March Madness 2011 Predictions: 8 Bracket Busting Stars of the Sweet 16
The NCAA tournament is off to another great start with a number of wild upsets and memorable moments already. What else would you expect when it comes to March Madness?
From game-winning shots to controversial calls, this tournament has seen it all and there are still many games left to be played.
Like every year, the tournament has its share of bracket-busters.
Teams such as VCU, Butler and Richmond have done the unthinkable and earned a trip to the second weekend. If any of you had all three of them in the Sweet 16, I salute you.
Behind every bracket-busting team are some unheralded stars who haven't gotten much recognition for one reason or another.
The following is a list of 10 bracket-busting stars of the Sweet 16. Look out, if they haven't busted your bracket yet, they just might do so next weekend.
Joey Rodriguez, VCU
1 of 8
Can the Rams' offense be stopped?
Georgetown and Purdue, two very good defensive teams, simply had no answers for VCU's dynamic offense.
The team is led by point guard Joey Rodriguez, who has averaged 14.5 points and nine assists over his last two games. Rodriguez loves to penetrate the lane and kick the ball out to the open man when the defense collapses on him.
The senior is also a great leader and has shown the ability to step up in the clutch and knock down shots. Like almost all of his teammates, he also is capable of stepping out and hitting shots from downtown.
Chris Singleton, Florida State
2 of 8
Singleton has only seen limited minutes the last two games as he continues to recover from a broken foot he suffered in early February.
Before getting hurt, Singleton led the Seminoles in scoring and was also one of the best defenders in, not only the ACC, but the entire country.
Florida State's run to the Sweet 16 has been nothing short of remarkable due to the fact that they have done so with very little contributions from their best player. They will only be more dangerous if Singleton's foot improves, and he is able to play more minutes next weekend.
Singleton is a very versatile player, averaging over seven rebounds per game to go along 2.1 steals. There isn't much he can't do on the basketball court.
Kevin Anderson, Richmond
3 of 8
Anderson can put points up in a hurry for the Spiders.
The 6'0" guard is a prolific three-point shooter with NBA-type range and also is a very good decision maker. He has averaged 19.5 points per game in the Spiders first two tournament games.
Anderson has been somewhat cold from beyond the arc thus far but is sure to heat up once he arrives in Texas.
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Jimmy Butler, Marquette
4 of 8
Butler is the Golden Eagles' best offensive interior player, averaging 16 points per game while also grabbing over six rebounds a game.
The 6'7" forward has no problem creating his own shot and is very good creating separation and knocking down the mid-range jumper. Butler can also finish around the rim and, often times, plays bigger than he really is.
Butler is a matchup nightmare for opponents and can beat a team in a variety of different ways.
Shelvin Mack, Butler
5 of 8
After struggling in Butler's first round game against Old Dominion, Mack caught fire in Saturday's upset victory over Pittsburgh.
Mack scored 30 points and drilled seven three-pointers, helping the Bulldogs hold off the No. 1 seed Panthers.
He is a big game player and as clutch as they come. The 6'3" guard also helps his team crash the boards and seems almost automatic when he steps up to the free-throw line.
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
6 of 8
Not to be outdone by teammate Jimmy Butler, "DJO" also averages 16 points a game.
Johnson-Odom is a strong, tough guard who loves to get out in transition and take the ball strong to the hoop. He is also a very effective long-distance shooter and has hit several big shots for the Golden Eagles this season.
No shot was bigger than Sunday's go-ahead three-pointer with under a minute left against the Orange of Syracuse.
DJO is having a superb tournament thus far and will look to continue his great play when his Golden Eagles take on North Carolina on Friday.
Justin Harper, Richmond
7 of 8
Harper, a 6'10" forward, averaged 18 points per game this season to go along with almost seven rebounds.
He is an excellent interior player but can also step out and knock down shots from the perimeter. While Harper is just 2-for-9 from downtown thus far this tournament, he shot 48 percent for the season from beyond the arc.
Harper is very efficient player who creates mismatches all over the floor. Anderson and Harper form one of the best duos left in the tournament.
Derrick Williams, Arizona
8 of 8
In just two games, Williams has shown why he was named the Pac-10 player of the year and regarded as one of the best players in the country.
Williams saved the day for Arizona against Memphis, blocking the Tigers last-second shot to tie the game. On Sunday, Williams completed a three-point play to give the Wildcats the win and a spot in the Sweet 16.
Williams, who averaged 18.8 and 8.2 rebounds per game this season, is an offensive force down low.
He has great body strength and his hard to move once he gets position. He can also finish around the rim which is why he shot over 61 percent from the field this season. He can even step out and hit the occasional three-ball.
Williams is a unique talent and will give the defending champion Duke Blue Devils all they can handle.
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