NCAA Tournament 2011: Power Ranking the 32 Best Players Still in the Tournament
The Sweet 16 games are rapidly approaching as four games are set to tip off tonight. While some dominant players like Tristen Thompson, Ashton Gibbs, Ben Hansbrough and Isaiah Thomas have all been eliminated from the Tournament, tons of dominant players remain.
From underdogs to favorites, there are plenty of future NBA stars that will make the list of the top 32 remaining players in the NCAA Tournament, but who is the best player still left in the 16-team field?
32. Malcolm Thomas, San Diego State
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Malcolm Thomas, along with Kawhi Leonard, absolutely dominated the Mountain West this past season. Thomas averaged over 11 points and six rebounds for the season, and also topped two blocks per game.
San Diego State won 34 games and their only two losses were against BYU. They wouldn't have come close to 30 wins without Malcolm Thomas' offensive and defensive production.
31. Jon Diebler, Ohio State
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Jon Diebler holds the record for the most 3-pointers in Big Ten history. That stat alone gets Diebler into this list; however, he also provides a lot of energy on the defensive end of the floor, as well.
He is one of the best spot-up shooters in the country and will be essential to Ohio State's success in the rest of this tournament.
30. Kevin Anderson, Richmond
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Richmond has played very solid basketball in their run to the Sweet 16, including a last-minute comeback to beat Vanderbilt, and holding a steady lead on Morehead State for the entire game.
Kevin Anderson is a big reason for Richmond's success this season, and he has proved that the city of Richmond has two solid basketball teams.
Anderson has averaged over 16 points per season and shoots over 42 percent from three-point range.
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29. Chris Singleton, Florida State
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Florida State defeated Notre Dame in the third round of the tournament without much contribution from Singleton, who is still recovering from a fractured foot.
Singleton is one of the best defenders still left in the Tournament, and has greatly improved his offensive game over the past two seasons.
He would likely be higher on this list if he were healthy; however, Singleton is still the best player on his team on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
28. Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
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Kendall Marshall has absolutely turned around the Tar Heels this season. North Carolina only has two losses since Marshall took over as the starting point guard, both of which were to Duke.
Marshall only averages six points per game, but he also averages six assists and has really helped in the development of Harrison Barnes.
27. Jon Leuer, Wisconsin
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Wisconsin entered the NCAA Tournament losing to Penn State and only scoring 33 points in that game. However, Leuer has been one of the rocks of Wisconsin's offense this season.
Leuer scored double digits in every game this season, including 41 combined points in the first two games of the NCAA Tournament.
Wisconsin will certainly need a big game out of Leuer on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball if they expect to advance to the Elite Eight this weekend.
26. Jamie Skeen, Virginia Commonwealth
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VCU has been the biggest surprise of the NCAA Tournament, as they have advanced to the Sweet 16 after most analysts said they had no right being in the Tournament.
Jamie Skeen is the Rams' best player and carried them during the regular season. However, he has not performed at an elite level during the Tournament. Opposing teams have focused on slowing him down, which has left other options open for the Rams.
25. David Lighty, Ohio State
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David Lighty does not dominate any particular part of the game for the Buckeyes. However, Lighty is Ohio State's do-it-all guy.
Lighty can score when OSU needs a bucket, he can rebound, he can pass, and, most importantly, he plays very solid defense.
Lighty is the unsung hero for the Buckeyes and without him they would not be one of the favorites to win the title.
24. Justin Harper, Richmond
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Justin Harper has been a dominant weapon on the offensive end for the Spiders this season. Shooting over 45 percent from three-point range and averaging over 17 points per game, Harper easily makes this list.
Harper plays with a lot of energy on both the offensive and the defensive side of the ball and has greatly improved every year he has spent in Richmond.
23. Kenny Boynton, Florida
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Florida was one of the hottest teams at the end of the season, and Boynton was one of the key reasons for their success. Boynton averaged 14 points per game and performed exceptionally down the stretch for the Gators.
While Boynton needs to step up his perimeter shooting, he has proven to be a force for the Gators and has continued to improve as the year has gone along.
22. Jimmy Butler, Marquette
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Jimmy Butler has been a consistent player on both sides of the ball for Marquette this season. He averages almost 16 points per game and puts forth a lot of effort on defense.
Butler's biggest problem is his three-point shooting, as he only shoots 36 percent from the long range. Without Butler's effort on both sides of the ball though, Marquette would not be in the Sweet 16.
21. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin
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Jordan Taylor is the second piece of the puzzle for the Badgers. To put it in layman's terms, the offense runs through Taylor.
Averaging 18 points and nearly five assists per game, Taylor is one of the main reasons for Wisconsin's success in the Tournament.
Taylor excels by creating on penetration and with his superb three-point shooting, as he shoots 43 percent from behind the arc.
20. Matt Howard, Butler
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Matt Howard is not the flashiest player left in the Tournament field, but he is a very efficient player. Howard plays hard on both sides of the ball and knows what it takes to be a winner at the college level.
Howard was a key part of Butler's run to the Championship game last season and has a good chance of taking Butler back to the Final Four again, as they are only two games away from that feat.
19. William Buford, Ohio State
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Like David Lighty, William Buford does it all for the Buckeyes. Buford is a consistent scorer, as he averages over 14 points per game, and he adds three assists and four rebounds.
Buford is a very well-rounded player as he puts forth 100 percent on both sides of the ball.
Buford's best asset on the offensive side, like Diebler, is his three-point shooting where he shoots 44 percent from the three on 135 attempts this season.
18. Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
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Darius Johnson-Odom is one of the best unknown players in the country. Fans who don't follow Marquette, or any other Big East team, may not have seen Johnson-Odom play.
However, on the offensive side of the ball, Johnson-Odom is the type of player who can explode at anytime.
He averages 16 points per game this season, and has the ability to put up more than 25 points any night he steps on the court.
17. Erving Walker, Florida
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Walker is the key to Florida's success this season, especially in the Tournament, where he took the game on his shoulders and carried Florida past UCLA.
Walker is an undersized guard, standing at a generous 5'7, but plays with a ton of energy. He is a hard worker on both sides of the ball, especially on defense where he is often matched up with bigger players.
Walker uses his speed to his advantage, as he is able to get up and down the court quickly and make his way to the bucket.
16. John Henson, North Carolina
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John Henson is one of the most athletic players left in the Tournament field, however, his game is still not completely polished.
Henson nearly made two fatal mistakes for North Carolina at the end of the Washington game; however, the Heels were able to escape with the win.
He completely dominated on the offensive side of the ball against Long Island, and has proven game in and game out that he is one of the best rebounders and defensive players in college basketball.
15. Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
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Anyone that averages more than 15 points and 10 rebounds per game has to be one of the premier post players in the country. Leonard does exactly that for the Aztecs, while also shooting better than 44 percent from the field in his sophomore season.
Leonard is the go-to player for San Diego State. He is very efficient offensively and defensively, and excels at finding ways to get the ball in the low-post, as he has attempted double digit shots in nearly every game this season.
14. Terrence Jones, Kentucky
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Like Leonard, Jones also shoots 44 percent from the field for the season and does a terrific job on the glass. Jones averages 16 points and nearly nine rebounds per game this season for the Wildcats.
As one of the biggest recruits coming out of high school last season, Jones has not disappointed John Calipari or the Kentucky fans.
Even with losing five players to the NBA last season, Kentucky has reloaded with Jones and Brandon Knight to return to the Sweet 16 for back to back seasons.
13. Kyle Singler, Duke
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At the beginning of the season, Kyle Singler would have been one of the top 10 players in the entire country; however, he is not even one of the top ten players remaining in the Sweet 16.
When Singler's game is on, he is certainly one of the premier players in the country. To this point though, his game has been very hot and cold this season.
Singler shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range last season, but that percentage has plummeted to 31 percent this year. That is a huge difference for a player that was so dominant in last year's Tournament.
Dating back to Duke's game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Singler has only scored more than 13 points one time, against Maryland.
If Singler can step his game back up to the level he is capable though, Duke will be a very, very dangerous team with the return of Kyrie Irving.
12. Shelvin Mack, Butler
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Anyone who watched Butler defeat Pittsburgh, watched Shelvin Mack take over on offense against the Panthers.
Mack almost made a crucial mistake in the final seconds when adrenaline took over and he tried to beat Gilbert Brown to a loose ball. However, Butler escaped and Mack was able to make this list.
Mack and Howard are the two leaders of this team. While Howard is the leading scorer for Butler, Mack is the rock for this team.
He has completely taken this team on his shoulders since the departure of Gordon Hayward, and without Mack, Butler would have no chance of still being in the Tournament.
11. Markieff Morris, Kansas
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The Morris brothers have burst onto the stage in their junior season. After disappointing freshman and sophomore seasons, they have become two of the best players in the country.
Markieff does not have as polished of an offensive game as his brother, but he excels on the defensive side of the ball and on the glass.
He averages nearly 14 points and eight rebounds per game. Markieff has also greatly improved his long-range shooting, as he shoots better than 40 percent from three.
10. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
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Tyler Zeller is the workhorse for the Tar Heels. While Harrison Barnes gets all the hype, Zeller takes over for the Tar Heels when they get in an offensive slump
Carolina struggles when Zeller does not get touches and struggles to find his stroke. He scores more than 15 points per game and adds seven rebounds.
Zeller is also one of Carolina's best free throw shooters, making over 75 percent of his attempts. Like Henson, Zeller excels on the defensive side of the ball, as well.
The Zeller-Henson combination is likely the best frontcourt pairing remaining in the field.
9. Brandon Knight, Kentucky
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At 17 points, four assists and four rebounds per game, Knight is the complete package. He does everything that Kentucky needs him to do, and has shown that he can impose his will on almost any game.
Knight appeared to have freshman jitters in his first Tournament game against Princeton, but he came out fired up against West Virginia and went off for 30 points.
Knight does an excellent job of getting to the rim and finding his shot, and shoots a decent percentage from three-point range.
Kentucky is going to need huge games from both Knight and Jones for Kentucky to even have a shot against Ohio State.
8. Marcus Morris, Kansas
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The other Morris brother, Marcus, has made himself a player of the year candidate this season. Morris scores more than 17 points per game and can do it from anywhere on the floor.
Marcus is not afraid to step outside and shoot a jumper, and he can also dominate inside on the block, as well. The biggest thing on Marcus is that he shoots nearly 60 percent from the field, an incredible number for any player.
If Marcus and Markieff can continue their dominance, Kansas may find themselves winning their second title since the departure of Roy Williams.
7. Kyrie Irving, Duke
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Kyrie Irving has surprisingly returned to the Duke lineup, and has played effectively in his return.
Is Irving going to be the top pick in the NBA draft? Most likely. However, that doesn't make you the best player left in the Tournament.
Irving still needs to find his game, as he is a bit rusty—something that is expected after missing months with a toe injury.
If Irving had not gotten hurt this year, he would easily be one of the top three players left in the Tournament.
6. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
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At the beginning of the season North Carolina fans were shaking their heads wondering why Harrison Barnes was so hyped up coming out of high school.
Well, fans got their answer, as Harrison Barnes has exploded. Barnes is averaging over 15 points per game and he has not scored less than 15 points since February 19.
Barnes had trouble with shot selection early in the season, but has gotten better and better as the year has gone along, and he now has no problem shooting a jumper or creating his own shot.
Just in case anyone forgot, Barnes set the ACC Tournament record for most points by a freshman in a game, as he dropped 40 points in a comeback win against Clemson.
5. Derrick Williams, Arizona
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Does anything need to be said about Derrick Williams' dominance this season? He is Arizona's only player who averages double-digit points (19 per game), and adds eight rebounds a game to go with that.
While Marcus Morris is shooting close to 60 percent from the field, Derrick Williams is shooting 60 percent.
Williams can play inside and outside, as he has knocked down 36 three-pointers this season on 62 attempts.
He is also one of the better interior defenders in the country, as was evident by block against Memphis to seal the win.
4. Nolan Smith, Duke
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It is tough to find the words to describe Nolan Smith. He is the player of the year in college basketball, but Smith is not a freak athlete and isn't incredibly explosive.
However, Smith does everything well on both sides of the ball. He plays exceptional defense, he can shoot, he can drive, he can pass, and he can rebound.
Smith is the best all-around player in college basketball and has continued to prove himself season after season.
In his final season with Duke, Smith averages over 21 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game.
When Kyrie Irving went down with an injury, Smith was forced to play a lot more minutes and he rarely gets a break.
Nolan Smith is one of the rare players that stays four years, and college basketball was lucky to have such a good player for the past four years.
3. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
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Sullinger was one of the highest profile recruits coming out of high school, and certainly has not disappointed in his first, and likely only season at Ohio State.
Sullinger averages over 17 points, and grabs ten rebounds per game. He shoots better than 50 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line.
Sullinger is the best player on the best team in the country.
He could improve his positioning on defense, as he only averages a block every other game; however there is no denying that Sullinger is one of the premier players in college basketball.
2. Kemba Walker, Connecticut
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When Kemba Walker steps on the court, he strikes fear in defenders' eyes. There aren't many players whose offensive abilities compare to what Walker can do on the court.
He averages over 23 points per game, and like Derrick Williams, he is the only consistent weapon on offense for his team.
Opposing teams know that they need to stop Kemba Walker; however, he continues to dominate games.
Walker has already scored over 50 points in his two games in this Tournament, and will be looking to torch San Diego State to take his team to the Elite Eight.
1. Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young
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To be frank, BYU is not a great basketball team. However, Jimmer Fredette is a phenomenal basketball player, and could single-handedly take this team to the Final Four.
If Fredette was not on this team, they would have stood no chance of making the Sweet 16. After BYU lost Brandon Davies to suspension, Fredette has just taken over.
Fredette has scored over 40 points four times this season, including his 52-point explosion against New Mexico.
He averages over 28 points per game and shoots better than 40 percent from three on nearly 300 attempts.
There isn't a fan in the country who doesn't enjoy watching Fredette. Opposing defenses know he is going to shoot, when he gets the ball in his hands, but they still can't seem to stop him.
To rephrase that—defenses can't even seem to slow him down, let alone stop him.
Fredette is easily the best player left in the field, and could leave his mark on college basketball with a run to the Final Four.
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