NCAA Tournament 2016: Schedule, Top X-Factors for Sweet 16 Bracket
The field of 68 has narrowed down to just 16 teams hoping to win the 2016 NCAA tournament.
After a wild first round that lived up to the name March Madness, the second round was a bit more mild. The good news is this creates some exciting Sweet 16 battles between quality teams hoping to extend their run.
There will be plenty of star power on display in these competitive battles, but a number of games could end up coming down to some unheralded players. Here is a look at a few X-factors who could be the difference in key third-round battles.
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UConn's STACKED Schedule ☠️
Report: Biggest Spenders in Men's CBB 🤑
| March 24 | No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 Miami (FL) | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| March 24 | No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Texas A&M | 7:37 p.m. | TBS |
| March 24 | No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 5 Maryland | ~9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| March 24 | No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 4 Duke | ~10:07 p.m. | TBS |
| March 25 | No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 4 Iowa State | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| March 25 | No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Wisconsin | 7:37 p.m. | TBS |
| March 25 | No. 10 Syracuse vs. No. 11 Gonzaga | ~9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| March 25 | No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana | ~10:07 p.m. | TBS |
X-Factors to Watch
Jameel McKay, Iowa State
When Jameel McKay is playing hard and at his best, Iowa State is a dangerous team.
The senior provides a much-needed post presence for a team that otherwise features mostly wing players. Even Georges Niang isn't as good of a post defender as McKay, which makes the latter so valuable on this roster.
The only problem has been McKay's consistency and attitude, which led to a benching earlier in the year. In reality, it doesn't even matter what the forward does offensively; he just needs to bring intensity on defense. He averaged nine rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game during the year, and if he does that against Virginia, Iowa State will be in good shape.
He certainly has plenty of confidence heading into the Sweet 16, per Chris Williams of Cyclone Fanatic:
Now he just needs to provide some interior defense against one of the most efficient offenses in the country.
Jake Layman, Maryland
Melo Trimble has been the go-to option for Maryland for much of the season, but if the Terrapins are going to pull off the upset over Kansas, they will need Jake Layman to step up on Thursday.
Layman has been an elite defender on the perimeter this season, although he will have some tough matchups in this game. In the normal lineup, he will likely go up against athletic wing Wayne Selden Jr. If Maryland goes small, he will need to guard the highly skilled Perry Ellis. Both players are capable of putting up big numbers, which puts a lot of pressure on the senior to keep them in check.
The forward can also be a force offensively when he is aggressive and shooting well, although consistency has been a problem lately. His scoring numbers over the last six games in order are 18, nine, 26, nine, 27 and 10. He will shoot lights-out and then disappear for stretches.
Kansas hasn't lost a game since January, so everyone will need to play well to pull the upset, but Layman is especially important.
Thomas Bryant, Indiana
Like McKay, Thomas Bryant provides what his team would be desperately missing without him. The 6'10" freshman has been the anchor for the undersized Indiana Hoosiers, making plays in the post on both ends of the floor.
The center came up huge in the second-round win over Kentucky, totaling 19 points and five rebounds. Evan Daniels of Scout.com called him the difference in the game:
Bryant is always there to finish plays on the offensive end when Yogi Ferrell or others find him for a dunk. On defense, he only averages 0.9 blocks per game but certainly affects many more shots with his presence around the rim. He came through in both ways in the win over Kentucky, and he will need to have a similar performance next time out against North Carolina.
As much talent, size and athleticism as there is on the Wildcats, the Tar Heels have even more with Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks. They can all run the floor well and finish inside in addition to attacking the boards on every shot.
Without Bryant, Indiana would certainly be overmatched in this contest. However, the freshman gives the Hoosiers a chance at the upset if he performs to his ability.
Luke Kennard, Duke
Duke's biggest issue this season is a lack of depth, with only six or seven players stepping on the floor each game. Beyond just having a lack of bodies, though, the team really struggles with scoring depth.
Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram make up one of the best scoring duos in the nation, combining to average 38.9 points per game this season. However, the team has lacked a consistent third scorer to put pressure on opposing defenses.
The best option for the Blue Devils is Luke Kennard, who has shown the ability to get red-hot offensively. He has seven 20-point games this season, including one against North Carolina on the last day of the regular season. On the other hand, he is averaging just eight points over his last three games, shooting just 4-of-16 from three-point range.
If Kennard is aggressive and hitting his shots, Duke is a dangerous team that can go all the way to the Final Four. Otherwise, the team could be looking at a Sweet 16 exit.
Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracket to track your picks along the road to the Final Four.
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