NCAA Tournament 2022: Players to watch in Friday’s Sweet 16 matchups

Jaden Ivey, 6-foot-4 guard, Purdue Boilermakers

Jaden Ivey has been the saving grace for the Purdue Boilermakers in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-4 guard continues to raise his stock in the NBA Draft as he leads the way heading into the Sweet 16.

Ivey is putting up 20.0 ppg on 50.0 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc along with 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.0 spg in the NCAA Tournament. While they got 22 points off the bench from Trevion Williams, Ivey did well to pace the squad with 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor and 8-of-9 shooting from the free-throw line.

His ability to attack the paint and score at an efficient rate has the Boilermakers on the rise in the East Region. He’ll look to be the hero against a scrappy St. Peter’s squad that’s already upset No. 2 seed Kentucky in the opening round.

With a big matchup ahead of him in Daryl Banks III, Ivey will look to spoil the Peacocks’ run in the Sweet 16 and in the process, elevate his status as Most Outstanding Player as he continues to lead Purdue to their first Final Four appearance since 1980.