Jalen Brunson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devonte' Graham, Marvin Bagley III. Despite widespread upsets on opening weekend, the Sweet 16 is still caked with star power.
Most eyes will be on that quartet and other high-flying playmakers but there many under-the-radar complementary pieces in the regional semifinals to keep your eye on.
Here is one under-the-radar player to watch in each Sweet 16 game.
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Kentucky vs. Kansas State
Player to Watch: Makol Mawien – Kansas State
All eyes will be on Dean Wade as the Kansas State forward attempts to play his first game in two weeks due to a stress fracture in his foot.
Regardless of Wade's availability — and effectiveness — Makol Mawien is a player to watch. The 6-foot-9, 225-pounder has been sensational in his increased role over the last four games. He had 29 points in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal and was the only efficient offensive player on the court vs. UMBC, shooting 4-for-7 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the line on his way to 11 points.
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Loyola Chicago vs. Nevada
Player to Watch: Ben Richardson – Loyola Chicago
Clayton Custer and Donte Ingram have been Loyola's tourney darlings thanks to their last-second heroics but the Ramblers wouldn't have been in the position for those heroics had Ben Richardson not continued his lockdown defense that earned him MVC Defensive Player of the Year.
“He is the most competitive defender, possession by possession, that I've ever coached,” head coach Porter Moser said.
He rarely scores in double figures but also rarely allows the opponents' top scorers to hit double figures either. Entering the tournament, in 23 games with Richardson in the lineup — he missed time with an ankle injury — the Ramblers were yielding just .96 points per possession.
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Gonzaga vs. Florida State
Player to Watch: P.J. Savoy – Florida State
This might a reach for under-the-radar given his strong tournament play thus far but P.J. Savoy still takes a back seat to Phil Cofer, Braian Angola and others atop the Seminoles' rotation.
Savoy has 37 points on 50-percent shooting in just 59 points over their last three games and has been lights-out from deep, hitting 13 three-pointers in their last four games, including three apiece in their two tourney wins.
Gonzaga ranked 198th nationally in three-point defense (35.2 percent).
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Michigan vs. Texas A&M
Player to Watch: Jon Teske – Michigan
At 7-foot-1, 255 pounds, Jon Teske is a mountain of a man but rarely makes a huge impact on the court. He is, however, capable of getting to the bucket.
Teske has attempted 15 free throws in the last three games, or 25 percent of his season total and scored points on 6-for-9 shooting in the Big Ten Championship. He has a significant size advantage on Texas A&M's frontcourt but won't be able to overpower strong-as-a-truck Robert Williams.
Still, he's a load that could be challenging for the Aggies to contain, especially if Williams and Co. get in foul trouble.
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Kansas vs. Clemson
Player to Watch: Elijah Thomas – Clemson
Elijah Thomas has been an under-the-radar player all season despite being one of the ACC's most efficient scorers and best rebounders.
At 6-foot-9, 237 pounds, he has a similar game to that of Seton Hall forward Angel Delgado, who dominated Kansas in the paint when the Jayhawks got into foul trouble. He can do that again if Udoka Azubuike picks up a couple early ones.
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Duke vs. Syracuse
Player to Watch: Marek Dolezaj – Syracuse
Like every other Syracuse player, Marek Dolezaj struggled to make an impact offensively vs. Michigan State . And he didn't do enough on the defensive glass to limit the Spartans' second-chance opportunities (Michigan State had 29 offensive rebounds).
He's get a do-over vs. Duke, against whom he'll be primarily tasked with containing Wendell Carter, the Blue Devils' 6-foot-10 freshman who, along with Marvin Bagley III, will test the interior zone.
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Villanova vs. West Virginia
Player to Watch: James Bolden – West Virginia
James Bolden is West Virginia's sixth-leading scorer and has failed to score four times since Big 12 play began but the junior guard is very capable of scoring in bunches, particularly from the outside.
He shoots a team-best 42 percent from deep and his 68 made three-pointers ranked second on the team despite playing just 17 minutes per game. Villanova held Alabama to 4-for-16 shooting from outside the arc, and it'll be Bolden's task to find openings in a strong perimeter defense.
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Purdue vs. Texas Tech
Player to Watch: P.J. Thompson – Purdue
One of Purdue's five regulars shooting at least 40 percent from three, P.J. Thompson has been excellent from outside in the tournament, hitting five of his 10 attempts while shooting 9-for-14 overall.
Like Bolden vs. Villanova, Thompson is facing a strong perimeter defense in Texas Tech that allows opponents to shoot just 32.7 percent.
