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NCAA Tournament 2023: Top 10 biggest x-factor players to watch for

By Elijah Campbell

Jan 12, 2023; Provo, Utah, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) dunks the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars in the first half at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2023; Provo, Utah, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) dunks the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars in the first half at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Tournament Assistant coach Kenton Paulino (C) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
NCAA Tournament Assistant coach Kenton Paulino (C) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

#10 – Isaac McBride – Oral Roberts

I’m starting off with my ultimate wildcard here. Oral Roberts is on the nation’s longest win streak and their best player, Max Abmas, already has some Cinderella experience as his ORU team made a run to the Sweet 16 in 2021 as a 15-seed. The Eagles are the seventh most efficient shooting team in the country and Abmas is clearly the star.

When they face off against Duke on Thursday, the Blue Devils will go all in on trying to keep Abmas from turning them into another 12-seed over 5-seed statistic. With Abmas getting that attention, Isaac McBride has a golden opportunity to knock down big triples to help pull off an upset.

McBride has hit the second-most three’s on the team this season and leads them in three-point percentage at 40.7%. In some of their most impressive wins this season, McBride has pulled through to be the ideal backcourt wingman to Abmas. If the Golden Eagles look to shock the ACC champs and relive 2021’s glory, McBride will have to help out from beyond the arc.

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