Looking at our latest Sweet 16 odds, let’s take a look and our picks who will win Most Outstanding Player on each team. For more college basketball picks and predictions, make sure to check out our other college basketball articles and our college basketball betting tools!
Chase Hunter (Clemson): This is the only option for the Tigers. PJ Hall has been their best player during the regular season, though Chase Hunter has really stepped up in the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, Hunter averages 12.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. In the Tournament, Hunter has scored 21 points with six assists then had 20 points and six assists in the very next game. He was the steady hand, while PJ Hall stepped back a bit and has not played as well, and he even fouled out last game.
Caleb Love (Arizona): Love transferred in from North Carolina and has been an instant difference maker for the Arizona Wildcats. On the season, Love leads the team with 18.1 points per game while averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
The Wildcats are a very balanced team, but Love is the consistent key behind Arizona’s success. He scored 18 points in their first game and then he scored 19 points in their next game. Love is the key for Arizona if they make it to the Final Four and perhaps to win the national championship.
Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State): LeDee emerged this season as the best player for the Aztecs. He has been a monster down low for the Aztecs and led the way for San Diego State scoring-wise at 21.5 points per game while averaging 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest.
He has scored 32 points and 26 points in both of the Aztecs’ NCAA Tournament games. He has been almost unstoppable and if the Aztecs keep going it will be because he willed them to the Final Four and a National Championship.
Tristen Newton (UConn): This is the toughest pick because of how much balance the Huskies have, but Newton is the best all-around player for UConn and would get the nod. He leads the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game and in assists at 6.2 per.
He also averages 6.8 rebounds per game, too. Newton is a player that excels at a little bit of everything which makes him a prime candidate for this. He had 13 points and 8 assists in their first game then had 20 points and 10 assists in their second game.
Mark Sears (Alabama): Alabama is the highest-scoring team in all of college basketball and Mark Sears is the best player on the Crimson Tide. He leads the team with 21.5 points and then averages 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
In the Tournament, Sears has scored 30 points, then 26 points and 12 rebounds in their two games. Sears makes them go and will be the key player if Alabama continued on their run.
RJ Davis (North Carolina): RJ Davis was named as a First-Team All-American this season and rightfully so. He leads the way at 21.3 points per game, then averages 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
In their first two games, Davis scored 22 points and then 20 points. He has thrived this season with more of a focus on him scoring and without Caleb Love in the picture that got in the way a bit last season.
Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois): Shannon has thrived this season for the Fighting Illini. He has carried them at times this season and scored 25 or more points in six straight games. He is leading the way at 23.3 points per game and then also averages 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per.
In their first two games, Shannon has scored 26 and then 30 points in each game last week. He is capable of taking over a game and carrying the Illini if needed and that makes him a prime candidate for this award if Illinois makes a run.
Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State): The Cyclones are a very balanced team, but Lipsey has been able to stand out so far in the NCAA Tournament. He averages 12.5 points per game and 4.6 rebounds and then leads the way with 4.9 assists per.
Lipsey makes the Cyclones go at the point guard spot. He had 17 points and seven assists in their first game and then 15 points in their second game. Lipsey is the engine that makes Iowa State go and should be a prime candidate to win this award if Iowa State continues to move on.
DJ Burns Jr. (NC State): Burns is the player that everyone has fallen in love with this March. He is a big body down low, but still has good touch on all of his shots. He averages 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game this season. He had 16 points in their first game and then 24 points and 11 rebounds in their most recent game against Oakland. Burns has been a classic March hero that has emerged — if the Wolfpack keep winning this is his award.
Tyler Kolek (Marquette): Tyler Kolek came back from an oblique injury in the tournament and was an immediate key for the Golden Eagles to win both of their games. For the season, Kolek averages 15.3 points per game and then leads the team in assists at 7.9 per game.
He had 18 points and 11 assists in their first game and then he had 21 points and 11 assists in their second game. Kolek is a steadying force for the Golden Eagles and he has the best chance of winning this award for the Golden Eagles.
Anton Watson (Gonzaga): Anton Watson has been the most consistent player for the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament. He averages 14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He had 13 points and 13 rebounds in their first game and then led the way with 21 points in their second game.
Watson has been very consistent for the Bulldogs and will win this award for the Bulldogs if they managed to keep things going for this run in the Tournament.
Zach Edey (Purdue): Edey is going to win the Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons. He leads the team with 24.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. In his first two games, he scored 30 points with 21 rebounds and then 23 points and 14 rebounds in the second game.
Edey is the best player in the country and this award would easily go to him if Purdue keeps going on this run in the Tournament.
Jared McCain (Duke): McCain has emerged as the best and most dynamic player for the Blue Devils in the Tournament. On the season, he averages 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
During this run, he has scored 15 points and then he led the way with 30 points in their last game with a 72.7% three-point shooting percentage. McCain has shown that he has the ability to explode as a freshman and that will be why he wins this award if Duke keeps moving on.
Jamal Shead (Houston): Shead is the heart of this Cougars team. He averages 13.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and then leads the team in assists at 6.4 and in steals at 2.2. Shead’s been very consistent for the Cougars in the Tournament with 11 points and nine assists in their first game and then 21 points and 10 assists in their second game. Shead makes this team go even if he does not consistently lead the team in scoring he makes them go in all facets of the game.
Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton): Kalkbrenner has been great for the Blue Jays down low. He averages 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and then leads the team in blocks at 3.1. In their first two games, Kalkbrenner scored 23 points and had 8 rebounds and then had 19 points and 14 rebounds per game in their second game. Kalkbrenner has been counted on in the tournament and it has worked out so far and if the Blue jays keep winning then this is his award to lose.
Dalton Knecht (Tennessee): Dalton Knecht has been the most exciting player in college basketball this season. He leads the team in scoring at 21.1 points per game and then also averages 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
He was great in Tennessee’s first two games with 23 points and 8 rebounds in game one and then 18 points and nine rebounds in game two. Knecht is capable of taking over a game when needed and would be the easy choice for this award if Tennessee keeps going in the Tournament.
