Forget all the talk about the Year of the Freshman. The upperclassmen headline the crop of talent at the Final Four in Phoenix and look to lead their teams to the title game Monday night. (1:23)
Mar 28, 2017
In compiling these rankings, I have chosen to embrace the recency effect. Think of this particular hierarchy as "two parts tournament, one part regular season." (As always, "zero parts pro potential," of course. There are plenty of writers who cover that angle.)
These are the players who will decide which team wins the national championship:
25. Silas Melson, Jr., G, Gonzaga
Melson gives Mark Few an additional 3-point threat on the floor. The junior is also the Bulldogs' second-best shooter at the line behind Nigel Williams-Goss.
24. Maik Kotsar, Fr., F, South Carolina
Kotsar fouled out of both the Duke and Baylor games, but the 6-foot-10 freshman was whistled for just one violation against Florida. Although not a shot-blocker, he gives Frank Martin size in the paint. In fact, when Kotsar and Chris Silva are on the floor together, things get notably more difficult on the interior for opposing offenses. The freshman is a late-game gamble, however, due to his 41 percent shooting at the line.
23. Nate Britt, Sr., G, North Carolina
Known to viewers everywhere as the family connection that keeps luring Villanova's Kris Jenkins to all of UNC's tournament games, Britt is a pass-first combo guard who has carried his healthy steal rate into postseason play.
22. Tony Bradley, Fr., F, North Carolina
When Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks depart after the tournament, Bradley projects to sustain and extend UNC's venerable tradition of hegemony on the offensive glass. Nevertheless, the freshman virtually vanished from the Tar Heels' rotation at the regional in Memphis. In games against Butler and Kentucky, Bradley logged a total of just 14 minutes and scored eight points.
21. Josh Perkins, So., G, Gonzaga
Perkins achieved fame in the Xavier game when his steal for what was sure to be a breakaway score was interrupted -- at least visually -- by a young woman who seconds before had been mopping that end of the floor. She beat a hasty retreat, and Perkins was able to complete his lay-in, though the hesitation caused by his momentary confusion did cost the sophomore what would have been his first official dunk.
20. Payton Pritchard, Fr., G, Oregon
A pass-first point guard, Pritchard has rather curiously posted some of his best games in Duck losses. When Oregon lost at Colorado in January, the freshman uncharacteristically hung up 19 points. Similarly, way back in November, Pritchard notched 18 points in the Ducks' four-point loss on a neutral floor to subsequently hapless Georgetown. Looking ahead to North Carolina, Altman must hope his point guard repeats that two-point performance from the Kansas game.
Mar 28, 2017
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John GasawayESPN Insider
In compiling these rankings, I have chosen to embrace the recency effect. Think of this particular hierarchy as "two parts tournament, one part regular season." (As always, "zero parts pro potential," of course. There are plenty of writers who cover that angle.)
These are the players who will decide which team wins the national championship:
25. Silas Melson, Jr., G, Gonzaga
Melson gives Mark Few an additional 3-point threat on the floor. The junior is also the Bulldogs' second-best shooter at the line behind Nigel Williams-Goss.
24. Maik Kotsar, Fr., F, South Carolina
Kotsar fouled out of both the Duke and Baylor games, but the 6-foot-10 freshman was whistled for just one violation against Florida. Although not a shot-blocker, he gives Frank Martin size in the paint. In fact, when Kotsar and Chris Silva are on the floor together, things get notably more difficult on the interior for opposing offenses. The freshman is a late-game gamble, however, due to his 41 percent shooting at the line.
23. Nate Britt, Sr., G, North Carolina
Known to viewers everywhere as the family connection that keeps luring Villanova's Kris Jenkins to all of UNC's tournament games, Britt is a pass-first combo guard who has carried his healthy steal rate into postseason play.
22. Tony Bradley, Fr., F, North Carolina
When Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks depart after the tournament, Bradley projects to sustain and extend UNC's venerable tradition of hegemony on the offensive glass. Nevertheless, the freshman virtually vanished from the Tar Heels' rotation at the regional in Memphis. In games against Butler and Kentucky, Bradley logged a total of just 14 minutes and scored eight points.
21. Josh Perkins, So., G, Gonzaga
Perkins achieved fame in the Xavier game when his steal for what was sure to be a breakaway score was interrupted -- at least visually -- by a young woman who seconds before had been mopping that end of the floor. She beat a hasty retreat, and Perkins was able to complete his lay-in, though the hesitation caused by his momentary confusion did cost the sophomore what would have been his first official dunk.
20. Payton Pritchard, Fr., G, Oregon
A pass-first point guard, Pritchard has rather curiously posted some of his best games in Duck losses. When Oregon lost at Colorado in January, the freshman uncharacteristically hung up 19 points. Similarly, way back in November, Pritchard notched 18 points in the Ducks' four-point loss on a neutral floor to subsequently hapless Georgetown. Looking ahead to North Carolina, Altman must hope his point guard repeats that two-point performance from the Kansas game.
