March Madness 2011: The 10 Most Important Players for National Title Contenders
March Madness. These two words put together give me the chills. It is the best amateur sporting event in the nation. Watching 18-and 19-year-old kids play their hearts out for the game they love and not money, is refreshing, to say the least.
In the upcoming weeks, we will see buzzer beaters and blowouts. We will see laughter and crying. We will see Cinderellas dancing and stars falling. It will, like always, be an exciting time of basketball.
Here is a look at the top 10 teams who could be cutting down the nets at the end of the tournament and the most important player for each team.
10. Wisconsin Badgers and Josh Gasser
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Why the Badgers could win it all:
Year after year, the Wisconsin Badgers are one of the most underrated teams in the country. This year was no different and although Wisconsin struggled away from home and scored only 33 points against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament, they still have the pieces to win it all. Jordan Taylor is one of the best point guards in the nation and can score in bunches. He also hardly turns the ball over. The Badgers also have one of the most versatile big men in Jon Leuer. Leuer can bang on the inside, but also can step out and hit the mid-range jumper.
Why is Josh Gasser the most important player?
Gasser, a freshman, plays with a tenacity and toughness rarely seen in freshman. He also plays with immense maturity and rarely turns the ball over. The main reason he is the most important player for the Badgers is due to his ability to do everything. He became the first ever Badger to record a triple-double, and became the first freshman in the Big Ten to do that since Magic Johnson. Don't expect him to score 50 points, but if he goes off for 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists a game, the Badgers could go deep.
9. Connecticut Huskies and Kemba Walker
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Why the Huskies could win it all:
The Huskies are coming into the tournament having just won a very difficult conference tournament. They beat four teams that are in the tournament (Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Louisville) and the lowest seed out of all those teams is a six seed (Georgetown). They also have one of the best scorers in the nation and whenever you have a guy who is capable of scoring 40 points every game, you are a threat to win it all.
Why is Kemba Walker the most important player?
Walker is averaging 23.1 points per game, but that average went up to 26 during the Big East tournament. He scored 28 against Georgetown and 33 against Syracuse and has the ability to score against anyone. If Kemba Walker can put up points, all the other teams should watch out. If Walker can't score, the Huskies are done.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ben Hansbrough
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Why the Fighting Irish could win it all:
Throughout the year, the Fighting Irish has beaten 13 of the teams in the tournament. They play great team basketball on both ends of the floor. What makes this team really dangerous is their ability to get hot from beyond the arc. Both Ben Hansbrough and Tim Abromaitis are shooting over 40 percent from three-point range. They aren't going to overpower any team, but they will get their fair share of points in the paint due to well-timed cuts to the basket. They take care of the ball, averaging only 10.3 turnovers per game and have one of the best coaches in the country in Mike Brey.
Why is Ben Hansbrough the most important?
Hansbrough is the unquestioned leader of the Fighting Irish and is the main reason Notre Dame has been a surprise this year. He plays with an energy that few others in the nation play with. Not only can he shoot, but he also has the toughness to drive and finish at the rim. When the Fighting Irish need a big shot, look for the ball to be in Hansbrough's hands.
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7. Purdue Boilermakers and JaJuan Johnson
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Why the Boilermakers could win it all:
The Boilermakers boast one of the best inside-out games with JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore. Both players made the All-Big Ten First Team and both players have been fantastic throughout the course of the year. The Boilermakers play some of the best man-to-man defense in the country and cause a good amount of turnovers. With their defensive pressure on the perimeter and Johnson roaming beneath the basket, they are a tough team to score against. If they can cause turnovers, they have a chance to win it all.
Why is JaJuan Johnson the most important?
Johnson was the Big Ten Player of the Year and was the main reason the Boilermakers did so well without star player Robbie Hummel. He leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks and is one of the most intimidating defensive players in the country. He has really improved his offensive game this year and is one of the better all-around players in the country.
6. North Carolina Tar Heels and Harrison Barnes
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Why the Tar Heels could win it all:
Since the departure of Larry Drew II, the Tar Heels have been one of the hottest teams in the country. They have one of the better interior defenses with Tyler Zeller and John Henson roaming the middle of the paint. Kendall Marshall has been one of the best point guards in the country since taking over the starting position. The only knock on this team is their youth, as the roster only contains two players who have ever been to the tournament. However, to say this team isn't loaded with stars would be a mistake and the Tar Heels look to be putting it all together at the right time.
Why is Harrison Barnes the most important?
I understand that Barnes didn't live up to the ultra high expectations placed upon him at the beginning of the season. With that said, over the past three months, his play has been stellar. He leads the team in scoring and scored the most points by a freshman in the ACC Tournament when he scored 40 against Clemson. He can score from anywhere on the court and has matured as a player immensely. He looks poised for a huge tournament, erasing all early season doubts about him.
5. Duke Blue Devils and Kyle Singler
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Why the Blue Devils could win it all:
Two words: experience and coaching. They have arguably the best coach to ever coach not named John Wooden. They are also the reigning championships and return most of their key players from last years team. Nolan Smith is an absolute stud and has filled in very nicely with the early season loss of Kyrie Irving. The Blue Devils are a well coached team and can win in a number of ways. They can hit the long ball with Singler, Curry, and Dawkins, but can also penetrate and finish at the rim with Smith. They have big bodies with the Plumlee brothers and Singler is a nightmare to cover due to his size and versatility. Look for Duke to once again make a deep run due to their experience and coaching.
Why is Kyle Singler the most important?
Last years Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four is ready to play his best basketball of the season when it matters most. Singler hasn't had the season that many expected him to have, but has put together a nice season with 17 points and seven rebounds a game. He has numerous weapons to beat opposing defenders with and his length and quickness makes him a special player. Although Nolan Smith might be their best player, if Singler doesn't play well, the Blue Devils will have a hard time making it past the second weekend.
4. Texas Longhorns and Tristan Thompson
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Why the Longhorns could win it all:
The Longhorns are one of the more athletic teams in the country and boast two future NBA players in Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton. They are a fantastic rebounding team and their best might be Hamilton. Thompson and Gary Johnson are both physical players who love to bang down low and crash the boards. Jordan Hamilton could be a top ten pick in the upcoming NBA draft and has the ability to create his own shot. This team could be hurt by its youth, as Hamilton is a sophomore and Thompson is a freshman. If this team can calm their nerves and play up to their talent, I wouldn't want to be the teams, plural, that have to play them in the tournament.
Why is Tristan Thompson the most important?
Tristan Thompson is a defensive force to be reckoned with, as he has the length and athleticism to give opposing players difficulty. He is an aggressive player who uses that aggressiveness to hit the glass hard. Even though Hamilton might be their best offensive weapon, the key to the Longhorns success will rest in their defense and Thompson is the engine that runs the unit. He is young and if he gets into foul trouble, look for Texas to struggle.
3. Pittsburgh Panthers and Asthon Gibbs
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Why the Panthers could win it all:
Pittsburgh has been one of the most consistent teams in college basketball. They have a ton of weapons and coach Jamie Dixon has once again done an incredible job at putting together his team. The Panthers love to run when given the opportunity, which is often due to their great rebounding ability. Their defense is one of the best in the nation and it all starts with center Gary McGhee. McGhee's defensive ability allows their more athletic players to take risks on defense. This leads to turnovers and Pittsburgh is a great team in the open floor with Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker running the fast break. The Panthers have a deep bench which keeps their legs fresh and allows them to keep pressure on the ball. If the Panthers can keep their opponents in the sixties, a final four berth is in their future.
Why is Ashton Gibbs the most important?
Gibbs has set himself apart as the "star" player on a very balanced Pitt team. Gibbs is an offensive threat at his best on the outside. He has a sweet shot, hitting 48 percent of his three pointers on the season. That is an impressive number and what makes it even more impressive is that he shoots more three pointers than anyone on his team. He can put up huge numbers and if he struggles hitting his outside shot, the Panthers could be beat early.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes and Aaron Craft
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Why the Buckeyes could win it all:
The Buckeyes have arguably been the best team in college basketball all year long. This is a team loaded with talent. David Lighty, William Buford, and Jon Diebler are all fantastic players and on any other team, they would most likely be the top player. The Buckeyes are blessed to have all this talent, plus Freshman of the Year front runner Jared Sullinger. He has taken college basketball by storm in his first year at Columbus and is a big body that does all his damage in the paint. There is no true way to stop the Buckeyes due to their versatility on offense. If you try to double team Sullinger down low, he can kick it out to any number of players to hit the three pointer. If the perimeter players for Ohio State get hot, and Sullinger continues his dominance down low, look for Ohio State to occupy a spot in the National Championship.
Why is Aaron Craft the most important?
I know what you are saying to yourself. Aaron Craft isn't even the best freshman on his team. How can he be the most important player to Ohio State's national championship hopes? Craft plays beyond his years and is a tenacious defense. He doesn't need to score many points, but he is a great at getting the ball to the players who do score. When Craft is on the court, he brings a whole different level of energy to the Buckeye team. Without Craft, the Buckeyes would still be good, but not the best.
1. Kansas Jayhawks and Tyshawn Taylor
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Why the Jayhawks could win it all:
No one would argue with you if you said that Kansas is the best team in the nation. They have played at such a high level for the whole season on their way to a Big 12 championship. The Morris twins get most of the attention at Kansas, and rightfully so. They are talented big men who are physical on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. They are an offensive juggernaut and if teams lack on defense for even a minute, the Jayhawks will take advantage and begin to build a substantial lead. They have only lost two games all year and both games were to elite level talent (Texas and Kansas State). Their coach, Bill Self, is a fantastic coach and knows how to manage the game when his team is ahead. If Kansas can play defense for extended periods of time and make their shots, they are going to be near unstoppable in the tournament.
Why is Tyshawn Taylor the most important?
Taylor has had an up and down season, but has secured the starting point guard position for the Jayhawks. When Taylor is on, this team is, without a doubt, the best team in the nation. He runs Bill Self's offense quite well and has the ability to find the open man. If Taylor can limit his turnovers and figure out how to feed the ball to the Morris twins down low, Kansas will sprint their way to another National Championship.
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