NCAA Tournament Predictions: Players Who Will Carry Their Teams in the Sweet 16

Although it feels like Selection Sunday was just yesterday, the NCAA tournament field is already down to the last 16 teams, each hoping to survive through next weekend and reach the promised land of the Final Four.

While there were a number of huge performances from the second and third rounds, it is the Sweet 16 and beyond when players truly leave a lasting legacy on the history of the sport.

There are obvious choices as to which players will have that impact on the tournament this year, like player of the year candidates Jahlil Okafor and Frank Kaminsky, but here are five others who could carry their teams into the Elite Eight.

Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin

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Kaminsky might be the star and likely winner of many player of the year awards, but it has been sophomore forward Nigel Hayes who has made the biggest difference for Bo Ryan's team this season.

A role player on last season's Final Four squad, Hayes has developed into the Badgers' second-most important player and the key to a repeat run in the tournament. In Wisconsin's first two games, Hayes averaged 14.5 points per game while bringing down 6.5 boards and, as pointed out by Zach Helfand of the Los Angeles Times, has a pretty good sense of humor as well.

Against an athletic North Carolina team, Hayes will be relied upon to put up big numbers once again as the Badgers continue their quest for a title.

Stanley Johnson, Arizona

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It's not really going out on a limb to say Stanley Johnson is arguably Arizona's most important player heading into a Sweet 16 matchup with Xavier.

The freshman forward leads the Wildcats in scoring this season with 14 points per game and is second on the team with 6.6 rebounds a contest. But in the third round against Ohio State, Johnson struggled, only scoring 10 points in the victory.

Don't expect back-to-back poor performances from Johnson, who has only failed to score in double digits seven times this year and has enough talent to draw comparisons to LeBron James.

Anthony Barber, North Carolina State

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Following a huge comeback win against LSU in the second round, N.C. State became the first team to knock of a No. 1 seed in this year's field with a 71-68 win against Villanova, thanks in large part to another ensemble performance.

The Wolfpack have three players who average more than 12 points per game, but it is Anthony "Cat" Barber who will lead N.C. State in the Sweet 16.

Even with a scoreless game against Duke, Barber has averaged 16 points in the Wolfpack's four postseason contests, including a career-high 34 points against Pittsburgh, and should continue that trend against a defensive-minded Louisville squad.

Tyus Jones, Duke

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Duke is probably the second-most talented team in the country behind Kentucky, and a big part of that is freshman guard Tyus Jones.

Although Jones is fourth on the team in scoring, he has stepped up his game when the team has needed it most, with big games against North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan State and Wisconsin standing out as prime examples of what he can do.

With a stout Utah defense standing in the way of Duke and a trip to the Elite Eight, watch for Jones to have another big game and lead the Blue Devils to the next round.

Fred VanVleet, Wichita State

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After years of asking, Wichita State finally got the matchup it wanted with a third-round game against Kansas. The Shockers didn't let the opportunity slip and took down their in-state rivals 78-65, thanks in large part to veteran guards Fred VanVleet and Tekele Cotton.

Moving ahead, it is going to be VanVleet, who leads the team in assists and is second in scoring, who will be the player that can lead Wichita State back to the Final Four.

Notre Dame provides a stiff challenge in the Sweet 16, with Jerian Grant having a phenomenal season, but the Shockers guard's play should be enough to pull off another upset.