NCAA Tournament 2022: 1 player to watch in Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchups

Hunter Dickinson, 7-foot-1 center, Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines have been the last great hope for the Big Ten Conference as they’re just one of two teams that remain after a total of nine were selected to the NCAA Tournament field. The Wolverines have done a good job of feeding their big man Hunter Dickinson, though, to get to their second-consecutive Sweet 16.

Dickinson has produced 24.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, and 2.5 bpg as the Wolverines look to make yet another Elite 8 with an experienced Villanova squad in front of them. It’s helped that Dickinson has managed to shoot 69.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range while generating an offensive rating of 138.6 and a defensive rating of 89.4 when he’s on the floor.

His ability to alter the game on both ends of the floor will certainly be something to keep an eye on in this matchup. He’s a mobile big man that can operate inside and out against a team that will throw multiple defensive looks at him.

After putting up 27 points,11 rebounds, and four assists on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc against Tennessee, look for him to come out hot against a disciplined Villanova squad.