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After reaching the Sweet Sixteen, elite guard play can push Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue to Final Four
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Star power matters this time of year. Guard play matters this time of year. Combining the two is what usually results in a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, and it’s gotten three B1G teams into the Sweet Sixteen.
Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue have all advanced to the second week of the NCAA Tournament — the Wolverines and Boilermakers for a third-consecutive year and the Spartans for the first time in three seasons. Considering all three teams were top three seeds in this years bracket, it’s not all that surprising that they’ve reached this level.
How they got to this point, though, is pretty significant. And it’s the same reason all three teams have a legitimate shot to reach the Final Four and potentially win a national championship — elite guard play.
Zavier Simpson, Cassius Winston and Carsen Edwards all stepped into the spotlight during the biggest moments of the season. Here’s a look at how all three guided their teams to the Sweet Sixteen and why they’re capable of getting to the Final Four.
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Round 1 & 2 stats: 13 points, 16 rebounds, 19 assists
Weekend recap: Simpson did an excellent job locating his teammates and putting them in scoring position in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He’s one of the best passers in the tournament but also showed the ability to knock down an open look a few times in. He finished with nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the Wolverines second-round win over Florida and has been the do-it-all player Michigan needed. Simpson understands his role and accepts that he’s not a scorer, which has been huge for the Wolverines in the first two games.
Why he can get Michigan to the Final Four: Sometimes it’s difficult to get players to understand their role, but Simpson contributes in every way possible and doesn’t have to be a scorer to be effective. He’s a good decision-maker with an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio and rarely takes a bad shot. At this stage in the tournament, decision-making and protecting the basketball are huge. Simpson excels in both categories. As an added bonus, he can knock down an open shot and has perfected a running hook shot, so defenses can’t abandon him. Simpson may not produce the results in the scoring category that most elite guards do today, but the Wolverines really don’t need that from him.
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
Round 1 & 2 stats: 39 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists
Weekend recap: Not many players are as good at getting big buckets in key situations like Winston, and he certainly delivered in games against Bradley and Minnesota. In the middle of a back-and-forth game late in the second half against Bradley, Winston scored eight points in the final 6:30, and found Matt McQuaid wide open for a clutch triple. Two days later, the B1G Player of the Year halted an 8-0 Minnesota run by scoring seven-straight points and essentially sealing the victory for Michigan State. He ended the game one assist short of a triple-double, posting 13 points and nine assists. That’s the kind of stuff Winston has done all season and it carried over to the NCAA Tournament.
Why he can get Michigan State to the Final Four: Winston isn’t afraid of the big moment or taking shots at key points in the game. Usually if Michigan State is desperate for a few baskets, he’s capable of knocking down those shots. He’s fearless, and get to the rim and can hit the three-point shot. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also excellent at creating shots for his teammates with the dribble-drive and is an underrated passer. But it’s mostly Winston’s ability to hit shots in clutch moments and willingness to attack the basket that makes him such a tough player to defend.
Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Round 1 & 2 stats: 68 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists
Weekend recap: Edwards was the talk of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night, scorching the nets for a career-high 42 points in Purdue’s blowout win over Villanova. Just two days earlier, he dropped 26 on Old Dominion, though he wasn’t nearly as efficient in that game. The second-team All-American showed no signs of a sore back that hindered him at the end of the regular season and in the B1G Tournament. He hit shots from all over the court and was virtually unstoppable, especially on Saturday night. Edwards was also solid on the glass for the Boilermakers in the last two games.
Why he can get Purdue to the Final Four: A high-volume shooter isn’t necessarily the greatest weapon during March Madness, but with Edwards’ capabilities, he puts Purdue in a really good position. If Edwards gets into a rhythm, he’s unstoppable and can find the bottom of the basket from anywhere on the floor. He’s confident that every shot he takes is going in, even on a bad night. Edwards is also good at attacking the hoop and drawing contact. If he can string together a few more games where he’s knocking down jump shots regularly, Purdue is extremely dangerous.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB