NCAA (no more) UNDERGROUND: ELITE8‏

SPORTANDO-U. TEAM OF THE WEEK

G – Jerian Grant (Notre Dame)

Technically should be called a losing effort, but we can’t use the word “losing” with whoever gives UK a real game until the last possession. He leads his team to four battles in nine days playing all the minutes available (165!) and keeping always the leadership of every single action in the offense. This is the only thing that matters. A leader? Let’s call him a Sultan.

G – Josh Gasser (Wisconsin)

Crazy mistery we can’t explain with any statistic. It’s like if Coach Ryan brain could wear a basketball uniform. Amazing defensive player, never backs down still playing at an intensity level unknown also to his ultra-commited teammates… can’t be beaten off the dribble, he doesn’t do anything that makes a light shining on him, while he does everything needed to bring home the Win for his team. Watch him defending one on one on Devin Booker is one of the main reasone to wait the Final Four coming…

G – Matt Jones (Duke)

Not a bad night to discover how it feels to be his team top scorer… with Sulaimon out of the team his presence was immediately bigger in Coach K rotation, he thanks his coach by playing great when it matters most with many key triples (using a shooting style similar to a former Duke NCAA champ like Shane Battier) that never allowed Zags defense to pass behind any screen, something Duke’s defense could do against Wesley on the other half of the court. Strategic player.

F – Domantas Sabonis (Gonzaga)

His game against Duke sums up everything Coach Few has brought to his basketball resume. Specifically his competitive strength and his ability to keep his body always in motion, especially on defense. Excellent hand-eye coordination and footwork was already there. And then it comes THE BLOCK!




C – Gavin Schilling (Michigan State)

Him and Costello are a single body going to war alongside Dawson. Gavin gets Harrell at his top, in the first half, and gives a pretty good defensive contribution. He shows muscles, sprints from paint to paint and he does a lot of little things that help teammates on defense and Trice to get open shots off the screen. Then, if you shoot 48% from the line in the season, and you put a hot 4-on-4 at the Elite8…. We’re definitely on your side.

Written by Marco Ridolfi