Wooden Legacy 2013: Key Players to Watch in SDSU-Marquette Championship Clash

The 2013 Wooden Legacy final will be a battle between San Diego State University and No. 25 Marquette, and the final outcome will be decided by the performances of three of the most talented players on either side.

SDSU is fresh off a six-point victory against No. 20 Creighton, and it will look to make it two straight victories against ranked opponents Sunday night. The Aztecs' only loss on the season came against No. 6 Arizona in their second game.

Marquette, on the other hand, is 5-2. Losses to No. 10 Ohio State and Arizona State have prevented them from climbing higher in the rankings. The Golden Eagles are a big-time rebounding team, and it will be up to the Aztecs' big men to fight hard on the glass if they want the upset.

The following players have starred for their respective teams so far this season and will play a big role in the Wooden Legacy final.

Davante Gardner, Marquette

Davante Gardner will be essential to Marquette's success against SDSU. The senior forward is averaging over 15 points and nearly seven rebounds per game, and he's converting on 51.4 percent of his shots from the floor.

The key for Gardner will be how long he can stay on the floor. At 290 pounds, he isn't exactly fleet of foot and does tire out easily. That's why he's only averaging 24.4 minutes per game on the season.

When on the floor, though, Gardner has the talent and the strength to dominate opponents. He can use his big frame to bump bodies in the paint or low post, and he'll be utilized heavily against much smaller counterparts at power forward.

Look for Gardner to spend some time on the bench to recoup, but 25 to 28 quality minutes from him should be enough to give Marquette the edge.

Xavier Thames, San Diego State

Xavier Thames is putting together a career-best showing as a senior, and the 6'3" guard is arguably the best playmaker offensively for the Aztecs.

He is shooting a ridiculous 52.4 percent from deep on 4.2 attempts per game, and Marquette's ability to put a hand in his face on the perimeter will go a long way in deciding the outcome. Thames is a sharpshooter, though, so even a simple hand may not be enough to alter his shot.

Containing Thames on the perimeter will certainly be a team effort.

With 1.8 steals per game, Thames is also a quality player on the defensive side of the court. Sure, he's not a lockdown defender, but he has quick hands and is quick to react when jumping in front of passes.

Matt Shrigley, San Diego State

Speaking of SDSU sharpshooters, freshman forward Matt Shrigley is almost unconscious from three-point land. In 4.0 attempts per game, he's shooting 60 percent from deep.

Shrigley averages just over nine points per contest and doesn't play more than 20 minutes a night, but when he's in there, he has one job and one job only—shoot.

With that being the case, the game plan for Marquette should be simple. All the Golden Eagles need to do is keep a defender trailing him to contest every shot he puts up. Like Thames, though, Shrigley has the ability to hit shots in traffic.

Converting on threes with regularity has been a strength of the Aztecs' this season, and they'll need to stick with that strategy to record their second straight upset.