We officially begin the Round of 64 for the NCAA Tournament Thursday! If you are as excited as we are, then you are probably eyeing some games that you want to tune into. If you are looking for a great head to head matchup with two extremely talented players, then we have some choices for you.
Here are some of the best player matchups we’ll get to see in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament:
Ja Morant (#12 Murray State) vs. Markus Howard (#5 Marquette)
We have to start off with this one because it’s been the most talked about matchup in the entire tournament so far.
Morant, who is universally regarded as the best guard in the country and one who will be drafted early in the lottery, is one fun player to watch. He’s one of those guys that you absolutely need to keep an eye on in the open court otherwise he’ll burn by you, throw an oop to a teammate, or throw one down in your face.
On the other side, Markus Howard is one of the best shooters in the nation. He won’t get you out of your chair because of his athleticism, but he will absolutely get you excited because when he gets hot, he is almost impossible to stop.
Myles Powell (#10 Seton Hall) vs. Fletcher Magee (#7 Wofford)
Man, this is going to be one fun matchup between two of the best shooters in the nation. And to top it off, both of them have been on fire as of late.
For Myles Powell, he is one tough player. Despite his height, he is never afraid to throw his body around on either end of the court. The most fun part of his game though? His emotion and his ability to literally shoot from any distance.
Fletcher Magee, on the other hand, is the toughest shot maker we may have ever seen. He starts pulling up for threes when he’s not even close to facing the basket. He was one of the main reasons for Wofford’s historical upset over UNC earlier last season and now he is a big reason for their success once again. Get ready for him to chuck this game…and to hit those chucks.
Terance Mann (#4 Florida State) vs. Anthony Lamb (#13 Vermont)
This matchup hasn’t been talked about enough and it’s one that we are extremely excited for.
Terance Mann is a hooper and one of the leaders for this stacked Florida State team. He’s fun, clutch, and can make some very impressive plays.
How about Anthony Lamb, one of the most underrated players in the entire nation. (Read his scouting report here) He can do it all on the court and some people have really gone as far as to call him a mini Zion. (We aren’t going to get carried away like that.) But, don’t get it twisted, Anthony Lamb is going to come to play.
Jordan Nwora (#7 Louisville) vs. Amir Coffey (#10 Minnesota)
This specific matchup between these two teams, is one that many are considering a toss up. Both teams look either amazing or pretty terrible. It’s hard to determine on any given night. But, both of these players will certainly show up.
Jordan Nwora has emerged this year as one of the best players in the ACC. He’s improved in all facets of his game. From defending out on the perimeter, pulling up from three, or attacking the rim with a ferocity, he can do it all.
Amir Coffey is a little more streaky, but he too can fill up the stat sheet. He can even hit shots from the ground (remember that from last year?!). He’s long, athletic, will hit shots if he’s feeling it, and on occasion throw down some poster dunks.
Tramaine Isabell (#13 Saint Louis) vs. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (#4 Virginia Tech)
This matchup is between one of the most complete offensive players in the ACC and physical defensive players in the Atlantic 10.
Alexander-Walker enters the tournament averaging 16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He’s one of the most talented guards in the nation and will probably be moving onto the NBA next year.
Isabell enters this game averaging over one steal per game for the second consecutive season. He’s also a senior who’s already led three comeback wins in March to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament for Saint Louis. This is going to be an awesome head to head matchup that Isabell is going to be more than prepared for.
Given that this article, was posted before the end of the Arizona State-St.John’s game, we are unsure who will be moving on. If Arizona State were to move on, Luguentz Dort vs. CJ Massinburg would’ve been one of our top picks. If that matchup happens, it’s going to be one that you have to see.
