NCAA Tournament 2016: Key Player on Each First Four Team
Entering the First Four round of the NCAA tournament, the stakes are high for several teams.
The Michigan Wolverines, for one, made the tournament despite some doubts earlier in the month. They will need strong performances from Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin, both of whom have played well since the loss of Caris LeVert.
The Wichita State Shockers are another well-known team looking to make another deep tournament run. Seniors Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet will look to put an emphatic stamp on their successful college careers during the Big Dance.
Each of the eight First Four teams has that one player who puts it over the top. He's the guy who you can count on to put together one of the best games of his life when the chips are down. That's the guy who deserves our consideration as the team's key player.
But who is the key player for each First Four team?
Consider this piece a look at the player to keep an eye on for each team, as well as a projection on how each will perform in his biggest game of the season yet.
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles: Marc Eddy Norelia
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If Florida Gulf Coast is to make another improbable NCAA tournament run like it did in 2013, Marc Eddy Norelia will need to lead them there.
The 6'8" Haitian native has been the undisputed leader of the Eagles thus far, averaging a near double-double with 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. But those numbers only tell part of the story.
Norelia is a great finisher around the basket, and his 53.9 field goal percentage ranks fourth in the Atlantic Sun. Though he limits his jump-shot attempts, he can hit a jumper when needed—although he almost never attempts three-pointers.
In the team's Tuesday night matchup with Fairleigh Dickinson, Norelia will have an interesting defensive assignment. The Knights' top four scorers are all guards, and there's a chance that he could have to guard 6'6" Earl Potts Jr. at times if they utilize three-guard lineups frequently.
However, the more likely matchup for Norelia is 6'7" freshman Mike Holloway, who averages 9.6 points per contest but gets in foul trouble often. If he does so again, expect Norelia to have an even bigger night than usual.
Projected Stats: 9-of-21 shooting, 21 points, 11 rebounds
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights: Darian Anderson
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As mentioned in the previous slide, Fairleigh Dickinson has counted on its guards to create most of its offense. Darian Anderson has spearheaded that attack.
The 6'1" sophomore leads the Knights with 15.4 points per game while also adding 3.5 rebounds. In the Northeast Conference tournament, however, he elevated his game.
In those three games, Anderson averaged 21.3 points on 22-of-48 shooting (45.8 percent), well above his regular-season average of 41.2 percent. He also played a larger role on the glass, averaging 5.3 rebounds.
Against Florida Gulf Coast, Anderson will likely guard 6'1" freshman Zach Johnson, who also played well in his conference tournament. It will be interesting to see if Anderson can utilize his experience and bait Johnson into some dumb fouls.
The one thing to keep an eye on for Anderson is his three-point shooting, which has been rather inconsistent all season. If he gets hot from downtown early, it could be a long night for Johnson and the rest of the Eagles guards.
Projected Stats: 7-of-13 shooting, 18 points, 5 rebounds
Vanderbilt Commodores: Wade Baldwin IV
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After a promising freshman campaign, Wade Baldwin IV has relieved Vanderbilt fans by avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump.
The 6'3" sophomore has become a force to be reckoned with on offense, averaging 14.3 points and dishing out 5.2 assists per contest. On defense, his 4.0 rebounds per game are the best among Vanderbilt's guards.
In the team's embarrassing SEC tournament loss to Tennessee, Baldwin had a subpar night shooting, but he made up for it in other areas. Eight assists and six rebounds complemented his 13 points.
Baldwin is also a great three-point shooter, though he's been streaky as of late. Regardless, his 41.2 percent mark from downtown makes him a dangerous scorer on the perimeter.
The Commodores were a surprising NCAA tournament selection, but their opening-round matchup with Wichita State could be the most exciting matchup in the First Four round.
Baldwin will likely go head-to-head with Fred VanVleet, the Shockers' star point guard. VanVleet is a smart defensive player with a knack for steals, so Baldwin needs to take good care of the ball.
In this matchup, it appears that Baldwin will need to focus on being well-rounded instead of just being a volume shooter. Expect him to look for the assist more frequently than he normally would; he will need to get in VanVleet's head as a multi-dimensional threat on offense.
Projected Stats: 6-of-11 shooting, 17 points, nine assists, five rebounds
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Wichita State Shockers: Ron Baker
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On the other side of the Vanderbilt-Wichita State matchup, determining the key player for the Shockers is no easy task. While there's a good case to name VanVleet the key player, Ron Baker holds the Shockers' fate in his hands.
The 6'4" Baker is Wichita State's leading scorer (14.2 points per game) and leading rebounder (4.8 rebounds). He has been the team's most consistent player all season, and his work ethic is undeniably strong.
What Baker brings to the table is more than just stats and consistency; it's experience. He was a starting redshirt freshman on the 2012-13 Shockers team that made a Cinderella run to the Final Four and a redshirt sophomore on the 2013-14 team that went 35-0 through the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
Given the expected Baldwin-VanVleet matchup, Baker should guard Matthew Fisher-Davis, an efficient shooter but not someone who would lock Baker down.
After a college career filled with success, it would be a shock if Baker plays with anything less than his A-game in what could be his final game in a Shockers uniform.
Projected Stats: 8-of-15 shooting, 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists
Holy Cross Crusaders: Malachi Alexander
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Out of the 68 teams to make the NCAA tournament, Holy Cross was the most improbable heading into conference tournament play. But Malachi Alexander paved the Crusaders' unlikely path to the Big Dance.
The 6'7" forward is the Crusaders' star player. His per-game averages of 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists all lead the team, and in the conference tournament, he carried them to the Patriot League title.
In those four games, Alexander averaged 20.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Against Southern, the Crusaders will once again rely on Alexander to lead them to a bid in the Round of 64. His matchup should help favor that notion.
Southern will likely pit 6'9" Jared Sam on Alexander, but Sam is more of a rebounder than a shot-blocker. As a result, Alexander will simply need to get his shot off or get to the free-throw line. If his shots start falling consistently like they did in the tournament, it could be a long night for the Jaguars forwards.
Projected Stats: 6-of-12 shooting, 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists
Southern Jaguars: Adrian Rodgers
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Southern enters the tournament via strong play from its starting guards: Adrian Rodgers and Trelun Banks. Between the two, Rodgers is the key player for the Jaguars.
The 6'4" senior leads the team with 16.6 points per game, but his 5.4 rebounds show his tenacity on the boards—a unique trait for a guard. But what typically determines Southern's fate is how well Rodgers is shooting that night.
A volume shooter, Rodgers has been inconsistent, but when he's on, Southern wins.
In games where he shoots over 50 percent, the Jaguars are 10-1, with the lone loss being an 81-80 road defeat to conference rival Jacksonville State. In the conference tournament, however, the Jaguars won their final two games even though Rodgers shot under 25 percent in both.
It will be interesting to see who Holy Cross assigns to defend Rodgers. The Crusaders have two main options: 5'10" junior Anthony Thompson or, more likely, 6'2" senior Cullen Hamilton.
Either way, Rodgers should have an advantage. Look for him to use his larger frame to create easier shots close to the basket.
Projected Stats: 8-of-15 shooting, 24 points, seven rebounds
Michigan Wolverines: Derrick Walton Jr.
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Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin have spearheaded Michigan's offense as a stellar one-two punch at the guard position. But in the end, Walton is the key to the Wolverines' performance in their First Four matchup with Tulsa.
After the season-ending injury to Caris LeVert, the 6'1" Walton met the team's elevated expectations. His average of 11.7 points per game is tied with Irvin among active players on the team, and his 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists lead the team outright.
Walton is looking to build on a solid performance in the Big Ten tournament semifinal after atrocious shooting performances in the first two contests. In that semifinal game, Walton shot a solid 4-of-10 from the field for 14 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
That's the kind of well-balanced performance Michigan needs from him going forward.
Against Tulsa, Walton will likely guard Shaquille Harrison, who is central to the Golden Hurricane offense. Walton will need to prevent him from driving to the basket and force him to shoot from the perimeter.
If Walton can post numbers similar to those against Purdue, Michigan has to like its chances of advancing to the Round of 64.
Projected Stats: 5-of-12 shooting, 16 points, six rebounds, six assists
Tulsa Golden Hurricane: Shaquille Harrison
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On the other side of the underrated Walton-Harrison matchup, the Tulsa point guard is looking to fulfill his own task as the key player for the Golden Hurricane.
The 6'3" Harrison averages 14.8 points per game, which is second on the team to James Woodard's 15.6 points. But Harrison is more well-rounded, leading the team with both 5.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest.
As mentioned in Walton's slide, Michigan can't limit Harrison to three-point attempts or deep jump shots. He's shooting a dismal 17.5 percent from beyond the arc, and he hasn't hit a shot from downtown since Jan. 24—although he's only attempted 10 three-pointers since then.
Much like Walton, Harrison will need to play as a well-rounded point guard. When he drives to the hoop, look for him to play closer to Walton's body if the Wolverines guard is too aggressive.
If Walton gets in foul trouble, Tulsa will have a big advantage.
Projected Stats: 5-of-13 shooting, 16 points, six assists, four rebounds
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