The following 10 players are vital to their team’s success. Shutting down these players will almost guarantee a victory for the opposing team. However, these players are all capable of torching an opposing defense:
1. Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young
Used on 32.1% of Possessions
Using KenPom’s handy player efficiency leaderboards, we can see that Jimmer Fredette has the #1 offensive rating of all players that are used on more than 28% of their team’s possessions. Fredette is a crafty guard that can beat you off the dribble, drop a floater on you or rain down threes to destroy you. There is no doubt in my mind that Fredette will drop 40 points at least once during the tournament. The scary thing is that Fredette is not a one-man show. Jimmer Fredette, Jon Tavernari and Jackson Emery make up a trio of trey shooters that combine to make over six threes per game at a 42% clip. The Regionals are played right in their backyard, in Salt Lake City. So, if they can manage to get by Florida and Kansas State then a Final Four run is not out of the question.
2. James Anderson, Oklahoma State
Used on 30.8% of Possessions
At 6’8″, James Anderson is a lengthy, athletic forward that is too tall for guards but too quick for forwards. He is a lot like a poor-man’s Kevin Durant in that sense. Unfortunately Oklahoma State has been paired up with Georgia Tech who has two future NBA Lottery picks on their frontline. If Oky State manages to get past Georgia Tech then James Anderson could have a field day with the front line of Ohio State.
3. Reggie Holmes, Morgan State
Used on 28.2% of Possessions
This season, Holmes has posted six games of 30 points or more. The only problem is this Holmes has no Watson to help him. Reggie Holmes is a one man show, but he can’t beat West Virginia by himself. It should been fun watching him try.
4. Omar Samhan, St. Mary’s
Used on 30.4% of Possessions
Samhan is a self-proclaimed “beast”, and I can’t argue with that. His length and wing span make him a force on defense, and very tough to guard on offense. Look for St. Mary’s to force feed Samhan early and often, forcing Richmond’s Justin Harper into foul trouble.
5. DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
Used on 31.9% of Possessions
John Wall is the flashy freshman that garners all the attention, but DeMarcus Cousins is just as responsible, if not more, for Kentucky’s success this year. Cousins may be the best rebounder in the nation. The problem is that Cousins averages 5.5 fouls per 40 minutes. If Cousins stays out of foul trouble, he has no problem putting up 20-20 type games.
6. Tre’Von Willis, Nevada Las Vegas
Used on 28.7% of Possessions
This 6 foot 4 inch guard from Fresno is very capable of filling up a score sheet. When he’s on the court he takes 27% of the Running Rebels shots. Willis thrives on getting the free throw line. One problem, UNI does not foul opponents. If Willis can force the issue and get to the line 8+ times I think UNLV wins.
7. Jordan Eglseder, Northern Iowa
Used on 30.7% of Possessions
Egleseder is a seven foot ogre that does more than his fair share for the UNI Panthers. Egleseder’s game is very similar to Luke Harangody, if Harangody grew four inches. Not the most exciting player to watch, but he is so vital to Northern Iowa’s success.
8. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
Used on 32.3% of Possessions
Harangody is Notre Dame. Harangody shoots an unheard of 37.4% of Notre Dame’s shots. That is good for #1 in the nation, making Harangody the biggest ball hog in the country.
9. Evan Turner, Ohio St.
Used on 34.1% of Possessions
Evan Turner was able to come up time and time again in clutch situations during the Big Ten tournament. When you think about it, Ohio State beat Michigan with a miracle buzzer beater and needed two overtimes to beat Illinois. Evan Turner will certainly be fun to watch, don’t get comfortable, they may have an early exit.
10. Jordan Crawford, Xavier
Used on 29% of Possessions
First making a name for himself with his dunk “over LeBron”, Crawford has since proven that he is actually a very good player. Crawford is a transfer from Indiana, and may be the crucial go-to guy if Xavier finds themselves facing a rematch of last year’s Sweet Sixteen matchup vs. Pittsburgh.
Make sure you know these names before Thursday comes around. Your friends will surely think you’re really cool when you tell them to watch out for Reggie Holmes and Jimmer Fredette, and then they both score over 30 points in their first round matchups.
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