Guard Play Wins Championships

To win a championship you must have good guard play. One player can carry you through the NCAA tournament, but this person must be someone who can handle the ball and shoot the J. There are instances where you need an interior presence to keep your opponents honest, and you could probably argue that most great guards at least have a productive big man, but to make it through the toughest post season in all of sports, guard play has to be exquisite .

Year and Champs Guards
2009 UNC Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington
2008 Kansas- Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush
2007 Florida Taurean Green, Corey Brewer
2006 Florida Taurean Green, Corey Brewer
2005 UNC Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants
2004 Uconn Ben Gordon, Rashad Anderson
2003 Syracuse Gerry McNamara, Carmelo Anthony
2002 Maryland Steve Blake, Juan Dixon
2001 Duke Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy Jr
2000 Michigan State Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Morris Peterson
1999 Uconn Khalid El-Amin, Richard Hamilton

All these players played key roles in their respected teams winning the championship. There are key big men involved on many of these teams, but down the stretch when you need a big shot, most of the time it will not be a big man. That’s why this year I am make big decisions according to the teams guard play.

Players that can make noise
Ohio State could go far because of one player. Evan Turner could be the best player in America and could put Ohio State on his back and take them to the final four. One problem, the teams they have to go through also have great players/ guard play. James Anderson of Oklahoma State could spoil Ohio State’s sweet 16 chances. Also, the like of Sharon Collins and Kansas stand in the way in the elite eight. Kentucky also has great guard play with John Wall, but so does Wisconsin who they could possibly meet in the elite eight. Trevon Hughes proved he could hit big shots in the Big Ten tournament. If there is one player you haven’t heard of that could make noise, its Trevon Hughes. Another team that could make some teams dreams go down the tubes is Washington. I know they play in the Pac-10, but Isiah Thomas is one of the better guards in the country. Last but not least, Villanova and Scottie Reynolds. Reynolds has proved all year he can make big shots. They have struggled as of late, but look for Nova to make a run.

Seven seed and lower that can make noise.

Many people are jumping on the band wagon of the Richmond Spiders. This is not a mistake. The spiders have the A-10 player of the year in Kevin Anderson. Even though I see Nova going far, Richmond is a scary team to play in the second round. Utah State is second in the country in three point percentage, while Texas A&M is 213 in the land from beyond the arc. A 12 over 5 upset is very possible if Utah State gets hot. Also they could face Siena or Purdue in the second round, which is a very favorable match up. If Siena can get past Purdue in the first round they also have a realistic shot at a Cinderella run to the elite eight. I do see Utah State being a sleeper, but Siena has a better shot at beating Duke in the sweet 16.

The NCAA tournament is more unpredictable than the words that will come out of Bill Raftery’s mouth this month…”A little pastry.” But what I have seen in the past is that talented guards emerge in the tournament and can take their teams to the final four and this year’s bracket is full of promising guards who can do just that.

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