Nigel Hayes Underrated Key to Potential Wisconsin Championship Run

Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky isn’t only a superstar, he may be the superstar in the NCAA tournament. After all, he is a recognizable player who will likely be a lottery pick in the draft, went to the Final Four a year ago and could win the National Player of the Year award for his excellent season.

However, Kaminsky is not going to carry the Badgers to the promised land all by himself, even if they are a No. 1 seed. That is where his teammates must step in.

One of the most important teammates who will play a critical role in Wisconsin’s potential run to the national title is Nigel Hayes. He is also the team’s most underrated player who often flies under the radar alongside players like Kaminsky, Sam Dekker and Bronson Koenig.

On the season, Hayes averaged 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals per game, which were all significant jumps from last year’s production. He also shot 51 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range, which was particularly impressive because he didn’t attempt a single shot from beyond the arc as a freshman.

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

At 6’7”, Hayes plays larger than his listed size when battling for the boards, but he can stretch the floor and create mismatches when facing opposing power forwards. 

He is also a monster on the offensive boards and flashed his potential in that department earlier in the tournament against Coastal Carolina, as Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports called Hayes Wisconsin’s biggest X-factor heading into the tournament:

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It has been swept under the rug because of how well Frank Kaminsky and Bronson Koenig have played this season for the Badgers, but Hayes' overall improvement from last year to this one has been beyond impressive. The 6-7 sophomore didn't attempt a single 3-point shot last year as a freshman and has now made 31 attempts from long distance while shooting 40.3 percent from deep. Hayes has also improved at the free-throw line, now making 75 percent of his shots from the stripe after shooting just 58.5 percent a season ago. With so much attention always on Kaminsky, Koenig, and Sam Dekker, Hayes has a chance to be a difference-maker for Wisconsin if he can keep producing like he's been producing…The Badgers are a better team than they were a year ago and Hayes' development is a major reason why.

"

As Rothstein seemed to suggest, it is about more than just the raw numbers when it comes to the versatile Hayes, though, especially with a potential path of North Carolina, Arizona and Kentucky standing in his team’s way before the national championship game.

Hayes’ value in the Sweet 16 game against the Tar Heels will come on the boards, where he is second on the team in rebounds per game. North Carolina pounds the offensive glass (it finished 18th in the nation in offensive rebounds a night) and often creates most of its points by shooting from the outside and following up misses with an array of rebounders.

In fact, seven different players on North Carolina averaged at least 2.9 rebounds per game, and two of them (Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks) pulled in at least 7.4 a night. The Tar Heels have a number of guys who crash the glass, which means Kaminsky is going to need some help down low. Hayes will have to turn in one of his best rebounding performances of the season.

Arizona presents a different problem in a possible Elite Eight matchup.

The Wildcats have a handful of players who can be matchup nightmares, including Stanley Johnson, Brandon Ashley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Hayes will be asked to at least slow one of them down and provide help with defense on the others. Wisconsin will need its matchup nightmare—Hayes—to slow down Arizona’s matchup nightmares.

What’s more, if the Badgers do play Kentucky, Hayes—along with Kaminsky—is a major reason why so many people think Wisconsin is on the short list of teams that could possibly do the unthinkable and defeat the Wildcats.

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Hayes and Kaminsky stretch the floor with their three-point shooting ability, which will draw the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the Kentucky bigs away from the rim, where they are so dominant. Hayes will theoretically open up the lane for penetration from Dekker or one of the guards to create open looks for themselves and teammates.

The Wildcats have a number of intimidating shot-blockers on the roster who control the game with just their presence alone. Hayes is one of those rare players who is strong enough to battle with them in the paint but skilled enough to draw them away from the basket and mitigate some of that defensive impact.

Hayes also won’t be intimidated by the moment, even if he is playing against the undefeated Wildcats, as Wisconsin assistant coach Lamont Paris suggested, per Genaro C. Armas of The Associated Press, via ABC News: "Pressure has never really been something that's affected him much. It's just his personality."

It is good for the Badgers that pressure doesn’t impact Hayes much because there will certainly be plenty of it when he helps lead his team to the Final Four.

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