Sweet 16 Bracket: Best Individual Matchups You Do Not Want to Miss

In the NCAA tournament, the focus is usually on teams, not superstars. However, there are still a few individuals worth watching closely in this tournament.

The Sweet 16 is certain to feature some excellent matchups. There will be some great coaching clashes, such as between Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo of Michigan State. There will also be more than a few displays of balance with squads like Florida or Miami. 

Still, fans looking for individual battles should look in these places for some of the best you will see all year.

Follow the NCAA tournament with Bleacher Report's live bracket, or you can find a printable bracket here. 

Jeff Withey, Kansas vs. Mitch McGary, Michigan

When you watch Michigan play, the first player you notice on the floor is point guard Trey Burke. After that, talented scorers Tim Hardaway Jr. and Glenn Robinson III catch your attention.

However, Mitch McGary is quickly becoming the team's most important player. The squad lacked size inside, but the freshman has come on strong in the past few games and provides balance to the guard-heavy lineup.

Since the end of the regular season, the big man is averaging 13.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in four games. If he can keep this up, it will make Michigan very tough to beat for the rest of the year.

On the other hand, he has not faced anyone with as much defensive skill as Jeff Withey. The Kansas senior is one of the best interior defenders in the nation with an average of 3.9 blocks per game.

Like McGary, Withey is not always the focal point of the offense with talented guards around him, but the center still averages 13.8 points per game and can finish in many ways around the rim.

These two talented players have great motors and should be battling throughout the game. Whoever wins more battles inside should help his team get the victory.

Vander Blue, Marquette vs. Durand Scott, Miami (FL)

Marquette leading scorer Vander Blue is averaging 14.8 points per game this season, but he has shown the ability to do much more when his team needs him.

In the Golden Eagles' first game of the tournament, they trailed by seven points with under two minutes remaining. Blue scored seven points himself in the final 93 seconds, including the game-winning layup with only one second left on the clock.

He also came up huge against Butler with 29 points in the narrow victory.

Of course, that will not be easy against the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Durand Scott. The 6'5" guard uses his size and athleticism to stay with the best scorers in the country and shut them down.

Miami rotated defenders against Illinois, but the starting backcourt was only able to shoot 12-of-41 from the floor.

On the other end of the court, Blue will have to defend a streaky shooter that can get hot at any time. Scott only totaled six points against Illinois, but he totaled 21 against Pacific.

Both players will have their hands full, but we know that it will be entertaining regardless of who plays better. 

Mark Lyons, Arizona vs. Aaron Craft, Ohio State

Aaron Craft showed off his offensive prowess against Iowa State in the last round with 18 points, including the game-winning three-pointer. However, his calling card is on the defensive end.

Craft is one of the best on-ball defenders in the nation and has averaged over two steals per game in every year of his career. He has very quick hands and can force even the best ball-handlers to lose their handle.

Arizona has a few talented players, but Mark Lyons is the one that he needs to stop. The Xavier transfer has the ball in his hands more than anyone on the team, and he is always a threat to shoot.

Lyons has already scored 50 points in two tournament games so far, and he is far from finished. If the Wildcats have a chance at pulling off the upset, they will need another big performance out of the senior.

Still, Craft has the ability to slow down the quick player, forcing the opponent to find other ways to score.

If the Ohio State point guard can defend like usual and score like he did last game, the Buckeyes can go a long way in this tournament. 

Follow all the exciting NCAA tournament action with March Madness Live

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