Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Tournament 2023: 4 breakout star candidates to watch

By Christian Odjakjian

Jan 11, 2023; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Jordan Miller (11) reacts after making a shot while being fouled during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2023; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Jordan Miller (11) reacts after making a shot while being fouled during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
NCAA Tournament Montana State Bobcats guard RaeQuan Battle Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament Montana State Bobcats guard RaeQuan Battle Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

RaeQuan Battle – No. 14 Montana State

My favorite opening-round upset for this year’s tournament is No. 14 Montana State to take down No. 3 Kansas State. The Wildcats are one of the weakest three seeds I remember, ranking 25th in KenPom. Kansas State has lost seven of the last eight games they’ve played away from their home gym.

Enter an experienced Montana State team who has been fantastic the last two seasons under Danny Sprinkle. I’m aware that the Bobcats got smacked around by Texas Tech in last year’s dance (97-62), but this team is 28 spots higher in KenPom, and has a star player that is ready to go.

RaeQuan Battle has experienced a major breakout in year four of his college career. Battle transferred to Montana State after two years of limited playing time for the Washington Huskies. Last season, Battle won the Big Sky Sixth Man of the Year Award coming off the bench for the Bobcats. This year, he was First Team All-Big Sky, and more than doubled his scoring average from 8.5 points to 17.4.

The 6’5” 190 lbs guard is a walking bucket. He’s super athletic and has a ton of bounce. He can create shots for himself off the dribble, as well as elevate and shoot three-pointers over anybody. In the Big Sky Tournament semifinals, he threw down an alley-oop in the final seconds of double overtime in a total slugfest victory over Weber State. That was a special play, and that’s the type of player he is. Across three conference tournament games, Battle scored 21, 17, and 25 points.

Evidenced by his two years in the Pac-12, I feel confident in saying that Battle is a high-major talent.  And he’s really grown into his own this year.

With his talent profile and big-time shot-making ability, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Battle turn in a special performance or two in the NCAA Tournament and make a name for himself. Kansas State doesn’t scare me at all, and Battle has some dudes alongside him in Jubrile Belo, Darius Brown, and Great Osobor who can help lead him to victory.

Home/March Madness