Sweet 16 2012: 10 Bracket-Busting Stars of March Madness

Despite not having a single game go to overtime, the 2012 NCAA tournament has been thrilling through the first three rounds, as we enter the Sweet 16. These players have all busted brackets thus far, as they are the star performers leading upset after upset.

With two No. 15 seeds (Norfolk State and Lehigh) beating two No. 2 seeds (Missouri and Duke), this year may have been the best Round of 64 in history.

Seven teams seeded in double digits advanced to the Round of 32, and we have three of those seven teams in the Sweet 16.

In the 52 games in the NCAA tournament so far, these are the 10 stars who have been busting brackets.

10. Anthony Collins, South Florida

South Florida's upset over No. 5 Temple came courtesy of Anthony Collins' 17 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Collins played one heck of a game for USF as a freshman, going 6-of-12 from the floor and leading the team to an upset.

Collins stepped up his play in March, and he helped the team not only win its play-in game against California, but also pull off the upset over No. 5 Temple.

Collins was key for the Bulls, and he played like a star on the biggest stage.

9. Askia Booker, Colorado

When No. 11 Colorado upset No. 6 UNLV, it was not because of one of the team's stars...or even one of its starters.

Askia Booker came off the bench, shooting 5-of-9 from the floor, knocking down two threes and finishing the game with a game-high 16 points.

Colorado beat UNLV by a final score of 68-64, and Booker was the biggest contributor.

While I almost gave this slide to Andre Roberson, who recorded one of his many double-doubles, it was Booker's spark off the bench that gave this team what it needed to pull off the upset.

8. Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati

Sean Kilpatrick is one of Cincinnati's talented guards, and he played like a star against No. 3 Florida State in the Round of 32.

Florida State was a trendy pick to win the East region, especially once Fab Melo was ruled ineligible for the NCAA tournament. Most brackets had the team going to the Sweet 16, and a high number had it going to the Final Four, or even winning it all once it beat Duke and North Carolina to win the first ACC tournament in school history.

Unfortunately for the Seminoles and those who picked them, Kilpatrick had different plans.

Kilpatrick went for a game-high 18 points, not to mention six boards and a pair of steals. He shot 5-of-9 from the field and drained no less than four clutch threes, two of which broke ties in the last four minutes of the game.

Kilpatrick was the leader for the Bearcats in this game, and without him, they would not have pulled off this upset.

7. Terone Johnson, Purdue

In Purdue's first game against No. 7 Saint Mary's, the Boilermakers were heavy underdogs, as the Gales were ranked No. 17 in the country. With star senior Robbie Hummel having an off night, only one player shot over 50 percent from the floor: Terone Johnson.

Johnson had one of the best games of his career, shooting 9-of-13 from the field and racking up 21 points in the process.

The sophomore elevated his game to new heights on the biggest stage, leading Purdue to an upset over the Gaels with 21 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Johnson played like a star for a Purdue team that had its best players shut down. He is the reason the Boilermakers even had the chance to challenge Kansas in the Round of 32.

6. Tu Holloway, Xavier

Tu Holloway is the best scoring point guard in the country, and he played like it on Friday night. Holloway led the Musketeers to an upset over No. 7 Notre Dame almost single-handedly.

Fellow guard Mark Lyons was held in check by the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, so Holloway took it upon himself to lead his team to a 67-63 victory.

Holloway shot a ridiculous 10-of-15 from the field, including knocking down two big threes on his way to no less than 25 points in the win. He put the team on his back and carried it to the Round of 32.

While the Musketeers were not an underdog in their next game against No. 15 Lehigh, it is worth noting that they are in the Sweet 16 and will be looking to upset No. 3 Baylor next.

5. Bradford Burgess, VCU

Bradford Burgess was the first star to bust a few brackets this year when he hit the game-winning three against No. 5 Wichita State in the Round of 64.

Burgess is the only returning starter from Shaka Smart's Final Four team from a year ago, and he led the team with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in the game.

Burgess sealed the victory for the Rams, knocking down the go-ahead three with just 1:33 left, which gave the Rams a 60-59 lead that would be enough for a 62-59 victory.

While a lot of people actually did have VCU upsetting Wichita State, most did not, because the Shockers were supposed to be the best mid-major in the field this year.

Burgess is the one responsible for busting a few brackets.

4. North Carolina State's Starters

North Carolina State is the hottest Cinderella left in the tournament, and it is impossible to give all of the credit to one player.

NC State's starters have been on fire so far, combining for 66.5 points per game compared to only 6.0 points per game by bench players.

C.J. Williams, C.J. Leslie, Lorenzo Brown, Scott Wood and Richard Howell have been playing exceptionally well for the Wolfpack, and all five are averaging at least 10 points per game, with Richard Howell's 15.5 points per game leading the team.

By upsetting both No. 6 San Diego State and No. 3 Georgetown, this team has busted more than a few brackets for those who did not watch it in the ACC tournament.

3. The Backcourt of Ohio

Guards Walter Offutt and D.J. Cooper are the two biggest reasons the Ohio Bobcats are in the Sweet 16. These two have been simply phenomenal, with one of the two going for more than 20 points in every game of the tournament so far.

These two have combined for 36.0 points per game, which is well over half of the team's 62.5 points per game in the Big Dance.

With Offutt and Cooper playing well, this team stands a legitimate chance against No. 1 North Carolina, who lost its starting point guard in Kendall Marshall and now doesn't have either of its starting guards or its best backup point guard from the beginning of the season.

The backcourt of Ohio has simply been outstanding, and it has been busting brackets since the team upset No. 4 Michigan in the Round of 64. It will look to do so again against No. 1 North Carolina next.

2. C.J. McCollum, Lehigh

C.J. McCollum is a guard for Lehigh, and he played a huge role in the team's massive upset over Duke in the Round of 64.

McCollum's 21.9 points per game was good enough for sixth in the nation during the regular season, but he stepped it up a notch for Lehigh's game against Duke.

McCollum went for 30 points, six rebounds and six assists against Duke, leading all scorers and leading his team in assists.

Lehigh's upset was absolutely enormous, and it shattered brackets. He no doubt gave one of the biggest performances in an upset in NCAA tournament history.

1. Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State

It was a close call between C.J. McCollum of the last slide and Kyle O'Quinn, but I give the edge to O'Quinn.

No. 15 Norfolk State pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament over No. 2 Missouri. While there were three players who scored 20 points or more for Norfolk State in the game, center O'Quinn led the team to this amazing upset.

O'Quinn led all players with both his 26 points and 14 rebounds in the game. O'Quinn also scored six of the team's last seven points, with the only one he didn't score being a free throw that Rodney McCauley made with eight seconds left.

This incredible double-double helped fuel Norfolk State to the biggest win in school history, and possibly the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history.

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