The Best Head-to-Head Matchups in the Elite 8

Eight teams are one win away from a berth in the Final Four, and whether a team wins one critical individual matchup could determine whether it advances to Houston or heads home.

Teams don't get this far without star players, and each of the teams in the Elite Eight has at least one. Sometimes a juicy matchup of star players attracts attention. Sometimes a possible confrontation of role players could significantly affect the outcome.

The clash of talented backcourts in the Kansas Jayhawks-Villanova Wildcats game will be worth watching, but is there an individual matchup that is key? The North Carolina Tar Heels' dominating frontcourt will give the Notre Dame Fighting Irish trouble, but is there one head-to-head duel looming that could determine the outcome? And can anyone stop the Oklahoma Sooners' Buddy Hield?

Although it is sometimes difficult to predict coaches' defensive assignments, we ranked the five best potential head-to-head matchups in the Elite Eight.

5. Villanova's Ryan Arcidiacono vs. Kansas' Frank Mason III

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A look at Ryan Arcidiacono

Arcidiacono is playing the best basketball of his career at the moment. He was co-Big East player of the year last season and a second-team all-conference selection this season, but he has been the Wildcats' best player in the postseason.

Arcidiacono entered the NCAA tournament averaging 11.8 points while hitting 35.9 percent of his three-point shots. In his three postseason games, he has averaged a team-leading 17.0 points on 10-of-16 three-point shooting (62.5 percent). He also has 12 assists and just three turnovers in the NCAA tournament, and his performance against the Miami Hurricanes, when he had 21 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting, along with four assists, three rebounds, three steals and one turnover, was one of the key reasons the Wildcats won that game so handily. 

The fact Arcidiacono has been team captain all four of his years at Villanova tells you all you need to know about his importance to the team. He learned to share the point-guard role with freshman and fellow starter Jalen Brunson, but when things get dicey, Arcidiacono is usually the one calling the shots.

Coach Jay Wright touched on Arcidiacono's intangible contributions in a USA Today article by Nicole Auerbach:

"

I really don't talk to him that much. It's amazing — he is me. He takes care of everything. I really do worry about not having him here next year because I'm going to have to work harder because he just — everything he does is what I do. Everything he thinks about is what I think about. So, really, I never meet with him, and it really allows me to coach the other guys because my best player — I don't really have to spend time with. We know exactly how we think. It's just we're the same person.

"

A look at Frank Mason III

The biggest shot of Kansas' Sweet 16 victory over the Maryland Terrapins came with 18 minutes, 15 seconds left in the second half. The fact Mason's three-pointer at that juncture expanded the Jayhawks' lead from one point to four was helpful; however, the larger significance was it was Mason's first made three-pointer of the NCAA tournament.

Mason was a second-team all-Big 12 selection, but the 5'11" point guard has struggled of late. Entering the Big 12 tournament title game against the West Virginia Mountaineers, Mason was averaging 13.4 points and hitting 41.9 percent of his three-point shots. In the four games since, Mason has averaged 8.0 points on 9-of-34 shooting overall (26.5 percent) and 1-of-9 shooting from three-point range. He had eight points on 1-of-8 shooting and four turnovers in the second-round victory over the Connecticut Huskies.

His 11-point, four-assist, two-steal, one-turnover game against Maryland was at least a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether his confidence is back to where it was a few weeks ago.

Despite his offensive struggles, Mason remains a defensive stopper, and, like Arcidiacono, Mason provides the on-court stability and toughness necessary to succeed in the postseason.

“Frank doesn’t always play great," coach Bill Self told Matt Galloway of the Topeka Capital-Journal, "but there is nobody tougher. Nobody.”

Put them together

What is interesting is both Arcidiacono and Mason are members of starting lineups that feature two point guards, with Devonte' Graham pairing with Mason while Brunson plays alongside Arcidiacono. As a result there is no guarantee Mason and Arcidiacono will be matched up against each other. Villanova is likely to play a lot of zone, but when it plays man-to-man, Arcidiacono would probably defend Mason.

Mason and Graham were both members of the Big 12 all-defensive team, so either could check Arcidiacono and have favorable results. They may share the responsibility through the game, but look for Mason to get much of that defensive challenge.

The Arcidiacono-Mason matchup is one Villanova must and should win based on Arcidiacono's four-inch height advantage and recent trends. Arcidiacono is playing well and is exuding confidence, while Mason is slumping. Whether an Arcidiacono victory in this individual battle will be enough to push the Wildcats into the Final Four is another question entirely.

4. North Carolina's Brice Johnson vs. Notre Dame's Zach Auguste

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A look at Brice Johnson

Johnson was a unanimous selection as a first-team all-ACC player this season, but he is a bit of an enigma, capable of dominating like Wilt Chamberlain one game and virtually disappearing in others.

After Johnson's Jan. 4 monster game against the Florida State Seminoles when he had 39 points and 23 rebounds, coach Roy Williams offered listeners a little reminder, according to the Raleigh News & Observer's Andrew Carter: "With Brice, you’ve got to understand – Brice is still Brice. Don’t forget that, boys – 1-for-8 (from the field) two games ago or something. Don’t forget that."

Indeed the dominating game against Florida State came five days after a 1-for-8, three-point game against the Clemson Tigers and six days before a six-point, two-rebound game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Those disappearing acts have been less and less frequent lately. The athletic and animated 6'10" Johnson has been a model of consistency in the NCAA tournament, collecting 18, 21 and 20 points and seven, 10 and 10 rebounds in the three postseason games. Furthermore, he has demonstrated why he was named to the ACC all-defensive team, collecting 13 blocks in the postseason, including eight against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.

A look at Zach Auguste

The 6'10" Auguste is the lone inside presence on a Notre Dame team that relies on its perimeter game. He is the only one of the Irish's top nine scorers who has not attempted a three-point shot this season. However, Auguste is a whirlwind of activity in the paint, always exuding the passion that drives him and his teammates.

"As far as Zach's passion, we feed off it a lot," Notre Dame forward V.J. Beachem told the Chicago Tribune's Shannon Ryan. "My favorite moment was the game against Duke in the ACC tournament when he got the one-and-one and was like hitting his own head. I don't know what was going on there, but it got the rest of us going."

Auguste is averaging 14.3 points and 10.9 rebounds for the season, but his rebounding numbers improved significantly late in the season. Over Notre Dame's last nine games, Auguste has averaged 13.6 rebounds, collecting double-digits in boards in all nine.

“We’ve got to ride him hard,” coach Mike Brey told Tom Noie of NDInsider.com earlier this month. “He plays with a great edge. There’s not a big man in the country playing better than Zach Auguste.”

Put them together

Johnson and Auguste are two of the most overtly emotional players in the country, so no feat by either will go unnoticed.

Auguste might be the most important player on the court against North Carolina. North Carolina may have the most powerful and productive frontcourt in the country with Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Justin Jackson and top sub Isaiah Hicks, and it is up to Auguste to prevent Notre Dame from completely dominating play in the paint.

Brey and Williams may be reluctant to have their star frontcourt player guard their opponent's top big man, for fear of foul trouble. But at some point, Johnson and Auguste will go head-to-head, if only in a help situation. Those confrontations will be eventful and may have an impact on the outcome.

In Notre Dame's 80-76 victory over the Tar Heels back on Feb. 6, Johnson and Auguste played to a standstill, with Johnson recording 14 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks and Auguste getting 15 points, 10 boards and two blocks. When they met again in the ACC tournament semifinals, neither had a good game. Auguste had just six points, 10 rebounds and one block, while Johnson, limited to 15 minutes because of foul trouble, had 12 points, seven rebounds and no blocks. The important number was the final score: North Carolina 78, Notre Dame 47.

Look for both to have big games and big celebrations Sunday.

3. Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon vs. Syracuse's Michael Gbinije

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A look at Malcolm Brogdon

This season Brogdon became the first person to be named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year and ACC defensive player of the year in the same season since the latter award was started in 2005. With his ability to guard virtually anyone on the floor and score from long range or in close, the 6'5" Brogdon is the perfect fit for Tony Bennett's system at Virginia.

Bennett recognizes that Brogdon's greatest quality is his ability to produce victories, as Bennett noted in a Washington Post article by Ava Wallace: "The people who make decisions at the next level [the NBA], the ones that want guys that win, that do the things that show up in the win column  — he’s gold in that way. I know what he brings to the table."

And Brogdon does it with little fanfare. Brogdon is an acquired taste, a player who is appreciated more after several viewings.

“Malcolm Brogdon, he’s a rock,” ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg said, according to the Washington Post. ". . . He's a terrific leader, and he doesn't do it by screaming and yelling. He just never takes a play off."

He is averaging 18.4 points for the season and 15.0 points in the NCAA tournament. The only statistic that might be a bit troubling is his 0-for-5 shooting from three-point range over the last two games, dropping his season percentage under 40 percent to 39.8

A look at Michael Gbinije

Gbinije made the unusual transformation from forward to point guard while in college, and he did it quite successfully. The 6'7" Gbinije now does virtually everything for Syracuse, leading the team in scoring (17.8 points per game), assists (4.3), steals (2.0) and three-point percentage (40.6).

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim wrapped up all of Gbinije's assets Thursday in a Syracuse.com article by Mike Waters:

"

His stats are Player of the Year stats. He's got better stats than all the guys who were up there for Player of the Year. He's the best defensive player on our team, best in the league in steals, shoots at a high percentage, averages good numbers, rebounds, assists, everything. His numbers are all good. But we didn't fare good enough to get the recognition I think he deserves.

"

Gbinije is equally adept at launching a three-pointer or driving to the basket, and he is an ace defender who can play at the top of Syracuse's zone or back on the baseline. He has continued his strong season in the NCAA tournament, averaging 17.7 points, 3.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in the three victories. Over the Orange's last seven games, he is averaging 21.3 points

“I don’t think there’s a more valuable player probably to his team in college basketball. I mean, he does everything for us," Boeheim said, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

Put them together

Both players had solid games in Virginia's 73-65 victory over Syracuse on Jan. 24 in their only previous meeting this season. Gbinije scored 23 points and shot 6-of-10 from three-point range in that game, while Brogdon tallied 21 points while hitting 3-of-7 from deep.

Gbinije won't be guarding Brogdon, of course, because Syracuse always plays a zone. However, Gbinije's defensive work on the wings could have a significant effect on Brogdon's three-point shooting. Whether Brogdon defends Gbinije will depend on where Brogdon is needed. Whenever an opposing player gets hot, Bennett usually sticks Brogdon on that player to cool him off. London Perrantes may start off defending Gbinije, but if Gbinije starts heating up, look for Brogdon to step in.

Both are likely to have big games, but Brogdon is more likely to make the pivotal defensive stop.

2. Oklahoma's Buddy Hield vs. Oregon's Elgin Cook

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A Look at Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield, the Big 12 player of the year for the second straight season, is a shoo-in to be a first-team All-American and a good bet to be named national player of the year. As outstanding as he was in the regular season, the 6'4" shooting guard has been even better in the NCAA tournament, averaging 26.7 points in the three games.

Hield is second in the nation in scoring at 25.1 points per game, and he is most dangerous when hoisting shots from beyond the three-point line, hitting 45.8 percent of them, which ranks sixth in the country. Although 52.9 percent of his field-goal attempts are three-pointers, Hield can also drive past defenders who crowd him on the perimeter. When he drives, he typically takes it all the way to the rim, seldom pulling up for a mid-range shot.

Hield has been remarkably consistent for someone who relies so heavily on a perimeter game. Only twice this season has Hield scored fewer than 16 points in a game.

"I keep waiting for him to have a bad day and it never happens,'' Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said, per Dana O'Neil of ESPN.com. 

Hield did have one bad game. That came in the Big 12 tournament semifinals, when he scored just six points against West Virginia. It is no coincidence the Sooners lost that game.

“Nobody's impacted the game this year like Buddy has,” Kansas coach Bill Self told Jesse Newell of the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Hield has made 11-of-27 three-points shots (40.7 percent) in his three postseason games. He was limited to 17 points and just 2-of-7 from long range in the Sweet 16 victory over Texas A&M. But he pulled down 10 rebounds in that game.

A Look at Elgin Cook

Cook has not received nearly as much publicity as Hield. In fact, the 6'6" Cook is sort of Hield's antithesis: a consistent player who provides a variety of services for the Ducks but flies under the radar because he does not put up eye-popping scoring numbers. He reminds you a little bit of Alvin Robertson, the stat-stuffing former NBA guard who happens to be Cook's father.

Cook scored more than 22 points only four times this season but still averaged 14.5 points. He has been particularly productive lately, averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games and getting 8.7 rebounds in the three postseason contests. The Pac-12 coaches recognized his importance because he was named to the first-team all-Pac-12 squad this season.

Cook perfectly represents Dana Altman's style at Oregon: No single player dominates the game, but a number of long, athletic, versatile players become interchangeable parts and can adapt to most situations.

“Guys that do one thing or are locked into one position, it limits you as a coach on how you're going to play, and versatility is a value that we look for,” Altman told USA Today's Daniel Uthman. “Figuring out ways to play and getting guys who can play that way is kind of important for us.”

Some people call Cook a forward; some consider him a guard. Everyone knows he is critical to Oregon's success. 

Put Them Together

It remains to be seen whether Hield and Cook will be matched up against each other. Oregon relies heavily on its tricky match-up zone and figures to use that defense extensively against the Sooners.

However, when the Ducks played man-to-man against Duke, Cook guarded Grayson Allen, a shooting guard similar to Hield in size, style and production. Allen scored just 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting. It stands to reason Cook would get the call against Hield in man-to-man situations. When Oregon's Dwayne Benjamin, a long, lean 6'7" swingman, is in the game, look for him to guard Hield in man-to-man situations.

Whoever guards Hield will know Hield typically shoots a three-pointer when he moves to his left off the dribble and generally takes the ball to the basket when he dribbles to his right.

Oklahoma uses a three-guard lineup, while Cook and Dillon Brooks both can play either a guard or small forward spot in an Oregon lineup. Kruger may prefer to put Hield on Tyler Dorsey to keep his star out of foul trouble, but Hield probably will be matched up against Cook at times.

Hield is likely to outscore Cook, because the Sooners rely heavily on Hield's production, while the Ducks attack is based on balance, spacing, speed and transition. Look for Cook's length and athleticism to cause problems for Hield, though he certainly won't shut Hield down completely. At the other end, Hield will have trouble keeping Cook out of the lane and off the boards if he is asked to check Cook for any length of time.

1. Kansas' Perry Ellis vs. Villanova's Kris Jenkins

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A look at Perry Ellis

Ellis plays the power forward spot, but he is more of a small forward/power forward hybrid. He is capable of posting up a smaller defender on the block, but he is more dangerous facing the basket and beating his defender off the dribble or with a perimeter shot.

The 6'8" Ellis is not flashy, but he is fundamentally sound and consistent. A two-time all-Big 12 first-team selection, Ellis leads the team in scoring (17.2 points per game) and is second in rebounding (5.9 per game), and he has played the best basketball of his career during this NCAA tournament. 

He has scored at least 17 points in each of his last eight games and has exceeded 20 points in all three NCAA tournament games. Ellis' 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the floor were a major reason Kansas got by Maryland with relative ease. It is somewhat surprising 27 points matched a season high for a player who has scored 20 points or more 16 times this season, but that is a reflection of Ellis' consistency.

"When we got Perry, we knew he would be good. He's done some things that have allowed him to be great,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said after the victory over Maryland, according to KUsports.com's Gary Bedore.

A look at Kris Jenkins

The 6'6" Jenkins is not your typical power forward, but he fits in nicely with Jay Wright's small-ball system. Unlike most 4-men, Jenkins does most of his work from long range, with about two-thirds of his field-goal attempts coming from beyond the three-point line. Few opposing power forwards are comfortable defending that far from the basket.

"He's a matchup nightmare for the opponent," Wright said in an ESPN.com story by C.L. Brown. "But he's also a valuable, resourceful player for us that can play any position."

Jenkins has been particularly productive lately, averaging 19.6 points over Villanova's last 11 games. That includes 20 points against Butler, 22 points against Xavier, 21 points against Providence, 23 points against Seton Hall and 21 points on 5-of-6 three-point shooting in the Sweet 16 victory over Miami. He also had nine rebounds in that game.

Despite his size, Jenkins can hold his own defensively against opposing power forwards when Villanova plays man-to-man. 

Put Them Together

Villanova will probably play quite a bit of zone defense to protect its interior deficiencies, much like it did against Miami. But the Wildcats undoubtedly will play man-to-man at times, and it will be difficult for Jenkins to handle Ellis' size and varied offensive repertoire.

However, Ellis is likely to have trouble guarding Jenkins, too. The Jayhawks play man-to-man defense most of the time, and presumably Ellis will be asked to defend Jenkins 20 feet from the basket. That is not where Self wants Ellis to be and probably not where Ellis wants to be, so the coach may tweak his defense a bit. Jenkins and his ability to pull Ellis from basket may be the key to the game.