NCAA Tournament 2016: Ranking the Top Performers Through the 1st Round
The NCAA tournament is through the first roundโand what a wild first couple of days.
We've seen a horde of lower-seeded teams get through to the second round, including Nos. 10-15 having success Friday. There have also been huge individual performances from star players and previously relative unknowns.
Here, we rank the 20 best players in the NCAA tournament through the round of 64. All of these players have helped their teams to a win, and they're ranked based on their stats, value to their teams and buzzworthiness. We're featuring guys whose games are being talked about. Mind you, we didn't include any players off No. 1 seeds. For now, it all came too easy and those guys are going to have to earn it a little more. Nothing personal.
We highlight a special 33-point performance that sent West Virginia home quickly. There's also a big-time showing from a rock-solid star at Middle Tennessee State. There were also a couple of 31-point games, including from Yale and Arkansas Little Rock.
But it's not all small-school highlights, as we look at stars from Iowa State and even two apiece from Duke and Kentucky.
This is the most wonderful time of the year. Granted, it's just getting ramped upโeven as hectic as it's been already.
20. Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
1 of 20
By the numbers
One of the biggest X-factors of any team in the NCAA tournament sure looked big in his first NCAA tournament game. The 6'11" Labissiere had 12 points (6-of-10 shooting) and added six blocked shots against Stony Brook.
Buzz factor
Coaches will tell you there are four seasons within a year: nonconference play, conference play, the conference tournament and the NCAA tournament. If Labissiere was virtually 0-for-3 (though he came on late in SEC play), then he's ringing in the last season in great form. His six blocks were part of an NCAA tournament-record 15 blocked shots by the Wildcats, who are peaking at the right time.
Why he's here
We're all waiting to see what a tournament run would do for Labissiere's future, whether that's in Lexington or in the NBA next year. He looked quite good against Jameel Warney, Stony Brook's talented big man. And if he's blocking shots to start Kentucky fast breaks, there are going to be plenty of games left to continue refurbishing his name.
19. Tyler Wideman, Butler
2 of 20
By the numbers
The sophomore forward made all six of his shots for 14 points, helping the rest of his Butler teammates do their thing in a nice tournament-opening win against Texas Tech. Wideman nearly doubled his scoring average this season (7.9 points) and really came out of nowhere, considering he was 7-of-18 shooting in the four games leading up to the first-round matchup.
Buzz factor
Butler sure knows what to do when it gets a chance. Aside from missing the tournament in 2012 and 2014, the Bulldogs have won a first-round game every year and are 13-4 since 2010. Wideman's presence was that of one more reliable scorer on a solid but unexplosive roster.
Why he's here
This is a little shout-out to another so-called mid-major that is thriving in the early stages of the NCAA tournament, like Wichita State and Gonzaga. These teams just know how to win at this time of year. And it's players like Wideman coming through that make it happen.
18. V.J. Beachem, Notre Dame
3 of 20
By the numbers
The best way to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit against Michigan is to be efficient on offense. That's what V.J. Beachem, a junior forward, pulled off late Friday. He made all seven of his shots, including three three-pointers as Notre Dame rallied.
Buzz factor
The Irish will play Stephen F. Austin, and they'll to get to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. That hasn't happened in the modern (64-team) bracket era, and Notre Dame hasn't been to the round of 32 two years in a row since 2002 and 2003.
Why he's here
Beachem averages 11.5 points per game but has been on a tear lately, averaging 16 points over the last three games. The 44 percent shooter from the arc is in theย top 100 nationally, and he's really finding a groove right now to help Mike Brey's team. In this recent hot streak, Beachem has also made 11 of 17 treys against North Carolina, Duke and Michigan.
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17. Brandon Ingram, Duke
4 of 20
By the numbers
Give it up for guys like Brandon Ingramโespecially during what turned out to be a wild first couple of tournament daysโfor just taking care of business. The long, athletic freshman had 20 points in his first game at this level and added nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. It's worth noting he had only one turnover (half his average) against a swarming UNC Wilmington team.
Buzz factor
Drawing Yale in the second round means Duke could be in good shape to make it to another Sweet 16. The Blue Devils may still be short-handed, but this is a great time for Ingram to shine. His size, versatility and increased maturity on the floor could potentially displace Ben Simmons of LSU as this summer's No. 1 NBA draft pick.
Why he's here
We wouldn't be surprised at all to see Ingram move up this list. For now he just gets a mention because we're impressed by freshmen who can keep their wits about them in pressure-packed environments. He played 39 minutes against the Seahawks but doesn't seem any worse for wear heading into the Yale game Saturday.
16. Angel Rodriguez, Miami
5 of 20
By the numbers
Miami hadn't won an NCAA tournament game since 2013, and the Hurricanes missed out on the tourney altogether last year, in part because Rodriguez was injured late in the season. But he made up for it by posting season highs with 24 points and seven rebounds against Buffalo, along with four assists and three steals.
Buzz factor
Rodriguez is one of the best leaders in college basketball, and he'll do whatever it takes for his team. Note the seven rebounds by the 5'11" guard and also one key early blocked shot that pushed the Hurricanes' energy level and confidence to a critical level against Buffalo.
Why he's here
Rodriguez noted after the win how he's learned a lot from his previous stint at Kansas State, including the importance of respecting opponents, per Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald:ย "We played La Salle, disrespected them, didnโt pay attention to the scouting report. I wanted to make sure that didnโt happen to this team. Weโve had a great season and have an opportunity to do really big things in March. Anything can happen in the tournament."
15. Jamal Murray, Kentucky
6 of 20
By the numbers
Murray was brutal in the first 20 minutes, missing all but one of his nine shots in his first NCAA tournament game. But he recovered in the second half to finish with 19 points (along with two blocks) by going 6-of-7 from the field and nailing a couple of three-pointers in a nice win against Stony Brook.
Buzz factor
In the year of the upperclassman, Murray showed that the new guys can handle the postseason environment, too. And you gotta love a guy who celebrates like thisย after big shots.
Why he's here
He scored 15 points in a stretch of 10 second-half minutes, setting up a highly anticipated game with Indiana in the second round Saturday. That's a reliable freshman we can get behind.
14. Kris Dunn, Providence
7 of 20
By the numbers
Kris Dunn was only 5-of-13 from the field in the one-point win against USC, but let's put this in perspective: He came back to school and did what he set out to do. The point guard's 16 points helped Providence to its first NCAA tournament win since 1997.
Buzz factor
Dunn missed a jumper with about five seconds left, but the ball went out of bounds and the Friars set up a new play. The beauty of this team is Dunn doesn't need the ball to dominate the play. He was basically a decoy, as Drew Edwards passed to a wide-open Rodney Bullock for a game-winning layup.
Why he's here
Dunn had 16 points despite constant foul trouble that kept him out of rhythm all day. Now, the pressure is off for a second-round game against North Carolina. It's worth noting he hit a three-pointer that tied the score with about 90 seconds left. Also, the inside-outside combo of Ben Bentil and Dunn scored half (35 of 70) of the team's points, right about the season average. They'll need to be that good, but more efficient, to have a chance against UNC. But it's possible.
13. Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
8 of 20
By the numbers
Fred VanVleet did what he has done in March the past three seasons: lead. The Wichita State senior point guard had 16 points, five steals and four rebounds as the Shockers again marched into the round of 32 after taking Arizona behind the woodshed.
Buzz factor
The big debate right now is whether Wichita State was under-seeded. It had the early-season injuries, hit some bumps in a relatively weak Missouri Valley Conference and squeaked into the tournament. KenPom.com's numbers love WSU (No. 7 overall), even if the NCAA tournament committee didn't. But who doesn't love VanVleet this time of year?
Why he's here
VanVleet started an early run, and really, who wants anything to do with playing these Shockers these days? They led by a dozen at halftime and doubled that cushion in the second half. It was Arizona's worst loss since 2013. Oh, by the way, WSU is in the second round of the tournament for the fourth straight season and is 9-3 in the tournament during this stretch, highlighted by VanVleet and fellow senior Ron Baker.
12. Quincy Smith, Hawaii
9 of 20
By the numbers
So much talk this basketball season centered on Cal and its fantastic freshmen. Then came an opponent named Quincy Smith, a 6'1" senior guard who posted a career-high 19 points. Eleven came in the second half, the most for Hawaii after Cal made its final surge to try to salvage a play-from-behind day.
Buzz factor
The Rainbow Warriors hadn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2002 and had never won a game in four tries. Smith changed that. It was another cool result on a day full of wild outcomes.ย Smith scored eight of Hawaii's 15 points during a seven-minute stretch when its lead went from one to 11 late in the second half. Not bad for a guy who had 11 points total in three Big West tournament games.
Why he's here
Now, the Warriors get Maryland. And, remember, Hawaii may have defeated a short-handed team,ย but it also played mostly without the conference player of the year, Stefan Jankovic, who dealt with all sorts of foul trouble. Hawaii may be ready to take it to another power-conference team. Smith deserves a lot of credit for making the opportunity happen.
11. Jake Layman, Maryland
10 of 20
By the numbers
The senior forward picked a heck of a time to match his career high in points, getting 27 against a game South Dakota State team that only lost by five. Jake Layman is an 82 percent foul shooter and made all eight attempts Friday, including a few crucial ones in the closing minutes.
Buzz factor
In a tournament already full of upsets, Maryland stood to be another victim. A late turnover by SDSU kept the Terrapins from joining Big Ten colleague Michigan State with an early exit. Layman did his part, hitting seven of 11 shots and generally being a pest at both ends of the floor. He's a "glue guy" who Maryland needs if it's going to hang around a while.
Why he's here
Coach Mark Turgeon has been able to play Layman at the power forward spot, as noted by the Washington Post's Matthew Giles, who cited "going small as a way to boost the offense and versatility of the lineup." That's something to keep an eye on going forward.
10. Paul Jesperson, Northern Iowa
11 of 20
By the numbers
The former Virginia player, who transferred in 2013, scored 14 points in a three-point win against Texas. That's underselling it a bit if you were up for the end of that one (which came after midnight on the East Coast). Jesperson banked in a half-court shot right after Texas tied the game at 72 with 2.7 seconds left.
Buzz factor
This Northern Iowa team was 2-6 at one point in Missouri Valley Conference playโafter already having defeated Iowa State and North Carolina. But suddenly it's playing some really good ball again. A wild end to the Texas game may spur this team to another second-weekend trip in the NCAA tournament.
Why he's here
Jesperson has been quiet lately for a guy who averages 10.8 points per game and shoots almost 40 percent from three-point range. He went 3-of-13 from the field in the Panthers' three previous games, including 3-of-10 from beyond the arc in the last four. But he made four of his seven tries from distance against Texas, and that'll be valuable because the 6'6" senior can sling it.
9. Marshall Plumlee, Duke
12 of 20
By the numbers
There aren't many times in the last two seasons when we've compared Marshall Plumlee to his sophomore-sensation teammate, Grayson Allen. But the senior center, who has carved out a nice role in recent weeks amid a lot of health-related Blue Devils turmoil, finished with a career-high 23 points as the defending national champions eked out an eight-point win against feisty UNC Wilmington. All but four of Plumlee's points came in the second half, and he shared the team lead in points with Allen.
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Buzz factor
Who was that unmasked man? Yeah, it was Plumlee, who ditched the mask shielding his broken nose and wound up making nine of 10 shots. According to the Charlotte Observer's Laura Keeley, "In terms of shooting percentage, only Christian Laettnerโs 10-of-10 effort against Kentucky in 1992 ranks higher in Duke history." That's darn good company.
Why he's here
You have to like guys who respond at this time of year. Coach Mike Krzyzewski went after his senior captain at halftime, and Plumlee came right back positively.
โCoach K definitely talked to him a lot while he was in here,โ freshman forward guard Brandon Ingram said of Plumlee, per Keeley. โHe pinpointed him out saying that he wasnโt having a good first half. So second half, he responded.โ
8. Malachi Richardson, Syracuse
13 of 20
By the numbers
Malachi Richardson, a freshman, had 10 early points and finished with 21 to go with four rebounds and three assists as Syracuse pounded Dayton. A couple of early three-pointers have him as one of the more lightly regarded newcomers in this class, but the 6'6" wing sure was ready for his first NCAA tournament game.
Buzz factor
The Orange's key second-half run featured three consecutive three-pointers from three different players, one being Richardson. He also had 10 first-half points, including three-pointers on back-to-back Orange scores, certainly busting some more brackets (as a No. 10 seed) and letting everyone know Syracuse deserved to be in this field, after all.
Why he's here
Perhaps most importantly, Richardson opened up the floor for teammates like senior guard Michael Gbinije to have big games and find a lot of space. Richardson also got some CBS love for some really funky sneakers. Two shiny moments.
7. Georges Niang, Iowa State
14 of 20
By the numbers
In his final NCAA tournament, desperate to avoid more misery like previous seasons, Georges Niang played fast and free, scoring 28 points on 23 shots. The Iowa State senior went 8-of-10 (18 points) in the second half to withstand the similarly fast, three-point-shooting style of Iona.
Buzz factor
If you think it's easy to rebuild confidence after previous tournament heartbreaks, think again. Just ask fellow Big 12 mate Baylor, which lost to Yale one year after losing to heavy underdog Georgia State.
โObviously, Iโve been hit with heartbreak and injury,โ the two-time All-American told the Ames Tribune's Travis Hines in the lead-up to the Iona game.ย โbut thatโs not going to stop me from coming back even harder the next time around. It hasnโt been the nicest to me, Iโm going to keep swinging regardless.โ
Why he's here
After jumping out to a 5-0 lead, the Gaels couldn't withstand a vicious 16-2 run posted by the Cyclones, spearheaded by Niang. That he played as if he had nothing to lose was a good sign for Iowa State.
6. Jakob Poeltl, Utah
15 of 20
By the numbers
The 7'0" sophomore, certainly playing in his final run of college games before heading to the NBA, had 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds against Fresno State in his first tournament game this season as the Utes try to top last year's Sweet 16 run.
Buzz factor
If you love individual matchups in the NCAA tournament, you're going to love Gonzaga-Utah in the second round. Domantas Sabonis and Poeltl each recorded double-doubles and will be huge factors (literally and figuratively) Saturday.
Why he's here
Half of Poeltl's 18 rebounds came on the offensive glass. The Utes aren't a great shooting team this season, but the Austrian's willingness to do all of the dirty work is a prime reason why they have a chance to make another run this season.
5. Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
16 of 20
By the numbers
It's a little hard to call this an upset, considering what we know Gonzaga is capable of. And the sturdy Sabonis doesn't exactly surprise us, either. But he did have a fantastic 21st double-double of the season, tallying 21 points and 16 rebounds in a late-night win against Seton Hall as the No. 11 seed advanced.
Buzz factor
Sabonis was battling an illness, according to various reports, including from the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
โItโs been a tough week for me. I have a fever and sore throat going on but I just tried to battle through it,โ Sabonis said afterward. โIt was a very physical game. Their bigs were physical with me. I kind of like that and it played to my advantage.โ
Why he's here
Seton Hall crept back into the game before Sabonis connected on a smooth hook shot around the six-minute mark to push the lead back to eight points. With that kind of automatic, ice-cold scoring, Gonzaga could make another typical tournament run.
4. Makai Mason, Yale
17 of 20
By the numbers
A 12-5 upset doesn't happen with just one underdog player faring well. But Yale's 6'1" sophomore guard Makai Mason rose above all Bulldogs (not to mention all Baylor Bears, of course) by tallying a career-high 31, including an 11-of-11 performance from the free-throw lineโwhich was crucial, given Baylor's late rally. Mason also had 11 consecutive Yale points in the first half.
Buzz factor
Yale is already the belle of the ball. This was the team's first NCAA tournament win. It was also the first tourney victory by a Connecticut school outside of UConn and the first time the program defeated an Associated Press Top 25 team since 1952, according to the school.
Why he's here
Mason sliced and diced his way through Baylor's zone defense all game. But there's more to it than that.
โThat kid (Mason) is cold-blooded,โ said Yale senior Nick Victor, according to Ray Curren of the New Haven Register. โHe played incredible tonight, heโs got ice in his veins.โ
Of note, Mason hit nine of 18 shots in each of the last two games, counting the Ivy League regular-season finale against Columbia to clinch the NCAA bid in the first place.
3. Josh Hagins, Arkansas-Little Rock
18 of 20
By the numbers
OK, so he had an extra 10 minutes to work with. We're sure not holding that against Arkansas-Little Rock's Josh Hagins. He was The Man in the first round with a sensational double-overtime performance against Purdue, getting 31 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals.
Buzz factor
There was a lot of it. Especially considering the senior guard put himself in amazing company, joining Lew Alcindor (you may know him as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Isiah Thomas as the rare players to post this type of all-around game.
Why he's here
Word to your moms, Hagins came to drop bombs. He dropped in a three-pointer from near the half-court logo to send the game into overtime and then banked in a drive-and-stop jumper to force the second extra session. He started the second OT with a smooth 12-footerโnot feeling the effects of playing over 40 minutes at Denver's altitudeโand looked like a guy meant for the bright lights of March.
With UALR great Derek Fisher in attendance, it was the Trojans' first tournament victory since 1986 (10 years before Fisher starred there).
2. Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin
19 of 20
By the numbers
The 6'4" senior with a look that screams Brooklyn hipster (but 100 times cooler) was unflappable at the Barclays Center, finishing with 33 points on just 15 shot attempts. He made 19 of 20 free throws and also added nine rebounds, four assists and four steals as Stephen F. Austin held off every possible West Virginia pressure tactic. Walkup had the ball a lot down the stretch, and deserved it.
Buzz factor
The Lumberjacks have won 21 in a row, currently the longest winning streak in the nation. We're left to wonder how they were seeded so low, considering all of the success and some recently solid tournament history. In 2014, as a No. 12 seed, Brad Underwood's team upset No. 5 Virginia Commonwealth in overtime.
Why he's here
Walkup was fantastic; it just doesn't seem like he can be rattled. The two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year certainly had no concerns when drawing a lot of contact from the physical Mountaineers. This team is the real deal, and he's the spark plug.
1. Reggie Upshaw, Middle Tennessee
20 of 20
By the numbers
Considering what Reggie Upshaw and Middle Tennessee did by upsetting Michigan State, it's hard to find a greater upset, or a greater face for March. The Blue Raiders received 21 points (making half of his six three-point attempts) and a whole lot of moxie, flex and poise from the 6'7" junior.
Buzz factor
We don't need to elaborate much, right? This was a No. 15 pulling off one of the greatest upsets in tournament history. Middle Tennessee wouldn't let up and, in fact, never trailed in the game. It marked just the eighth time in tournament history that a No. 15 seed has ousted a No. 2 seed.
Why he's here
Upshaw quickly has become the "one shining moment" of the tournament already, with those steely eyes and poise in late-game situations. Even ESPN's Fran Fraschilla took to calling him a Perry Ellis (Kansas) clone, and that's a compliment this year. Who knows what the near future holds for Upshaw and Co., but we'll all be talking about this one for quite a while. And they'll never forget in East Lansing.
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