NCAA ‘Elite Eight Workhorse’ Candidates
UCLA’s Kevin Love was able to cut down the nets in Phoenix as the West regional’s MOP, but did he do enough to be the ‘Elite Eight Workhorse?’. (Photo:AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The weak were weeded out. What once was a field of 65 is now down to 4.
Everyone thought all four #1 seeds wouldn’t make it to the Final Four, but they proved the naysayers wrong. UCLA, North Carolina, Memphis, and Kansas each punched their tickets to the Final Four. Each will head to San Antonio with thoughts of national championship, and it is only thanks to some great individual performances throughout the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
But who had the most outstanding individual performance in the Elite Eight? Who has earned the right to be named the ‘Elite Eight Workhorse?’ In honor of the elite eight, here are the eight candidates:
Stephen Curry (Davidson) - Curry was incredible throughout the tournament, and nearly single-handedly got the Wildcats to the Final Four with his incredible play throughout the tourney. Unfortunately, the MOP of the Midwest Regional went cold in the second half and couldn’t create anything on the final play against Kansas. He finished with 25 points and 4 rebounds but shot 9-25 in the game.
Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis) - Memphis’s downfall was supposed to be their abhorrent free throw shooting. Evidently, no one told CDR. In the NCAA tournament, Douglas-Roberts has knocked down 36 free throws, including 14 of 17 against Texas. He finished with 25 points (5-12 FG, 1-3 3PT) despite being the object of the Longhorns box-and-1 defense.
Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) - Amazingly, the Player of the Year candidate hadn’t sniffed the list of ‘Workhorse’ candidates in the first three rounds. Of course, UNC was dominating and didn’t have to have an outstanding individual performance. Against a tough Louisville team, Hansbrough showed his mettle and earned the MOP award for the East Regional. With the game close in the second half, Hansbrough scored 20 of his 28 points including back-to-back jumpers over the outstretched hands of 6-foot-11 David Padgett that practically sealed the game. He finished 12-17 from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line and yanked down 13 rebounds, including 7 on the offensive end.
Sasha Kaun (Kansas) - Kaun came off the bench and led the Jayhawks with 13 points. He was a perfect 6 for 6 from the field, and he snatched 7 rebounds. He also added two steals for good measure.
Kevin Love (UCLA) - Love makes his third appearance on the list of ‘Workhorse’ candidates for each round. Against Xavier, Love had yet another double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He is averaging a double-double and would have had one in each of his tournament appearances if he could have gotten one additional rebound against first round opponent Mississippi Valley St. He is also averaging 2.5 assists and over 4 blocks per game. Not bad numbers for a freshman and the Most Outstanding Performer of the West Regional.
Derrick Rose (Memphis) - Rose was electrifying showing why he is expected to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft if he leaves after this year. His athletic ability seemed to be unmatched on the court even by Douglas-Roberts or Texas’s D.J. Augustin. He made 7 of 10 field goals, pulled down 6 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists (to only 2 turnovers). Most important, however, was Rose’s defense, which helped hold Augustin to 4 of 18 shooting and forced him into 4 turnovers.
Brandon Rush (Kansas) - It’s been difficult to nominate any Jayhawks thus far in the tournament because they are just so well balanced. Their leading scorer, Rush, gets this nomination not for his scoring but for his constant hounding of Curry that led to several rushed shots and poor shooting throughout the second half. Rush didn’t shoot well (4-14 FG) but finished with 12 pts, 5 rebs, and 3 asts.
Jerry Smith (Louisville) - Only once this season did Smith have a better scoring performance than he did against #1 North Carolina. Smith scored 17 points on 7-12 FG shooting, including knocking down three trifectas. He also added a rebound, assist, and steal.
Shotgun Spratling
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