NCAA: Where Deflated Employment Prospects Happen (March Madness)

 

After 2 rounds (that matter) most of the lottery draft picks are gone. Shabazz Muhammad was supposed to be the number one pick in the draft at one point this season. Now he’s falling quickly due to a mediocre season and a short, rough tournament appearance. Meanwhile like dust, Cody Zeller rises, mostly because he’s actually good, and also because people will have opportunities to watch Indiana play on a national stage.

Luckily, a lot of high level talent is still in the tournament. In the Sweet 16 games there will be quite a few players with NBA talent. I’m ordering the games by time and date now that there are so few games. I’m listing the projected first round draft picks, but in games where there aren’t any, I’m also listing the players that are in DraftExpress.com’s top 100 players. You never know who will have his chances of appearing in an NBA uniform bolstered by a strong NCAA tournament appearance.

Thursday March 28

Marquette v. Miami (FL) 5:15PM

None, but Vander Blue (Marquette) is 66, Kenny Kadji (Miami) is 68, and Shane Larkin (Miami) is 38

Arizona v. Ohio State 5:47PM

None, but Arizona has Solomon Hill (54) and Brandon Ashley (64). Ohio State has Deshaun Thomas(62) and Aaron Craft (88)

Indiana v. Syracuse 7:45PM

4    Cody Zeller C - 20 years old, Sophomore - 7' 0" 240lbs. – Indiana
7    Victor Oladipo SG/SF - 20 years old, Junior - 6' 5" 210lbs. – Indiana
15    Michael Carter-Williams PG - 21 years old, Sophomore - 6' 5" 175lbs. – Syracuse

Wichita State v. La Salle 8:17PM

There is not a player projected to be in the top 100 players picked (in a 60 player draft) playing in this game. What’s worse is that one of these teams will advance, creating the same issue in the elite eight

Friday March 29

Louisville v. Oregon 5:15PM

24    Gorgui Dieng C - 23 years old, Junior - 6' 11" 245lbs. – Louisville

Kansas v. Michigan Mar. 29 5:37PM

2    Ben McLemore SG - 20 years old, Freshman - 6' 4" 195lbs. – Kansas
10    Trey Burke PG - 20 years old, Sophomore - 6' 0" 180lbs. – Michigan
20    Glenn Robinson SF - 19 years old, Freshman -6' 6" 210lbs. - Michigan

Michigan State v. Duke Mar 29 7:45PM

12    Mason Plumlee C - 23 years old, Senior - 6' 11" 245lbs. – Duke
23    Gary Harris SG - 18 years old, Freshman - 6' 4" 210lbs. - Michigan State

Florida v. FGCU Mar. 29 7:57PM

Florida has Patric Young (37) and Erik Murphy (63).