All NCAA Tournament Team: Sweet 16 Edition

By Andrew Musur on March 26, 2015

Remember that kid Steph Curry or that other one Kemba Walker? Okay, here is one I know you will remember: Christian Laettner.

If none of those names sound familiar to you then you have been missing out on this little thing called March Madness. But if you have the slightest knowledge of college basketball I’m sure all of those names catch your attention. That’s what’s so special about the NCAA tournament: the unknowns become known.

The tournament is where legends are born. There have been a number of great team performances during this tournament, but I wanted to focus on individual performances from this past weekend.

Without further adieu here is my all tournament team from the first weekend.

(Sidenote: This only includes players that are still playing in this year’s tournament.)

Bryce Alford, Point Guard, UCLA (11 Seed)

Stats From The First Round: 27 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 69 percent from the field

Stats From The Second Round: 22 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 46 percent from the field

The Skinny: If there is one player that meant more to his team in the first round than Bryce Alford, please let me know who that is (sorry R.J. Hunter).

Alford played out of his mind in the Bruins’ first round match up against 6 seed, SMU. Alford hit nine of 11 three pointers, including the controversial game winner that sent UCLA to the round of 32.

The Bruins were matched up against Cinderella UAB and Alford’s hot shooting continued. The sophomore hit 46 percent of his field goals and added 22 points in that game. The Albuquerque native also showed off his passing abilities, dishing five assists.

Alford means a lot to this UCLA team. A stat that many overlook is how much Alford played in UCLA’s first two games. The 6-foot-3 sophomore played 39 minutes against UAB and SMU. Without Alford on the floor, I worry where this UCLA team would be.

A gritty point guard and a pure shooter, Alford was one of the most impressive players from the tournament’s opening weekend. Alford will have to continue his hot shooting if his Bruins hope to make their first Elite Eight since 2008.

Fred VanVleet, Point Guard, Wichita State (7 Seed)

Stats From The First Round: 27 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 50 percent from the field

Stats From The Second Round: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 33 percent from the field

The Skinny: Fred VanVleet single-handedly kept his team in this year’s tournament. The Shockers needed someone to step up in their round of 64 matchup with Indiana, and VanVleet did just that.

The Rockford, Illinois, native went off for 27 points matching his career high. What’s even more impressive about VanVleet is that he was clutch down the stretch hitting nine out of his 10 free throw attempts. VanVleet played his best game of the season and helped his team advance in the tournament.

In the round of 32 VanVleet kept up his impressive play. The 6-foot speedy guard put up 17 points, but more importantly was able to find his teammates all game long. VanVleet dished out six assists, and willed his team to a win over Kansas.

As one of the most fundamentally sound point guards in this year’s tournament, VanVleet is going to have to continue to be an all around point guard if the Shockers hope to knock off Notre Dame.

Kyle Wiltjer, Small Forward, Gonzaga (2 Seed)

Stats From The First Round: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 67 percent from the field

Stats From The Second Round: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 83 percent from the field

The Skinny: Kyle Wiltjer has been one of the most impressive players all season, and in the NCAA tournament he has yet to disappoint. The 6-foot-10 forward has scorched the nets all season hitting 55 percent of his field goals.

Wiltjer continued his hot shooting in the first round of the NCAA tournament hitting 67 percent of his shots and scoring 23 points, both topping his season averages. The Zags cruised past North Dakota State and had Iowa next on their schedule.

Wiltjer’s hot shooting not only continued, but it actually improved against the Hawkeyes. Nearly perfect from the field, Wiltjer hit 10 of his 12 shots including four from beyond the arc. The Portland native scored 24 points and led his Bulldogs to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2009.

Frank Kaminsky, Power Forward, Wisconsin (1 Seed)

Stats From The First Round: 27 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 71 percent from the field

Stats From The Second Round: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 46 percent from the field

The Skinny: Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky has had quite the career at the University of Wisconsin. The senior forward led his Badgers to Bo Ryan’s first ever Final Four last season, and hopes to do the same this year. Kaminsky dominated a lowly Coastal Carolina squad in the round of 64, putting up 27 points and hitting an unbelievable 71 percent of his shots from the field.

The tank also added 12 rebounds, as his Badgers routed the Chanticleers. The 7-foot big man used nifty footwork to score some easy baskets, but also found his teammates on four separate occasions.

Kaminsky continued his dominating play in the Badgers round of 32 matchup with Oregon. Wisconsin was in a tight game throughout, but Kaminsky’s 16 points and 7 rebounds were enough to lift the Badgers to a second consecutive Sweet 16.

With a match up against North Carolina on the horizon, I cannot wait to see what Kaminsky can do.

Jahlil Okafor, Center, Duke (1 Seed)

Stats From The First Round: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 82 percent from the field

Stats From The Second Round: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 75 percent from the field

The Skinny: There is no doubt in my mind that Jahlil Okafor has been the most impressive big man in this year’s tournament. The Chicago native destroyed an under-matched Robert Morris team in the first round of the tournament, putting up 21 points and hitting all but two of his 11 shots.

The Whitney Young product used his fantastic footwork and soft touch to lead his Blue Devils to the round of 32, where San Diego State awaited.

The Aztecs were no match for Okafor and company as Duke won by 19. The 6-foot-11 center put up 26 points hitting 3/4 of the shots he took. We all know this will be the only NCAA tournament we get to see Okafor play in, and what a show he has put on so far.

The Blue Devils will face fifth seeded Utah next. Okafor will need to continue his low post dominance if Duke plans on making it to their first Elite Eight since 2013.

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