5. Connecticut (2-seed)
Solo Ball (Junior – Guard)
Much of Ball’s freshman season was as a reserve off the bench and he’s now trying to build his own legacy after winning that national title. His shooting numbers are down as a junior but it’s hard to complain about 13.0 points and 3.3 rebounds a night from this productive guard. However, Ball was completely blanked in UConn’s Tourney win over UCLA and they’ll certainly need more consistent shooting out of him. Ball has made just 1 of his last 15 long-range shots in the last three games and must revive his touch.
Silas Demary Jr. (Junior – Guard)
After brilliant work as an underclassman at Georgia, Demary came to town and continued his success with the Huskies, earning First Team All-Big East honors. The junior averages 10.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, though a recent injury kept him out of UConn’s first Tourney game and limited him against UCLA. Also named All-Defense and known for affecting the game on multiple levels, it’s pretty clear that another deep Tournament run for the Huskies depends on Demary’s health and productivity.
Alex Karaban (Senior – Forward)
Karaban has already been a starting forward on two national championship teams and certainly hopes to end his career on another high note. He’s averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while making 39% of his 3-pointers, continuing that consistent production we’ve seen across his recent seasons. Karaban was named First Team All-Big East and remains an important leader, scorer, and veteran presence for these Huskies and has showed up in the Big Dance, dropping 22 points on Furman before scoring 27 points against UCLA.
Braylon Mullins (Freshman – Guard)
The latest in a line of brilliant freshman brought into the program by Dan Hurley, Mullins has at times looked the part of the next great guard for this UConn team. Mullins has been up and down and did miss some games earlier but has been good for 12.1 points and 3.5 rebounds, making 61% from inside the arc. Despite some long-range struggles during the NCAA Tournament, Mullins has been in double-figures in both games, including 17 points against UCLA just a week after a 21-point showing against Georgetown during the Big East Tournament.
Tarris Reed Jr. (Senior – Forward)
One year after becoming Big East Sixth Man of the Year, Reed has solidified a major role in the starting lineup, earning First Team All-Big East honors as a key play maker for these Huskies. The Michigan transfer averages 14.2 points and 8.9 rebounds while leading the Big East with a 62.8% field goal percentage, boasting what are the most productive figures of his career. Reed isn’t just a reliable scorer, he’s a threat to wreck games for opposing teams, evident by that otherworldly 31-point, 27-rebound affair against Furman last week, a performance that included 11 offensive rebounds.