If the Ducks can find a way to get past Oklahoma State in the round of 64, awaiting them will either be No. 1 Wisconsin or No. 16 Coastal Carolina. Since no 16 seed has ever upset a 1 seed in the history of the NCAA Tournament, it’s safe to assume that Wisconsin will be the team advancing to the round of 32.
Here’s a breakdown of the Wisconsin (31-3, 16-2 Big-10) – Coastal Carolina (24-9, 12-6 Big South) matchup:
Wisconsin players to watch:
Frank Kaminsky, senior, center (18.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg): Kaminsky is widely regarded as one of the top centers in the nation (Duke’s Jalil Okafor being the other). The seven-footer has the ability to alter any game with his defensive skills or offensive talents. For being so tall, Kaminsky has surprisingly nimble feet and this allows him to go around or through any defensive opponent he faces.
Sam Dekker, junior, forward (13.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg): While Kaminsky may grab all the headlines, Dekker is the can’t miss NBA prospect. Standing at 6-foot-9, Dekker has the ability to guard positions 2-4 on the court, making him indispensable for Wisconsin’s top-tier defense. Offensively, Dekker can consistently hit the three-point shot while being an able-average slasher to the hoop, making him very difficult to defend.
Coastal Carolina players to watch:
Warren Gillis, senior, guard (13.1 ppg, 3.2 apg): Gillis leads the Chanticleers in scoring, assists and steals per game. He has the ability to take over a game with his savvy guard play by controlling the tempo of the game. Gillis has been playing better as of late, averaging 16 points and 4 assists over his last four games. Point guard is Wisconsin’s weak point so if Gillis can exploit that position, Coastal Carolina might have a chance.
Badou Diagne, junior, forward (9.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg): Diagne is Coastal Carolina’s best chance at taking Kaminsky or Dekker away from the hoop. He shoots a very respectable 44-percent from behind the arc, making him a legitimate threat that must be covered. He leads the Chanticleers in rebounds per game so it will be up to him to keep Wisconsin off the offensive boards and minimize their possessions to just one.
How Wisconsin wins:
The Badgers must start out fast and take all of Coastal Carolina’s hope away from them. Kaminsky, Dekker, 6-foot-9 Duje Dukan and 6-foot-7 Nigel Hayes must dominate the rebounding game and make it very difficult for Coastal Carolina’s guards to penetrate. Wisconsin wins this game with ease if they establish its low post game, control the rebounds and slow the game down to make it full of half court possessions.
How Coastal Carolina wins:
It’s a long shot but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done. The Chanticleers are a guard-dominated team – their top-four scorers all being guards. Coastal Carolina must control the tempo of the game and turn it into a track meet, flustering Wisconsin into many mistakes. Diagne needs to establish himself from three-point territory to bring out Wisconsin’s big men, thus making it easier for Coastal Carolina to penetrate. If the Chanticleers can hang around till halfway through the second half, they should have the confidence needed to pull out the win.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka
NCAA Tournament: Wisconsin may be a team Oregon faces again
Ryan Kostecka
March 15, 2015
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