NCAA Tournament 2013: The Best Individual Performances of March Madness

The 2013 NCAA tournament has offered moments of glory, agony and heartbreak. From devastating injuries to awe-inspiring performances, we've seen it all as the field of 68 has progressively disappeared.

The question is, who has put on the best individual performances of March Madness?

From shooting clinics to monstrous defensive performances, certain players have come to play at a level that few have been able to match.

Whether they're making every shot in sight or preventing the opposition from doing such, the following players have been the best of the best.

Trey Burke, Michigan Wolverines

Date: Mar. 29

Opponent: Kansas Jayhawks

Round: Sweet Sixteen

Result: 87-85 OT, Win

Key Statistics

23 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Trey Burke started the Michigan Wolverines' Sweet Sixteen game against the Kansas Jayhawks 0-for-4. With a three-point field goal at the 18:48 mark of the second half, however, Burke began a second-half performance for the ages.

One which led to 23 points, 10 assists, two rebounds and a steal—that and an out-of-this-stratosphere three-pointer to send this game to overtime.

Burke's field goal percentages may not have been marvelous, and Mitch McGary was a key factor in this win. With that being said, without Burke's sharpshooting down the stretch, McGary's outing would have just been a statistical blur.

Burke's ability to step up in the clutch on both ends and make unbelievable shot after unbelievable shot was the key here.

Sherwood Brown, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

Date: March 22

Opponent: No. 2 Georgetown Hoyas

Round: Round of 64

Result: 78-68, Win

Key Statistics: 24 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3-6 3PT, 9-12 FT

When the No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles knocked off the No. 2 Georgetown Hoyas, it was nothing short of a team effort. Bernard Thompson overcame a poor shooting night to score 23 points, Chase Fieler protected the rim and Brett Comer notched a double-double.

With that being said, the Eagles would not have won if not for the phenomenal performance of Sherwood Brown.

Brown, a 6'4" guard thrust into the role of a small forward, finished with 24 points and nine rebounds. He also went 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Most importantly, he held Big East Player of the Year, Otto Porter, to 5-of-17 shooting from the floor.

Brown's swaying dreadlocks and tongue-out celebrations became synonymous with Florida Gulf Coast's magical run. As they became the first No. 15 seed in NCAA history to reach the Sweet 16, Brown's star grew.

This was the game that started it all.

Seth Curry, Duke Blue Devils

Date: March 29

Opponent: No. 3 Michigan State Spartans

Round: Sweet 16

Result: 71-61, Win

Key Statistics: 29 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 6-9 3PT, 7-7 FT

During the Duke Blue Devil's Sweet 16 clash with the Michigan State Spartans, Seth Curry put on a shooting clinic. Not only was he a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, but he made 6-of-9 three-point field goal attempts.

With 29 total points, Curry managed to lead the Blue Devils to a 71-61 victory.

Curry was sensational from start to finish, scoring his first points at the 18:30 mark of the first half and his last at the 33-second mark of the second half. Between all of that, he dismantled Michigan State's defense and left them on their heels.

For perspective on just how important Curry's contributions were, point in case, the rest of the team shot just 12-of-32 from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Ramon Galloway, La Salle Explorers

Date: March 24

Opponent: Ole Miss Rebels

Round: Round of 32

Result: 76-74, Win

Key Statistics: 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 8-13 FG, 6-10 3PT

Matched up against offensive dynamo Marshall Henderson and the SEC champion Ole Miss Rebels, the La Salle Explorers proved ready for the task at hand. Behind a dominant backcourt performance, La Salle emerged victorious and reached its first Sweet 16 since 1955.

Ramon Galloway was the reason why.

Tyreek Duren came up in the clutch, but it was Galloway who provided the most significant offense in this one. With 24 points and three assists, Galloway penetrated well, kicked it out to the perimeter and proved capable of stepping back himself.

Six made three-pointers provide enough evidence to justify that claim.

With Galloway's offense coming at will, La Salle managed to pull off yet another upset and extend its run into the Sweet 16. Now if that's not a great performance, someone tell me what is.

I'll wait.

Mark Lyons, Arizona Wildcats

Date: March 23

Opponent: No. 14 Harvard Crimson

Round: Round of 32

Result: 74-51, Win

Key Statistics: 27 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 12-17 FG, 3-6 3PT

After the Harvard Crimson picked apart the New Mexico Lobos' vaunted defense, many expected them to be this year's Cinderella story. Arizona Wildcats scoring guard Mark Lyons made sure they weren't.

He did so with one of the most brilliant scoring performances we've seen all year.

Lyons finished with 27 points on a magnificently efficient 12-of-17 shooting from the floor. Lyons also shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

With that being said, nothing was more impressive about Lyons' individual play than his surprising defensive effort.

On top of scoring at will, Lyons contributed to a team performance that held Harvard's four perimeter players to a combined 7-of-35 shooting from the field. That includes holding Siyani Chambers to 2-of-8 shooting and Wesley Saunders to 1-of-11.

To put it simply, Lyons' two-way brilliance was the reason Arizona advanced to the Sweet 16 in such convincing fashion.

Mitch McGary, Michigan Wolverines

Date: March 23

Opponent: VCU Rams

Round: Round of 32

Result: 78-53, Win

Key Statistics: 21 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 10-11 FG

Against the vaunted VCU Rams' havoc-creating defense, Mitch McGary played a near flawless game—an effort so far above those trying to contain him that he made Shaka Smart's crew look like amateurs.

When it was all said and done, McGary tallied 21 points and 14 rebounds on 10-of-11 shooting.

For some perspective as to how dominant McGary was on the boards, only one other player on either team had more than four rebounds. Furthermore, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Nik Stauskas combined to shoot 13-of-31 from the field.

McGary's ability to catch the ball helped collapse and break VCU's half-court defense. His ability to attack the glass on both ends and finish in the paint destroyed its defense, altogether.

Through all he did, McGary led the Wolverines to victory in one of the most efficiently dominant performances you'll ever see.

Mitch McGary, Michigan Wolverines

Date: March 29

Opponent: Kansas Jayhawks

Round: Sweet 16

Result: 87-85 OT, Win

Key Statistics: 25 points, 14 rebounds, 5 offensive rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, 12-17 FG

And he's back again.

Mitch McGary may just be the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 NCAA tournament, as he's put on efficiently dominant performances time after time. In this battle against Jeff Withey and the Kansas Jayhawks, McGary out-dueled a top NBA prospect.

McGary finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and a block on 12-of-17 shooting. More importantly, he won every hustle ball that came his way.

Paired with Trey Burke's late-game heroics, McGary helped will the Wolverines to victory—it was all about efficiency and effort.

Russ Smith, Louisville Cardinals

Date: March 29

Opponent: No. 12 Oregon Ducks

Round: Sweet 16

Result: 77-69, Win

Key Statistics: 31 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 9-16 FG, 12-14 FT

Russ Smith was marvelous against the No. 12 Oregon Ducks, not making the mistake of taking the Pac-12 champions lightly. He finished with 31 points, shot 9-of-16 from the floor and made 12-of-14 free-throw attempts.

All while battling a cold.

This marked a career-high scoring output for Smith, who hasn't cooled down since. For the tournament, he's averaging 25.0 points per game.

If you're looking for his best performance, however, it came against Oregon.

The Ducks made it interesting in the second half, trimming the lead to six points with less than five minutes remaining. Behind Smith's clutch free throws, however, the Cardinals managed to hold on.

It was Smith's scoring that gave Louisville the lead and eventually clinched the win. What more could you ask of a sick player?

Jeff Withey, Kansas Jayhawks

Date: March 24

Opponent: No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels

Round: Round of 32

Result: 70-58, Win

Key Statistics: 16 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks, 1 steal

Contrary to what the scoreboard shows, the Kansas Jayhawks did not win this game comfortably. The North Carolina Tar Heels led by nine at the half and remained in front until Elijah Johnson tied it at 35-35 with 15:28 remaining.

From there, it was all about Jeff Withey.

Withey was sensational on both ends of the floor, registering 16 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks. That includes a play in which Withey swatted away a Reggie Bullock three-pointer.

That's what you call defensive range.

When it was all said and done, Withey's performance was just enough to push the Jayhawks into the Sweet 16. From his defensive prowess to his offensive poise, the senior carried Kansas as star Ben McLemore shot 0-of-9 from the field.

This was the definition of a prime-time performance.

Khalif Wyatt, Temple Owls

Date: March 24

Opponent: No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers

Round: Round of 32

Result: 58-52, Loss

Key Statistics: 31 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 12/24 FG

Truthfully, you could make the case that Khaliff Wyatt's best performance came against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the round of 64. Considering whom Wyatt was tasked with defeating during the round of 32, however, this one takes the cake.

With 31 points, Wyatt nearly led the Temple Owls to an upset of the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers.

Wyatt's numbers speak for themselves, as those 31 points came with two steals and 12-of-24 shooting from the field. Perhaps most impressively, Wyatt put up those numbers while being defended by Naismith Award finalist Victor Oladipo.

Not only was the 6'4" senior sensational, but he overcame an elite defender to do it.

If that's not impressive enough for you, try the fact that Temple lost by only six points. They did this with just one other player in double figures, as Anthony Lee scored 10.

If that's not enough, try this—only four Temple players scored during their game against Indiana. By accounting for 59.6 percent of his team's points, Wyatt single-handedly brought the Owls to the brink of an upset.

There are no words.