track to be one of the most efficient players in the country on offense and he is a huge piece in what Baylor does defensively as well.
Kimani Lawrence – Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils should have a much better season and Lawrence being fully healthy could be a giant reason why. The forward has always had a ton of potential, but he has never been able to put together a full season of outstanding production. His last ride in Tempe is going well and he is now scoring and rebounding at an elite level right now. Lawrence has an extremely high ceiling and he can do some damage in this tournament for the Sun Devils.