2022 NCAA Tournament: Kansas, Auburn headline Midwest Region
Players to watch in the Midwest Region
Keegan Murray, Iowa
Murray has put up ridiculous numbers this season, starting with his averages of 23.7 PPG and 8.6 RPG. He also ranks second on KenPom’s Player of the Year rankings and has put together a strong case to win the actual award scoring at least 20 points in 25 games this season — the most in the country. This is a guy who is a projected top 10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and for good reason.
Murray also leads the nation in Player Efficiency Rating at 38.7, which would be the second-highest single-season rating for any men’s college player behind only Duke’s Zion Williamson in 2018-19.
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Davis almost singlehandedly carried a Wisconsin team with relatively low expectations to a Big Ten regular-season title this season, averaging 19.7 PPG and 8.2 RPG. His name has been towards the top of National Player of the Year discussions all season and will almost certainly be a First Team All-American.
His most memorable performance came on the road in Mackey Arena where he had 37 points and 14 rebounds to take down a highly-ranked Purdue team. That’s just one example of his explosivity offensively. He can singlehandedly win Wisconsin a game — or multiple — in the NCAA Tournament.
Jabari Smith, Auburn
Smith should be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He has an almost Kevin Durant-like ability to face up and shoot over defenders with his height and length, albeit toned down to the level of an 18-year-old freshman.
His individual statistics aren’t quite as eye-popping as those of Davis and Murray, but he still averages 17.1 PPG as a 42.8% 3-point shooter. Smith’s consistent play for an Auburn team that won the outright SEC regular-season title will earn him an All-American nod.
Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
Agbaji was the unanimous pick for Big 12 Player of the Year this season and — like Davis, Murray, and Smith — is essentially a lock to be an All-American. Aside from Kansas winning the Big 12 and being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, he has the stats to back that up as the only high-major player in the country averaging at least 19 PPG on 40% shooting from three this season (min. 200 3PA).
When I think of Ochai Agbaji I think of the clutch gene. The cliche that big-time players make big-time plays was coined for players like Agbaji.
Murray, Davis, Smith, and Agbaji are four All-Americans and three potential top 10 picks in the NBA Draft…in the same region. Our expectations are high.
Tari Eason, LSU
Eason is the best sixth man in the country, averaging 16.9 PPG and 6.7 RPG in just 24.6 MPG. He is LSU’s leading scorer and best defender but has started just four games this season, preferring to find his groove and provide a boost of energy off the bench.
The Cincinnati transfer ranks second nationally in adjusted defensive rating and fourth in box +/-, per Torvik. His impact on both ends of the court has helped lead LSU to a top 10 defense in the country and has earned him the No. 8 ranking on KenPom’s National Player of the Year ratings.
Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State
To be blunt, Brockington single-handedly carried an otherwise abysmal Iowa State offense this season, averaging 17.2 PPG with multiple 25+ point outbursts in Big 12 play. The 6-4 senior is a transfer from Penn State who made it to Ames, Iowa, by way of the transfer portal last summer. Brockington was a First Team All-Big 12 selection this season — Iowa State’s first since Marial Shayok in 2018-19.
Kam McGusty, Miami
Miami plays an objectively fun style that frequently features four guards led by their First Team All-ACC player in Kam McGusty. The senior guard is averaging 17.6 PPG on the season and tends to fall on the side of consistency over streaky scoring outbursts. He’s going to score 15 to 25 points a night, but you’ll rarely see him explode for 30-40 and then drop off to 10 the next game. Regardless, he has that go-to ability that makes Miami a dangerous team if you let them hang around.
Isaiah Mobley, USC
Isaiah Mobley is the brother of Evan Mobley, last year’s Pac-12 Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both brothers teamed up to lead USC to the Elite Eight last season, but only Isaiah returned to Los Angeles looking to take the Trojans on another NCAA Tournament run.
Like his brother, Isaiah is an elite defensive presence around the rim as a 6-10, 240-pound forward. He rarely puts up huge numbers offensively, but he does lead the Trojans in scoring with 14.3 PPG.
Matt Bradley, San Diego State
San Diego State is a fantastic defensive team, but to say they’ve struggled offensively this season would be an understatement. The lone consistent bright spot has been Bradley, a transfer from Cal who is SDSU’s only double-digit scorer averaging an even 17 PPG. It’s a little concerning that the Aztecs rely on Bradley so heavily, but he’s come up big when it matters pretty consistently this season.