The 9 Most Important Freshman in the 2016 NCAA Tournament
By Jason McIntyre
Brackets are out. You won’t beat us in the bracket challenge, but you can try. We’ve given you Cinderellas, now it’s time for freshman to watch.
Jamal Murray, G, Kentucky: After blowing up last summer at the Pan-Am games, Murray came into UK and had a marvelous freshman year: 20.1 ppg while shooting 42 percent from deep. Scored 35 against Florida, 33 against Ohio State and 33 against Vanderbilt. Hit six or more 3-pointers in a game four times. I believe he’ll be the #3 pick in June’s NBA draft.
Jaylen Brown, F/G, California: Prolific scorer (15.5 ppg) with a penchant for getting to the free throw line is likely a Top 10 pick in the June draft, but he’ll want his NCAA Tournament to end better than his Pac-12 tourney: 3-of-17 in a loss to Utah. Cal’s greatest strength – awesome freshmen – could be its greatest weakness in the tournament in crunch time (hint: senior Tyrone Wallace will be crucial to this team’s advancing. More on Wallace later this week.) Only way to try and defend Brown? Force him to shoot three-pointers (30-for-100 on the season).
Ivan Rabb, F, California: Led the Bears in rebounds (8.5), field goal percentage (62.2%) and blocks (1.2). Named 2nd team All-Pac 12. Had 13 double-doubles this season. A scout noted an interesting quirk in his game – if he has a slow game against a team, he bounces back very strong in the next meeting. After a 3-point, 8-rebound dud against Oregon State in February; he gave the Beavers 21 points and 15 rebounds in the Pac-12 tourney.
Brandon Ingram, F, Duke: I think he’ll give Ben Simmons a run to be the #1 pick in the NBA draft. He’s a toothpick (190 pounds, maybe) with Kevin Durant’s stroke from deep. Pretty impressive shooting percentages: 44/41/68. In Duke’s last four losses, he’s shot 30%, 38.5%, 25% and 31%.
Diamond Stone, C, Maryland. The 6-foot-11 behemoth is capable of monster games (39 points against Penn State), but vanished twice against Michigan State (15 points, 12 rebounds total). The Terps are fascinating because they’ve got two talented guards, two inside-outside forwards in Jake Layman and Robert Carter, and two space-eaters in Stone and Damonte Dodd. What style should this team play? Should the offense run through Stone?
Deyonta Davis, F/C, Michigan State: Top 30 recruit has put up modest stats this season – 7.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg – but he’s only playing 18 minutes a night. If he stays for next year, he could be a 20-10 monster. He only had one double-double this season (in the season opener) and because he’s raw, he’s often in foul trouble. Would love to see Davis vs. Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis in the Sweet 16. Would settle for Davis vs. Utah’s Jakob Poeltl.
Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue: Has had an up-and-down season, as freshman tend to have. Still can’t get over his puzzling 3-point attempt in the final seconds of a Big Ten tournament game against Michigan State in a 2-point game. Anyway, Swanigan did have 27 points against Wisconsin and 25-11 against Butler. Had nine double-doubles. If Purdue center AJ Hammonds gets in foul trouble, the pressure will be on Swanigan to deliver.
Jalen Adams, G, Connecticut: A top 25 recruit coming out of Brewster Academy, he went to a pretty stacked Huskies team that underachieved most of the year. His minutes have gone up as the season has progressed, and don’t be fooled by his modest averages (7.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.4 apg). He’ll run the show next year when leading scorer Shonn Miller and starting guard Sterling Gibbs graduate. Career-high is 22 points against Cincinnati, including The Shot.
Derryck Thornton, PG, Duke: For my money, the most important player on Duke is the Blue Devils’ point guard. No, he’s not Tyus Jones, but he could prevent Duke from becoming a 3-point jacking unit that bows out in the 1st or 2nd round. You can’t have your point guard averaging 2.5 assists per game and expect to make a run in a tournament where guard play rules. Grayson Allen leads Duke in apg (3.6) but he’s always looking for his shot, gets to the line as well as anyone in the country, and averages 21.6 ppg. Thornton will be pivotal if Duke goes up against Baylor’s aggressive guards in the 2nd round.