Tyler Haws BYU

Joseph Young could see his game explode to a national level.

The 6-foot-5 scoring guard at BYU in Provo, UT will get a chance to play against an Oregon team who has struggled all year in stopping taller shooting guards. In fact earlier this year Haws dropped 32 points on 13-21 shooting against the Ducks in a 100-96 overtime loss in Eugene. The Ducks will be better prepared for Haws, but don't expect him to drop in production. The Cougar's best player will once again torch the Ducks and could do it again two days later against Wisconsin should BYU win.

Joseph Young Oregon

Oregon fans already know junior guard Joseph Young is an all-league caliber player in the Pac-12. Almost everyone in the Pac-12 knows of Joseph Young, but outside of the Pac-12 the 6-foot-3 scoring guard is just another player who has put up points. Young will be in a prime position to put up some gaudy numbers and it starts against BYU on Thursday. The Cougars are much like the Oregon Ducks in that they don't play at an elite level on defense, making Young a prime candidate to score 25 or more. If the Ducks get passed BYU Thursday, Young and the Ducks will most likely square off against a Wisconsin team who has struggled mightily in previous NCAA Tournaments and again this year against quick scoring guards. If Oregon advances to the second weekend expect Joseph Young to carry them and become a national story going into the second week. His style of play is exciting in that he scores from deep, in transition, off the dribble, and at the rim. Young’s national stock could explode.

Taylor Braun North Dakota State

Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, and Gonzaga passed on the 6-foot-7 Taylor Braun out of high school. So did smaller schools like Portland, Portland State, Seattle, Idaho, and Boise State. The former Oregon prep only had an offer from North Dakota State and has completed a very impressive career over his four years with the Bison. The Summit League's Player of the Year averaged 18.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game this year. He shoots an impressive 49 percent from the field, 44 percent from three, and 78 percent from the line. In his four years Braun has scored 1,633 points. He'll have a shot at winning a game in the tournament against No. 5 seed Oklahoma, who let me remind you, doesn't have a player who matches up well with Braun. Six times this season Braun has gone over 25 or more points this season. The senior loaded Bison are the perfect No. 12 seed to make a run because they’ve got a star in Braun.

Cameron Bairstow New Mexico

The Australian senior is another classic case of a player waiting his time and developing into a star in his last year in college. The 6-foot-9 center exploded onto the scene this year averaging 20.3 points and 7.4 rebounds, plus blocking 50 shots. His senior production is better in almost all areas than his previous three years combined. Bairstow won the MWC Tournament Most Outstanding Award after the New Mexico Lobos won their league's automatic bid. With a game against a soft Stanford front court in the round of 64 Bairstow has a great shot at making some noise.

Bryce Cotton Providence

6-foot-1 senior point guard Bryce Cotton was a nobody coming out of high school. He was destined to play junior college ball in August leading up to his freshman year of college, but the Providence Friars took a shot on the tiny point guard just before school started. After a freshman year as a backup Cotton exploded into one of the Big East's best point guards over the last three years. The only problem for Cotton’s fame has been the lack of success from the Friars prior to this season. As a senior he averages 39.9 minutes per game, 41.9 minutes in Big East regular-season play, due to all the overtime games Providence played in. Cotton is a true iron-man basketball player. Cotton needs just 61 points to eclipse 2,000 career-points and could do it if they win a game or two in the Tournament. Cotton's story will certainly get a ton of traction from across the country on all media platforms.

Joe Harris Virginia

The Virginia Cavaliers play a boring brand of basketball that slows down the tempo and works through the shot clock. While it isn't sexy Cavalier senior Joe Harris has become the star player for the No. 1 seed Virginia Cavaliers. At 6-foot-6 Harris does everything from playing center to even bringing the ball up at times. His numbers are down this season, but Tony Bennett and his coaching staff know they'll get sound defense, perfect execution on offense, and a player who keeps his entire team intact and ready. Harris has scored in double-digits in his last four games and will be the face of the Cavs as they march towards the Final Four. If Virginia gets far we will all be talking about Harris.

Wesley Saunders Harvard

When you are a star player in the Ivy League you will fly under the radar some, and for 6-foot-5 wing Wesley Saunders of Harvard that is exactly what he has done. Saunders was the Ivy League Player of the Year for the Crimson and will be the biggest threat to No. 5 seeded Cincinnati. Saunders does most of his damage in the key by attacking the basket and is a good free throw shooter (75.2%). Averaging 14 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game Saunders does a little bit of everything. Harvard has been one of the trendy No. 12 vs No. 5 seed upsets and if the Crimson pull it off look for Saunders to lead the way.

Cory Jefferson Baylor

Everyone has talked about the freshmen this season in college basketball, and it is easy to see why when you see players like Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Aaron Gordon dominating the highlights. Baylor has had an up and down season, but for Baylor their NCAA bid was won in large part because of a senior who waited his turn in an age of instant success. 6-foot-9 senior forward Cory Jefferson played just 97 minutes as a freshman to averaging 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game as a senior. The Bears were on the outside looking in after losing seven of eight games during the months of January and February, but Baylor turned it around winning 10 of 12 games to end their regular season. Over that winning streak Jefferson has averaged 15.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He's developed himself into a fringe NBA player once his career at Baylor is done. If Baylor makes a run to the second weekend look for Cory Jefferson to lead the way.

