College Basketball Players Who Create Matchup Nightmares

It is hard trying to stop a Division I college basketball player from scoring no matter how good a defender is on the floor.

That task becomes even more difficult when the Division I basketball player is a matchup nightmare who can do a little bit of everything on the floor and overpower smaller defenders and blow past bigger ones. There are a number of players who fit that description this season, many of which will make waves during the NCAA tournament.

With that in mind, here is a look at a few players in particular who create matchup nightmares (remember, this isn’t necessarily a list of the best players in the country).

There are clearly a number of candidates who could fit under this umbrella, so let me know which players you would include in the comments section.

All statistics are current as of Friday, Feb. 20.

Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

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Frank Kaminsky is a difficult matchup already because he is 7’ tall. That in and of itself creates matchup problems as it is before even considering his overall skill set.

Throw in the fact that he can drill three-pointers (39.7 percent on the season) or mid-range shots from anywhere on the floor, and it is almost impossible to stop him. Kaminsky is even a solid passer when opponents try to double-team him, and he grabs 8.4 rebounds per game as well.

The bottom line is that Kaminsky can shoot over the top of smaller defenders or post them up, and he can also drive past bigger ones. Plus, he often forces the opposing center to drift out of the comfort zone of the lane to stop his perimeter shooting.

He is not the center teams want to play against.

Georges Niang, Iowa State

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com declared Georges Niang as one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the country coming into the season:

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He’s never the fastest player on the floor. The Iowa State star doesn’t play above the rim. But the 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward can score from outside (33 percent from the 3-point line last season), bring the ball up the floor, lead the break, collect from midrange and score in the post. 

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The fact that Niang can do a little bit of everything is what lands him on this list. Niang leads Iowa State in scoring, is third in rebounding, second in assists and fourth in blocks and can hit the three.

If the Cyclones are going to make noise in March, it will be because opposing teams have serious trouble stopping Niang.

Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky

Phil Sandlin/Associated Press

Willie Cauley-Stein may not be Kentucky’s best big man (that designation goes to Karl-Anthony Towns) or its best playmaker, but he cracks this list because of his unique skill set.

Cauley-Stein checks in at 7’ tall and can control the glass or the low blocks on either side of the floor, but he also runs the floor like a guard. His athleticism is off the charts, and he has shown it by throwing down momentum-shifting dunks in transition in some of the Wildcats’ recent games that were closer than expected.

We are talking about a future pro who can run past people on the break or overpower them down low, especially when he is matched up with a power forward because the center is guarding Towns. It is really almost unfair.

Stanley Johnson, Arizona

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Matchup nightmares don’t have to be big men, as Arizona’s 6’7” forward Stanley Johnson has proven this season.

Johnson leads the Wildcats in points and rebounds and is second in assists, but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. He can hit the three-pointer when defenders give him too much space, blow past them with an explosive first step if they press up too quickly or soar over them for an impressive finish at the rim.

Throw in his stifling defense and there really isn’t anything Johnson can’t do on the floor.

Johnson may only be a freshman, but he will help carry Arizona in the NCAA tournament with his diverse skill set.

Myles Turner, Texas

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Freshman Myles Turner arrived at Texas with plenty of hype, and the 6’11” athlete is starting to live up to it as the season winds down.

He brings a size and speed combination that makes him almost impossible to stop, as he can run the floor or dominate the boards (much like Cauley-Stein). In his last two games, he has capitalized on the fact that he is impossible to guard with 42 combined points, 22 combined rebounds and an astounding nine blocks (including six in the last game against Oklahoma).

Former Texas star and NBA player T.J. Ford discussed how difficult a matchup Turner is, via Medcalf in a separate piece: "That form of player is difficult to guard. Basketball is instincts, and if you can't use your instincts, then you're limited at the end of the day. I don't care how good you are. If you don't have good instincts, you're limited."

Longhorns fans hope those instincts carry them deep into the NCAA tournament come March.