NCAA Bracket 2015: Elite 8 Schedule, Under-the-Radar Players to Watch

There are superstars in the Elite Eight of the 2015 NCAA tournament everywhere you turn.

From the coaches (Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Izzo, John Calipari and Rick Pitino, anyone?) to the players (Frank Kaminsky, Jahlil Okafor and Kentucky’s litany of future NBA lottery picks), there is plenty of star power to go around. It makes the quality of basketball all the more exciting, especially since a spot in the Final Four will be at stake in each game.

However, the superstars won’t be the only ones who have a direct impact on the outcomes. The under-the-radar role players who step up could very well decide which four teams make college basketball’s brightest stage.

Here is a look at a few of them in particular who will do just that, as well as the Elite Eight schedule and an updated bracket.

Matchup	Date	Time	TV
Wisconsin vs. Arizona	Saturday, March 28	6:09 p.m. ET	TBS
Kentucky vs. Notre Dame	Saturday, March 28	8:49 p.m. ET	TBS
Michigan State vs. Louisville	Sunday, March 29	2:20 p.m. ET	CBS
Duke vs. Gonzaga	Sunday, March 29	5:05 p.m. ET	CBS

Tyler Ulis, Kentucky

David Stephenson/Associated Press

Even the most causal college basketball fans know the names of most of Kentucky’s superstars.

There is Karl-Anthony Towns, who may be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, Willie Cauley-Stein, who may be the most naturally skilled player on the roster, and the Harrison twins, who bring skill, size and experience to the backcourt.

Tyler Ulis may not land on many radars, but he will certainly play a major role in the Wildcats’ clash with Notre Dame Saturday.

Timothy D. Easley/Associated Press

He is tied for third on the team in steals per game, despite only playing 24 minutes a night, and is arguably the best perimeter defender at Calipari's disposal. He is undersized at 5’9”, but he will make life difficult on Notre Dame’s superstar guard if he is indeed tasked with chasing Jerian Grant around for stretches of the game. 

Grant is the engine that makes the Fighting Irish offense run, and if Ulis can at least hold him in check for short spurts, it will improve Kentucky’s already overwhelming chances at advancing to the Final Four. It won’t land on any box scores (unless he racks up some steals), but Ulis will have an under-the-radar impact on the Elite Eight showdown.

Matt Jones, Duke 

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

If Duke is going to win the national championship, household names such as Okafor, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and even Quinn Cook will be a big reason why. They are the main cogs in the offensive machine that propelled the Blue Devils to a No. 1 seed this season and bring such a variety of offensive skills to the table that it is nearly impossible to contain them all.

However, Duke’s revamped defense is perhaps the bigger reason for optimism when it comes to possibly winning a title or at least reaching the Final Four.

C.J. Moore of Bleacher Report put things in perspective:

"

The Blue Devils were exposed by North Carolina State and Miami for two straight losses in January. They couldn't stop penetration. They couldn't guard ball screens. Their defense had more holes than swiss cheese.

It might just be time to put that narrative to bed. 

On Friday night in Houston, the Blue Devils played their third straight masterful game on the defensive end in a 63-57 win over Utah in the Sweet 16 to advance to meet Gonzaga in the South Region final on Sunday.

"

There are clearly a number of reasons for the improvement, but Matt Jones cannot be overlooked. At 6’5”, he brings length and athleticism to the Duke backcourt and takes some of the pressure off Cook and Tyus Jones on the defensive end. He is quick enough to keep up with smaller ball-handlers but big enough to guard a small forward if needed.

Matt Jones and Winslow make a lethal combination on the defensive side, which is one reason the Blue Devils are still alive in the Elite Eight. Matt Jones is averaging an impressive 28 minutes per game in the tournament despite only scoring 11 total points. That playing time is a testament to Coach K’s trust in him on the defensive side. 

Matt Jones will never get the final shot in a nail-biter or even be one of the first three options in the offense, but he is certainly one reason the Blue Devils are a victory away from the Final Four.

Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin

When point guard Traevon Jackson went down with a serious injury early in Big Ten play, it looked like Wisconsin was in some trouble. That ended up not being the case, thanks largely to Bronson Koenig’s ability to run the team in Jackson’s absence.

Kaminsky, Sam Dekker and even Nigel Hayes are drawing all the headlines as the Badgers advance deeper into the tournament, but Koenig is far more important than he gets credit for on a national basis. He stretches the floor with his lethal three-point shooting, sets up his more famous teammates in ideal positions to score and often makes contributions that go unnoticed in the box score.

Teammate Josh Gasser praised him for those plays, via Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "He's tough. He's tough as nails. You can describe toughness in a lot of ways. It's not just fighting a guy or diving on the floor…It is having the...(cajones) to take and make big shots."

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

If Arizona (and perhaps Kentucky in the Final Four) focuses too much attention on containing Kaminsky and Dekker, Koenig will make it pay by drilling an open three or attacking the basket off the dribble. 

Throw in his solid defense and underrated leadership, and Koenig will certainly be a factor in Wisconsin’s continued tournament success.

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