2022 NCAA Tournament: Arizona, Villanova, and Tennessee headline South Region

2022 NCAA Tournament South Region: Players to Watch

Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona

Since foregoing the NBA Draft to return to Arizona for another season, Mathurin has been a revelation. The sophomore wing has certainly improved upon his draft stock, averaging 17.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He is a consistent performer who is fully capable of exploding for big scoring performances.

In the Pac-12 championship game against UCLA, he went off for 27 points and seven assists. Showing up on a big stage like that is the kind of poise you hope to get from your star player. As the best player on the top seed in the region, Mathurin will be one to pay close attention to.

Kofi Cockburn, Illinois

Kofi Cockburn is a force, plain and simple. There are very few players capable of truly containing him in the post. The senior big man is averaging 21.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, converting from the field at a 59.8% rate. All three of these marks rank in the top 15 nationally. He has scored 27 points on two occasions in the last month.

Cockburn is central to Illinois’ success, which was clearly evident in the games he did not play in. During a road loss against Maryland, a Kofi-less Illini squad was dominated in the paint. There’s an “unfinished business” angle to Kofi entering the Big Dance. Illinois was taken down as a No. 1 seed in the second round last year. The failures of last season combined with Cockburn’s necessity to Illinois advancing in the tournament make the center a must-watch.

Collin Gillespie, Villanova

Collin Gillespie is almost synonymous with college basketball at this point. The fifth-year Villanova point guard has been there, done that – Big East titles, Big East Player of the Year awards, All-American selections, and a national championship. When he won the national title as a freshman, Gillespie was a bench player.

Now he’s the undisputed leader on a dangerous Villanova team that won the Big East Tournament. Gillespie is more of a floor general and less of a bucket-getter, but he did drop 33 points against Providence just a month ago, proving that he can go get points if the team requires that of him.

Not many teams in the field (if any) can claim to have a lead guard who is on the level of Collin Gillespie. He’s experienced, smart with the ball, and someone the Wildcats likely would have had a rough time without. If the Wildcats get anywhere, it won’t be without the steady play of their veteran leader.

Malachi Smith, Chattanooga

If Chattanooga finds themselves in a position to upset Illinois in the first round, it will likely be because of the SoCon Player of the Year. Smith is averaging 20.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. He is the No. 3 player in Heat Check CBB’s Gold Star Guide, a list that ranks college basketball players based on star power.

The Mocs are certainly deserving of being in the field as one of the best mid-majors in the country, but with a tough draw, it’s likely they won’t be there for very long. Watch Malachi Smith while you have the chance. He scored 27 and 36 points respectively in back-to-back games against Belmont and Murray State this year and may have some more big-time performances in him.

David Roddy, Colorado State

Roddy may look more like a linebacker than a lead guard with his 6’5″, 252 lb frame, but the junior is one of the best mid-major offensive players in the nation. He scores 19.4 points a contest and also rebounds well for his position at 7.6 boards per game. If you want efficiency, Roddy has it in spades – 57.4% from the field and 45.5% from three.

At No. 6 in Heat Check CBB’s Gold Star Guide, CSU will need every ounce of star power from Roddy if they want to go on the tournament run many pundits claimed the Rams could achieve months ago.

Jordan “Jelly” Walker, UAB

Jelly Walker is in the running for the best player in the tournament that no one is talking about. UAB’s go-to guard went nuclear in the Conference USA Tournament. The junior guard averaged 31 points over three games and led UAB to capturing the conference autobid. He has scored double-digits in all but one game this season and finished 15 games with 20+ points.

If you’re looking for the Kemba Walker of this tournament, it might be Jordan Walker. He is a top-15 scorer in the country and is hot at the right time. UAB is a top-15 offense by scoring average and top-30 in KenPom’s Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. The lynchpin for the Blazers’ offense is Walker, who will look to continue his impressive production in the first round against Houston.

Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee

Tennessee is giving their best rendition of the three-guard lineup that 2021 Baylor employed in their run to a national title. Freshman Kennedy Chandler is the one who makes the whole thing run. The future NBA draftee is a true playmaker and high-level shooter who converts 37.2% of his shots from three-point range.

Chandler enters the NCAA Tournament playing very well after an excellent stretch of games in the SEC Tournament where he averaged 14.6 points and five assists per game. The overall balance of Tennessee’s roster may not make his impact immediately obvious, but it’s there. Watch Kennedy Chandler and you’ll see why he is considered a surefire first-round NBA talent. Tennessee enters the 2022 NCAA Tournament with high hopes and their star freshman will play a big part in the Vols realizing their aspirations.

EJ Liddell, Ohio State

Simply put, Ohio State’s tournament hopes almost completely revolve around EJ Liddell. The Buckeyes have faded down the stretch and will need consistent performance from their star forward to move on in the tournament. Liddell’s overall value to this team cannot be denied.

In addition to his scoring output, the junior also registered over two blocks per game this year, more than double his previous career-best. That defensive presence will be crucial in a first-round game versus an uber-efficient Loyola Chicago. Liddell was on last year’s No. 2 Ohio State team that was knocked out of the tournament in the first round by Oral Roberts. He is essential for the Buckeyes to avoid that same fate this season.