NCAA Tournament 2011: Kemba Walker and 10 Players Capable of the Game Winner
It's tournament time, folks. Brackets are being filled out, upsets are being predicted and trash-talk is flying in nearly every office in America.
This year's tournament is sure to be a good one, with lead-changes aplenty and some games that will put Gus Johnson in the hospital.
Why will Gus possibly be in the hospital? Well, this year's tournament features a plethora of guys who are more than capable of ending the game with one shot, which has been known to make Gus flip out!
Be it Kemba Walker or Jimmer Fredette, there are shooters aplenty in this year's big dance.
That being said, here are 10 players who can answer the bell and nail the game-winner when called upon.
No. 10: Chris Wright, Georgetown
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Now, I'm sure there are plenty of skeptics out there when it comes to what kind of tournament Chris Wright can have.
He missed the last two games of the regular season and was not available for the Big East Tournament, where his Georgetown Hoyas were eliminated by Connecticut.
Yet, doctors have cleared him to play in the upcoming tournament.
Chances are that Wright will probably not be at his best, but Georgetown has a shot at making quite the run if he is.
He only averaged 13 points on the regular season, but also five assists.
Jay Bilas made a good point about Wright saying that while he himself only scores 13 a game, he is overall responsible for 25 points a game.
He's sure to be rusty from not playing for so long, but there is no doubt that when healthy, Chris Wright is a man more than capable of hitting the game-winner.
No. 9: Dwight Hardy, St. John's
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People can go on and on about how Steve Lavin is the reason St. John's is relevant again, but let's be honest, he wouldn't have been able to do it without senior guard Dwight Hardy.
In his final season with the Red Storm, Hardy averaged 18 points a game and proved to be the kind of shooting guard coaches dream of.
He can be deadly from beyond the arc and is a force driving to the basket as well, so he is one of the hardest to defend.
With DJ Kennedy out with a knee injury, look for Hardy to put the offense on his back and make the game-winning shot if necessary.
No. 8: Marcus Morris, Kansas
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Marcus Morris is dangerous in every way possible. His jump shot is deadly both from regular and long range, and he is a tough force on defense in the post.
Just how dangerous is his offense?
Well, look at it this way, Morris scored in double figures in all but two games this season, averaging 17.3 a game to go with seven rebounds.
With twin brother Markieff helping him out on defense and handling most of the scoring in the paint, look for Marcus Morris to nail the game-winner if his Jayhawks are in a close battle.
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No. 7: Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh
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On Sportscenter recently, Jay Harris made an interesting point about the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Whenever they have been a No. 4 seed or better in the NCAA Tournament, they have never gotten past the second round.
If Jaime Dixon and his squad want to put an end to that, Ashton Gibbs must be on his game.
Gibbs is not only a good defensive point guard, but is deadly on offense.
In his junior season, he averaged 16.7 points a game while shooting an astounding 46 percent from the field. Even more amazing, he made 48 percent of his three-point shots.
Those who saw the Pitt/St. John's game know that Gibbs is more than capable of changing a game with his offense.
If his team is locked in a close battle in the tournament, there is no doubt that he will take and make the game-winning shot.
No. 6: Tu Holloway, Xavier
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If someone asked me to name the best all around player in the tournament this year, it would be this guy.
Tu Holloway is definitely a human highlight reel on the court, whether he is getting buckets or crashing the boards.
Holloway was held to under 10 points just twice this season, as he averaged 20.2 points a game to go with five rebounds and five assists.
Simply put, Holloway is a danger any time he has the ball. Look for him to make a game-winning basket for the Musketeers, be it a driving layup or a three-pointer.
No. 5: Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame
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Throughout his college career, Ben Hansbrough has had big shoes to fill.
His older brother, Tyler, won a national championship with North Carolina in 2009 and is also the school's career scoring leader.
On top of that, Tyler is now making a name for himself in the NBA as a member of the Indiana Pacers.
This season, Hansbrough proved that he is more than just the younger brother of a college legend.
In his senior season, he averaged 18.5 points a game for the Irish as he led them to the Big East semifinal.
His team lost to Louisville and he only shot 3-of-16 from the field, but there is no denying that Ben Hansbrough is a force to be reckoned with game after game.
To go with his high scoring, Hansbrough also shot a remarkable 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range.
He can shoot wide open or under pressure, so look for him to take the last shot for the Irish when the game is on the line.
No. 4: Jon Diebler, Ohio State
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Teams that face Ohio State in the tournament should only employ the following approach: don't leave Jon Diebler open.
Diebler only averaged 12.5 points a game this season, but the modest numbers aren't indicative of how dangerous he truly is.
He shot a remarkable 51 percent from the field and even more amazing, 50 percent from long range.
That's right, he makes one out of every two three-point shots he attempts.
He set records this season, making 10 three-pointers in a row in one game and ultimately passing Jamar Butler on the Ohio State career three-pointers list.
If, at any point, the Buckeyes find themselves in a close matchup and in need of one shot to win it, keep an eye on Diebler.
No. 3: Nolan Smith, Duke
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As a point guard, Nolan Smith just has it all. He passes well, can shoot the rock, and averages about a steal a game.
In his senior season with the Blue Devils, he averaged 21.3 points and five assists a game.
Unlike most of the people on this list, Smith's three-point shot is a tad suspect.
Yet, that doesn't mean he can't win a game by driving to the basket in the final seconds and drawing a foul, maybe even making his shot in the process.
Fans can say all they want about Seth Curry and Kyle Singler being able to win the game with one shot from behind the arc, but Smith's old-school game is what will ultimately help the Blue Devils as they look to defend their title.
When the game is on the line, keep an eye on Smith as he looks to get open and win the game.
No. 2: Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young
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Out of all the men on this list, Jimmer Fredette is easily the most pure shooter.
In his senior season for the BYU Cougars, he averaged and astounding 28.5 points a game.
His best game was in the Mountain West Tournament semifinal against New Mexico, where he dropped 52 points (seven three-pointers) as the Cougars won 87-76.
To think that BYU will not look to get the ball to Fredette when the game is on the line is simply ridiculous.
This man is essentially their entire offense and chances are that when it is time to make the winning shot, he'll have the ball to begin with.
No. 1: Kemba Walker, UConn
10 of 10Kemba Walker's measure for success in the NBA has been a subject of debate all year, but there's no denying this: the kid can shoot.
In his first year running the offense for the Huskies, Walker averaged 23.5 points a game as well as five rebounds and four assists.
He was held out of double figures just once this season and was instrumental in leading his team to a Big East Championship.
That being said, with the Huskies looking to continue their success, look for Walker to bob and weave his way to finding an open shot with the game on the line.
Still not convinced? Watch the video!
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